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Lake County, South Dakota
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1956 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
24
Tornado reports
150
Hail reports
26
Floods since 1996
664
All events
2
Deaths
$13.9M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Lake County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 24 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
While winds gusted as high as 47 mph at Madison, visibility was only briefly reduced to around 2 miles during the early afternoon. There was considerable drifting snow, which led to development of icy roadways. At 2040CST, a vehicle travelling south on South Dakota Highway 19 ten…
Heavy rainfall of up to 6 inches caused flash flooding of numerous roads, parks, fields, other low areas, and buildings including homes. At least 90 homes were heavily damaged in Madison by the flooding, including at least two with basement walls washed out. A basement wall of a …
Heavy rain from September 10-12 (as much as 8.81 inches 2 miles north of Chester, 7.36 inches 4 miles west northwest of Rutland, and 7.01 inches 2 miles south of Winfred) led to widespread areal flooding. Flooding was most significant around Madison, where ponding waters led to t…
Blizzard conditions led to a shutdown of government offices and schools, and travel was not recommended due to the widespread whiteout conditions. Storm-total snowfall reached 6 to 15 inches, with 12.5 inches at Madison. With winds gusting at times to 40 to 50 mph, snow drifts to…
Heat Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached a brief afternoon peak as high as 108 degrees near Madison, 106 degrees at Wentworth, and 102 degrees 6 miles south of Madison.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions intensified to extreme (D3) during mid to late month.
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) late month.
Blizzard Blizzard
Northerly winds gusted as high as 54 mph at Madison and 50 mph 6 miles south of Madison. During and after a period of snowfall which totaled 6.1 inches at Madison, 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 65 mph at a South Dakota Road Weather Information System site near Madison.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds were between 40 and 42 mph at times at a South Dakota Mesonet station 6 miles south of Madison.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Northwest winds gusted to 52 mph 3 miles southeast of Madison and 48 mph at Madison. These winds combined with periods of light snowfall which totaled from 1 to 2 inches to produce visibility briefly as low as one-quarter to one-half mile.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Northwest winds were sustained from 30 to 38 mph with gusts as high as 52 mph 3 miles southeast of Madison and 48 mph at Madison.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained winds reached 30 to 39 mph at times with a peak gust of 53 mph at a South Dakota Road Weather Information System site 1 mile southeast of Madison, 52 mph at an Automated Weather Observing System site at Madison, and 51 mph a South Dakota Mesonet site 6 miles south of Ma…
High Wind High Wind
Northwest winds were sustained between 40 and 45 mph at times, with gusts as high as 60 mph 1 mile southeast of Madison, and 59 mph at Madison and a South Dakota Mesonet site 6 miles south of Madison.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chills reached as low as -26 degrees at Madison and at a South Dakota Mesonet site 6 miles south of Madison.
High Wind High Wind
Synoptic northwest winds were sustained from 40 to 52 mph with a peak gust of 65 mph at a South Dakota Mesonet site 6 miles south of Madison and 64 mph at an Automated Weather Observing System site at Madison.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 1.8 inches 2 miles southeast of Madison.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A long-duration snowfall totaled 3.0 inches at Madison.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained winds were from 30 to 37 mph, with a peak gust of 54 mph at the South Dakota Road Weather Information System site near Madison and 53 mph at the Automated Weather Observing System site at Madison.
Heat Heat
Heat index values peaked as high as 103 degrees at Madison.
Heat Heat
Heat index values peaked as high as 103 degrees 9 miles southwest of Madison, 102 degrees 2 miles southwest of Wentworth, and 101 degrees at Madison.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached an afternoon peak on July 27 as high as 116 degrees at Madison, 112 degrees near Wentworth, 109 degrees near Ramona, and 107 degrees at South Dakota Mesonet site MDMS2 6 miles south of Madison.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached daily afternoon peaks as high as 108 degrees at Madison and 106 degrees at Orland on July 22.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a personal weather station.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Daily afternoon and evening heat indices ranged from 105 to 111 degrees with a maximum heat index of 111 degrees at a personal weather station near Madison, 109 degrees at a personal weather station in Wentworth, and 105 degrees at the Automated Weather Observing System site at M…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 1.0 inch 2 miles southeast of Madison.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions improved to moderate (D1) early month.
Drought Drought
Moderate (D1) drought conditions worsened to severe (D2) late month.
High Wind High Wind
Northwest winds were sustained at times around 40 mph at Madison.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Winds were sustained at 30 to 39 mph with a peak gust of 52 mph 9 miles south of Madison and 49 mph at Madison.
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 Madison Municipal Airport (KMDS).
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The lowest wind chills ranged from 35 to 40 below zero with 40 below zero observed at the Madison Municipal Airport (KMDS).
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chill temperatures ranged from 25 to 34 below zero during the early morning hours. The AWOS at the Madison Municipal Airport briefly dipped as low as 36 below zero.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 3.1 inches 2 miles southeast of Madison.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 2.5 inches 2 miles southeast of Madison.
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 Madison Municipal Airport (KMDS).
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Winds were sustained from 30 to 36 mph at times with gusts as high as 49 mph at Madison.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Winds were sustained from 30 to 40 mph with gusts as high as 51 mph at Madison.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
An occasional wind gust up to 50 mph was measured 6 miles south of Madison and 48 mph in Madison.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought improved to moderate (D1) conditions after around 200 percent of normal monthly precipitation.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought developed with precipitation from 5 to 6 inches below normal since August 1.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Afternoon and early evening heat index values reached as high as 112 degrees at Madison.
Heat Heat
Two-day heat index readings peaked very briefly at 106 degrees at a personal weather station near Wentworth and 105 degrees at Madison.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tree limbs up to 3 inches in diameter were taken down by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Heat index values reached 108 degrees at Madison and 105 degrees near Wentworth.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Afternoon and evening heat indices ranged from 100 to 110 degrees with a maximum heat index of 110 degrees a personal weather station near Madison, 109 degrees at a personal weather station in Wentworth, and 106 degrees at the Automated Weather Observing System site in Madison.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 11 | 0 |
| 2025 | 23 | 0 |
| 2024 | 20 | 0 |
| 2023 | 24 | 0 |
| 2022 | 40 | 0 |
| 2021 | 21 | 1 |
| 2020 | 17 | 0 |
| 2019 | 34 | 0 |
| 2018 | 25 | 0 |
| 2017 | 16 | 1 |
| 2016 | 24 | 0 |
| 2015 | 20 | 0 |
| 2014 | 13 | 0 |
| 2013 | 15 | 0 |
| 2012 | 32 | 0 |
| 2011 | 26 | 2 |
| 2010 | 23 | 0 |
| 2009 | 15 | 1 |
| 2008 | 16 | 0 |
| 2007 | 14 | 0 |
| 2006 | 15 | 1 |
| 2005 | 33 | 0 |
| 2004 | 23 | 0 |
| 2003 | 9 | 1 |
| 2002 | 18 | 0 |
| 2001 | 22 | 0 |
| 2000 | 21 | 1 |
| 1999 | 12 | 0 |
| 1998 | 7 | 0 |
| 1997 | 14 | 0 |
| 1996 | 16 | 0 |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 | 2 | 0 |
| 1992 | 3 | 2 |
| 1991 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 | 3 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 | 1 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | 2 | 1 |
| 1980 | 3 | 1 |
| 1979 | 3 | 0 |
| 1978 | 4 | 0 |
| 1975 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 1 | 1 |
| 1970 | 5 | 4 |
| 1967 | 1 | 1 |
| 1966 | 2 | 0 |
| 1965 | 3 | 3 |
| 1961 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | 2 | 0 |
| 1958 | 2 | 0 |
| 1957 | 1 | 1 |
| 1956 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Lake County, measured to its path.
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