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Union 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.
24
Tornado reports
159
Hail reports
160
Floods since 1996
833
All events
1
Deaths
$64.0M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Union County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 23 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
As snow redeveloped and began to accumulate toward evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph with a few gusts as high as 62 mph at South Dakota RWIS site 3 miles south of Beresford and 55 mph near North Sioux City, resulted in widespread near white-…
Rain changed quickly to snowfall late afternoon on March 19, with visibility to around one-half mile at times between 1700-2100CST. The intense snowfall rate made travel hazardous during the late afternoon and early evening as winds increased to a peak of 47 mph 3 miles south of …
Rainfall amounts across Union County from June 20-22 ranged from around a third of an inch across southern areas to 1 to 2 inches across northern areas. Farther north and upstream, 6 to 10 inches of rain fell across portions of southeast South Dakota and northwest Iowa, with loca…
Lightning struck a single-story apartment building and initiated a fire which burned through the entire attic of the building. Crews from North Sioux City and three nearby cities attacked the fire for around two hours. All twenty apartments were severely damaged, displacing all r…
Flooding resulted in extensive damage to public infrastructure including numerous county and township roads, culverts, and some bridges.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached afternoon peaks as high as 113 degrees near Dakota Dunes and 108 degrees in North Sioux City.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions intensified to extreme (D3) during mid to late month.
Hail Hail
Most hail was pea to nickel sized, but a few were quarter sized. A wall cloud was also reported about 3 to 4 miles to the west.
Hail Hail
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the month.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the month.
Blizzard Blizzard
Northerly winds gusted as high as 53 mph at North Sioux City. During and after a period of snowfall which totaled 1.6 inches near Jefferson and 1.0 inches 10 miles north-northeast of Elk Point, visibility was reduced to one-quarter mile or less at times with blowing snow.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds were between 40 and 46 mph at times, with gusts as high as 64 mph at a South Dakota Road Weather Information System site near Beresford.
Drought Drought
Moderate (D1) drought conditions worsened to severe (D2) early month.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds were between 40 and 42 mph at times at a South Dakota Road Weather Information System site near Beresford.
High Wind High Wind
Northwest winds were sustained from 40 to 46 mph with gusts as high as 68 mph 4 miles south of Beresford and 61 mph in North Sioux City.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds reached 40 to 44 mph at times with a peak gust of 62 mph at a South Dakota Road Weather Information System site 2 miles south-southwest of Beresford.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained northwest winds reached near 40 mph with a peak gust of 58 mph 4 miles south of Beresford.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Short duration near-blizzard conditions occurred, divided by a longer improvement in conditions as falling snow ended for a time during the afternoon and early evening. Gusty northwest winds from 35 to 55 mph were concurrent with light snowfall, which totaled 1.0 inch near Jeffer…
High Wind High Wind
Northwest winds were sustained between 40 and 48 mph at times, with gusts as high as 64 mph 4 miles south of Beresford.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chills reached as low as -28 degrees 4 miles south of Beresford.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 5.1 inches 2 miles west-northwest of Jefferson.
High Wind High Wind
Synoptic northwest winds were sustained from 40 to 46 mph with a peak gust of 61 mph at a South Dakota Road Weather Information System site 3 miles south-southwest of Beresford and 59 mph in North Sioux City.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 3.5 inches 2.1 miles west-northwest of Jefferson.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A long-duration snowfall totaled 5.2 inches 2 miles west-northwest of Jefferson and 5.0 inches 10 miles north-northeast of Elk Point. During a brief break in snowfall during the late evening of November 28 and into the early overnight, a period of light freezing rain and freezing…
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds reached as high as 40 to 42 mph at times at the South Dakota Road Weather Information System sites 4 miles south of Beresford and North Sioux City, with a peak gust of 58 mph in North Sioux City.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index values peaked as high as 109 degrees at North Sioux City and 101 degrees 4 miles south of Beresford on August 16.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index values peaked as high as 111 degrees in North Sioux City.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a Road Weather Information System sensor near Beresford.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a Road Weather Information System sensor near North Sioux City.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a Road Weather Information System sensor in North Sioux City.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Significant tree and powerline damage from an extended period of thunderstorm winds throughout Beresford. Several business signs were damaged.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds caused significant tree and powerline damage throughout Alcester.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
An extended period of damaging thunderstorm wind gusts was measured by a Road Weather Information System sensor south of Beresford. The first severe gusts were measured at 1954 CST with a peak of 75 mph at 2007 CST.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached an afternoon peak on July 27 as high as 113 degrees at North Sioux City and 107 degrees 4 miles south of Beresford.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Multiple roadways and intersections were inundated by water deep enough to impede travel.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached afternoon peaks as high as 115 degrees near Dakota Dunes on July 23.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Two large branches were broken out of a healthy tree.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds damaged trees around Elk Point, which led to sporadic power outages.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Daily afternoon and evening heat indices ranged from 105 to 116 degrees with a maximum heat index of 116 degrees at a personal weather station near Jefferson on June 20, 109 degrees at a Road Weather Information System site in North Sioux City on June 20, and 107 degrees at the R…
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Ping pong to golf ball size hail occurred between mile markers 19 and 22 on Interstate 29. A semi truck ran into another semi truck in the adjoining lane and forced it off the road due to poor visibility during hail, wind, and heavy rain.
Hail Hail
Periodic quarter to ping pong ball size hail occurred around Elk Point for a few minutes. Hail of varying size accumulated to several inches.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Large trees were blown down across Burbank Road.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 12 | 0 |
| 2025 | 46 | 0 |
| 2024 | 45 | 0 |
| 2023 | 44 | 0 |
| 2022 | 40 | 0 |
| 2021 | 24 | 0 |
| 2020 | 37 | 0 |
| 2019 | 59 | 0 |
| 2018 | 54 | 0 |
| 2017 | 11 | 0 |
| 2016 | 15 | 0 |
| 2015 | 17 | 0 |
| 2014 | 20 | 1 |
| 2013 | 15 | 2 |
| 2012 | 25 | 0 |
| 2011 | 22 | 0 |
| 2010 | 24 | 0 |
| 2009 | 16 | 0 |
| 2008 | 18 | 0 |
| 2007 | 18 | 0 |
| 2006 | 16 | 0 |
| 2005 | 33 | 1 |
| 2004 | 45 | 3 |
| 2003 | 8 | 0 |
| 2002 | 17 | 0 |
| 2001 | 22 | 1 |
| 2000 | 17 | 0 |
| 1999 | 13 | 1 |
| 1998 | 10 | 0 |
| 1997 | 11 | 0 |
| 1996 | 16 | 0 |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 | 5 | 1 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 | 5 | 0 |
| 1991 | 3 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 | 1 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 1 |
| 1986 | 7 | 1 |
| 1985 | 3 | 1 |
| 1984 | 3 | 0 |
| 1983 | 8 | 4 |
| 1982 | 3 | 0 |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 |
| 1980 | 4 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 1 |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 2 | 0 |
| 1973 | 2 | 0 |
| 1969 | 1 | 1 |
| 1965 | 1 | 1 |
| 1964 | 1 | 1 |
| 1963 | 1 | 1 |
| 1962 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | 1 | 0 |
| 1954 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Union County, measured to its path.
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