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Hanson County, South Dakota
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1954 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
18
Tornado reports
92
Hail reports
68
Floods since 1996
566
All events
0
Deaths
$5.7M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Hanson County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 18 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
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Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
Tornado F3 Tornado
A large and strengthening tornado destroyed buildings and other property on five farms and also destroyed trees and power lines before crossing the eastern edge of Hanson County.
Thunderstorm winds caused widespread damage to homes, trailers, barns, other structures, trees, and vehicles at the Oak Lane Hutterite colony south of Alexandria. Three people were injured when their trailer home was flipped and damaged.
Heat Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached a brief afternoon peak as high as 105 degrees near Alexandria.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions intensified to extreme (D3) during mid to late month.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Several public social media posts and photos indicated numerous roads in and around the community of Emery were underwater as a result of the heavy rainfall. Standing water, at least several inches deep, was also observed in many yards, including some up against structures.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the month.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the month.
Drought Drought
Moderate (D1) drought conditions worsened to severe (D2) mid month.
Blizzard Blizzard
Northerly winds gusted as high as 52 mph near Alexandria. During and after a period of snowfall which totaled 4.4 inches at Mitchell, visibility was reduced to one-quarter mile or less at times with blowing snow.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds were between 40 and 49 mph at times, with gusts as high as 69 mph at a South Dakota Road Weather Information System site near Alexandria.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds were briefly between 40 and 41 mph at a South Dakota Road Weather Information System site near Alexandria.
High Wind High Wind
Northwest winds were sustained from 40 to 45 mph with gusts high as 63 mph 4 miles east-northeast of Alexandria.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds reached 40 to 42 mph at times with a peak gust of 55 mph at a South Dakota Road Weather Information System site 4 miles east-northeast of Alexandria.
High Wind High Wind
Northwest winds were sustained between 40 and 46 mph at times, with gusts as high as 64 mph 4 miles east-northeast of Alexandria.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 4.0 inches at Alexandria and 3.0 inches 6 miles northwest of Spencer.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chills reached as low as -30 degrees 4 miles east-northeast of Alexandria.
High Wind High Wind
Synoptic northwest winds were sustained from 40 to 47 mph with a peak gust of 64 mph at a South Dakota Road Weather Information System site 4 miles east-northeast of Alexandria.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 5.0 inches 5.6 miles northwest of Spencer and 3.4 inches at Alexandria.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A long-duration snowfall totaled 3.7 inches at Alexandria. During a brief break in snowfall during the evening of November 28, a period of light freezing rain and freezing drizzle resulted in up to a tenth of an inch ice accumulation.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds periodically reached from 40 to 42 mph at a South Dakota Road Weather Information System site 4 miles east-northeast of Alexandria.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 3.4 inches at Alexandria.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Large tree branches from 6 to 8 inches in diameter were broken by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Heat Heat
Heat index values peaked as high as 103 degrees 2 miles east-northeast of Alexandria.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a Road Weather Information System sensor near Alexandria.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a personal weather station.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached an afternoon peak on July 27 as high as 110 degrees near Alexandria.
Heat Heat
Heat index values peaked during the afternoon hours of July 22 as high as 100 degrees near Alexandria.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Daily afternoon and evening heat indices ranged from 105 to 112 degrees with a maximum heat index of 112 degrees at the Road Weather Information System site near Alexandria on June 20.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions improved to moderate (D1) early month.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds reached 40 to 45 mph at times with gusts up to 59 mph near Alexandria.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 2.0 inches at Alexandria.
High Wind High Wind
Northwest winds gusted up to 58 mph near Alexandria.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the month.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Winds were sustained at 30 to 38 mph with a peak gust of 53 mph near Alexandria.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The lowest wind chills ranged from 35 to 45 below zero with 45 below zero observed at the South Dakota Road Weather Information System site near Alexandria.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The lowest wind chills ranged from 35 to 43 below zero with 43 below zero observed at the South Dakota Road Weather Information System site near Alexandria.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall totaled 7.3 inches 10.8 miles south of Emery, 6.6 inches 4.5 miles west-southwest of Ethan, and 2.7 inches at Alexandria.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the month.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The lowest wind chills ranged from 35 to 43 below zero with 43 below zero observed at the South Dakota Road Weather Information System site near Alexandria.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the month.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Winds were sustained up to 40 mph at times with gusts as high as 57 mph near Alexandria.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Winds were sustained at times to 30 to 35 mph with gusts as high as 47 mph near Alexandria.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Winds were sustained from 30 to 40 mph with gusts as high as 56 mph near Alexandria.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought persisted through December.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Winds occasionally gusted as high as 54 mph near Alexandria.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought persisted through November with precipitation varying from 100 to 200 percent of normal with a majority falling on a single day mid-month.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought developed with precipitation around 5 inches below normal since August 1.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 | 0 |
| 2025 | 28 | 0 |
| 2024 | 25 | 0 |
| 2023 | 26 | 0 |
| 2022 | 28 | 0 |
| 2021 | 16 | 0 |
| 2020 | 25 | 0 |
| 2019 | 30 | 0 |
| 2018 | 28 | 0 |
| 2017 | 8 | 0 |
| 2016 | 13 | 0 |
| 2015 | 14 | 0 |
| 2014 | 4 | 0 |
| 2013 | 7 | 0 |
| 2012 | 25 | 0 |
| 2011 | 17 | 0 |
| 2010 | 22 | 1 |
| 2009 | 20 | 2 |
| 2008 | 15 | 0 |
| 2007 | 25 | 5 |
| 2006 | 16 | 0 |
| 2005 | 18 | 0 |
| 2004 | 27 | 0 |
| 2003 | 15 | 0 |
| 2002 | 15 | 0 |
| 2001 | 8 | 0 |
| 2000 | 12 | 0 |
| 1999 | 9 | 0 |
| 1998 | 12 | 5 |
| 1997 | 12 | 0 |
| 1996 | 12 | 0 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | 3 | 1 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | 5 | 0 |
| 1985 | 2 | 1 |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 2 | 1 |
| 1968 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | 1 | 0 |
| 1960 | 1 | 1 |
| 1958 | 1 | 0 |
| 1954 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Hanson County, measured to its path.
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