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Sanborn County, South Dakota
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1952 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
22
Tornado reports
129
Hail reports
95
Floods since 1996
649
All events
2
Deaths
$4.5M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Sanborn County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 22 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 tornado, crossing into Sanborn County from Jerauld County, destroyed or severely damaged several buildings on two farms. The tornado lifted the roof off a house. Another farmhouse had windows blown out, and shingles and aluminum siding torn off. Destroyed buildings included a b…
Snow melt and heavy rainfall (measured 2.47 inches at Forestburg and 1.60 inches at Huron) resulted in extensive flooding of agricultural land and numerous township and county roads. The James River near Forestburg (gage site FORS2) reached a crest of 4.18 feet above flood stage …
Heat Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached a brief afternoon peak as high as 105 degrees Woonsocket and Letcher, 103 degrees near Forestburg, and 101 degrees 8 miles east of Alpena.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gust measured by South Dakota Road Weather Information System site near Forestburg.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gust was measured by a South Dakota Road Weather Information System site 8 miles east of Alpena.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions improved to moderate (D1) 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 48 mph 8 miles east of Alpena and near Forestburg, and 44 mph 4 miles north-northwest of Woonsocket. During and after a period of snowfall which totaled 4.7 inches at Woonsocket and 4.1 inches at Letcher, visibility was reduced to one-quarter mil…
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds were between 40 and 55 mph at times, with gusts as high as 70 mph at a South Dakota Mesonet site four miles north-northwest of Woonsocket.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds were between 40 and 44 mph at times, with gusts as high as 64 mph at a South Dakota Road Weather Information System site near Alpena.
High Wind High Wind
Northwest winds were sustained from 40 to 47 mph with gusts as high as 62 mph 8 miles east of Alpena.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds reached 40 to 44 mph at times with a peak gust of 58 mph at a South Dakota Road Weather Information System site 8 miles east of Alpena.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds reached 40 to 45 mph at times with a peak gust of 59 mph at a South Dakota Road Weather Information System site 8 miles east of Alpena.
High Wind High Wind
Northwest winds were sustained between 40 and 46 mph at times, with gusts as high as 63 mph 8 miles east of Alpena and at a South Dakota Mesonet site 2 miles east-northeast of Letcher, and 61 mph at a South Dakota Mesonet site 4 miles north-northwest of Woonsocket.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 2.5 inches at Woonsocket and 1.5 inches 1 mile east of Letcher.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chills reached as low as -32 degrees at a South Dakota Mesonet site 4 miles north-northwest of Woonsocket and -29 degrees 2 miles east northeast of Letcher, as well as -32 degrees 8 miles east of Alpena and 4 miles east-southeast of Forestburg.
High Wind High Wind
Synoptic northwest winds were sustained from 40 to 43 mph with a peak gust of 67 mph at a South Dakota Road Weather Information System site 8 miles east of Alpena, 61 mph 3 miles southeast of Forestburg, and 59 mph at a South Dakota Mesonet site 4 miles north-northwest of Woonsoc…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 3.1 inches 4 miles north-northeast of Forestburg and 2.6 inches at Letcher.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A long-duration snowfall totaled 7.0 inches near Letcher and 5.7 inches 4 miles north-northeast of Forestburg. During a brief break in snowfall during the evening of November 28, a period of light freezing rain and freezing drizzle resulted in a few hundredths of an inch ice accu…
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds periodically reached from 40 to 44 mph at a South Dakota Road Weather Information System site 8 miles east of Alpena with a peak wind gust of 60 mph.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 3.1 inches at Letcher.
Flood Flood
The James River near Forestburg rose above flood stage on the evening of August 25th, cresting around 0.27 feet above flood stage (12.27 ft) on August 26th. The river then fell below flood stage on the evening of August 29th.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A several minute period of thunderstorm severe wind gusts was measured by South Dakota Mesonet station LCMS2 Letcher 2ENE.
Heat Heat
Heat index values peaked as high as 101 degrees at South Dakota Mesonet site WSMS2 4 miles north-northwest of Woonsocket.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by the South Dakota Mesonet site located 2 miles east-northeast of Letcher.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached an afternoon peak on July 27 as high as 115 degrees at South Dakota Mesonet site WSMS2 near Woonsocket, 114 degrees near Forestburg, and 112 degrees at South Dakota Mesonet site LCMS2 2 miles east-northeast of Letcher.
Heat Heat
Heat index values peaked during the afternoon hours of July 22 as high as 101 degrees at South Dakota Mesonet site LCMS2 2 miles east-northeast of Letcher and 100 degrees at South Dakota Mesonet site WSMS2 4 miles north-northwest of Woonsocket.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Numerous tree and limb damage was reported across Woonsocket. An empty grain bin had the sides blown in and an empty grain truck was blown over. Significant damage was done to several businesses in town with severe wall and/or roof damage to numerous buildings. A survey of direct…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds were measured by South Dakota Mesonet station WSMS2 4 miles north-northwest of Woonsocket.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Numerous instances of significant tree damage were reported across the city of Woonsocket.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Damaged occurred to a few large tree limbs from thunderstorm winds.
Hail Hail
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Daily afternoon and evening heat indices ranged from 105 to 110 degrees with a maximum heat index of 110 degrees at South Dakota Mesonet sites near Woonsocket and Letcher on June 21 and 109 degrees at a Road Weather Information System site near Forestburg on June 21.
Hail Hail
Quarter-sized hail piled up on the ground about two inches deep.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained easterly winds reached 30 to 34 mph with gusts as high as 54 mph near Woonsocket and 51 mph near Letcher.
High Wind High Wind
While the highest winds were inconsistent over the period, winds did reach sustained levels from 40 to 42 mph at times near Forestburg and Woonsocket, with gusts up to 60 mph near Forestburg.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 2.4 inches in Woonsocket, 2.3 inches 4 miles north-northeast of Forestburg, and 2.2 inches in Letcher.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions improved to moderate (D1) early month.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 2.0 inches 4 miles north-northeast of Forestburg and near Letcher. Northerly winds sustained from 30 to 37 mph, which gusted as high as 52 mph near Forestburg, resulted in visibility briefly as low as one-half mile with hazardous travel conditions.
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 49 mph near Forestburg, 46 mph near Letcher, and 45 mph near Woonsocket.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The lowest wind chills ranged from 35 to 42 below zero with 42 below zero observed at the South Dakota Mesonet site near Letcher.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The lowest wind chills ranged from 35 to 44 below zero with 44 below zero observed at the South Dakota Mesonet site near Letcher.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 2.0 inches 4 miles north-northeast of Forestburg and 0.2 miles west-southwest of Woonsocket.
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 Forestburg.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 | 0 |
| 2025 | 36 | 0 |
| 2024 | 24 | 0 |
| 2023 | 29 | 0 |
| 2022 | 38 | 0 |
| 2021 | 18 | 0 |
| 2020 | 26 | 0 |
| 2019 | 37 | 0 |
| 2018 | 28 | 1 |
| 2017 | 19 | 0 |
| 2016 | 16 | 0 |
| 2015 | 11 | 0 |
| 2014 | 5 | 0 |
| 2013 | 10 | 0 |
| 2012 | 21 | 0 |
| 2011 | 17 | 0 |
| 2010 | 26 | 0 |
| 2009 | 26 | 1 |
| 2008 | 16 | 0 |
| 2007 | 17 | 1 |
| 2006 | 18 | 2 |
| 2005 | 17 | 0 |
| 2004 | 15 | 0 |
| 2003 | 21 | 4 |
| 2002 | 19 | 0 |
| 2001 | 8 | 0 |
| 2000 | 14 | 0 |
| 1999 | 5 | 1 |
| 1998 | 10 | 0 |
| 1997 | 11 | 0 |
| 1996 | 17 | 0 |
| 1994 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 | 10 | 2 |
| 1991 | 4 | 0 |
| 1990 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | 2 | 0 |
| 1985 | 8 | 2 |
| 1984 | 4 | 0 |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | 3 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 3 | 1 |
| 1978 | 3 | 2 |
| 1975 | 3 | 0 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | 3 | 1 |
| 1972 | 1 | 1 |
| 1967 | 3 | 1 |
| 1962 | 1 | 1 |
| 1960 | 1 | 0 |
| 1958 | 2 | 0 |
| 1957 | 1 | 0 |
| 1952 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Sanborn County, measured to its path.
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