October 9th & 13th, 2021 Severe Weather

October 9th

Surface Weather Maps, Radar, Other

Surface observations at 1pm, 10-9-2021. Temperatures are in red, dewpoints in green, and pressure in yellow at each station	Surface observations at 4pm, 10-9-2021	Surface observations at 7pm, 10-9-2021	Surface observations at 10pm, 10-9-2021
Radar Reflectivity Loop from October 9, 2021: 1:00 PM CDT to 9:40 PM CDT	As storms approached Brentford, a tornado briefly touched down about 3 miles WSW of town in a bean field. The yellowish area that appears on the radar's Correlation Coefficient product on the right highlights lofted debris from this field. Radar loop is from 409 to 419pm.	Radar reflectivity across west central Minnesota at 721pm, around the time of a damaging tornado east northeast of Dumont	GOES-16 satellite (blend of visible and infrared) from 1pm to 8pm on October 9th, 2021 (20 minute time steps) from the CIRA RAMMB SLIDER
Listing of some of the higher rainfall totals, as well as a radar-estimated totals map. Watertown set a daily record of 2.23" on Oct 9th, surpassing 1.51" in 1982.	The Willow Creek near Watertown rose to minor flood stage on the morning of Oct 10th in response to the heavy rain	The south branch tributary to Mud Creek near Rauville nearly rose to minor flood stage in response to the heavy rain	The Big Sioux River near Castlewood nearly rose to minor flood stage in response to the heavy rain

Photos

Severe storms approaching Waubay (Photo courtesy of Devin Rathert)	Storm approaching Castlewood, SD on October 9, 2021 (Photo by Derek Thompson)	Straight-line wind damage in Groton	Flooding in Watertown, SD.  (Photo from KXLG-Watertown)
Tornado damage to a farm building 2 miles to the southwest of Dumont, MN on October 9, 2021.  (Photo by Nick and Amanda Elms)	Uprooted tree from a tornado 2 miles to the southwest of Dumont, MN.  (Photo by Nick and Amanda Elms)	Tornado left debris in a field 2 miles to the southwest of Dumont, MN.  (Photo by Nick and Amanda Elms)	Tornado damage 2 miles to the southwest of Dumont, MN on October 9, 2021.  (Photo by Nick and Amanda Elms)
Tornado damage to a farm silo east northeast of Dumont, MN. Photo from the official NWS storm survey	The missing silo in the photo to the left was transported by the tornado across the field into another property. Photo from the official NWS storm survey	Tornado damage to a farm building east northeast of Dumont, MN. Photo from the official NWS storm survey	One of the missing metal roof panels from the photo to the left. Photo from the official NWS storm survey

October 13th

Surface Weather Maps, Radar, Other

Surface observations at 10am, 10-13-2021. Temperatures are in red, dewpoints in green, and pressure in yellow at each station	Surface observations at 1pm, 10-13-2021	Surface observations at 4pm, 10-13-2021	Surface observations at 7pm, 10-13-2021. Temperatures dropped into the 40s at Wheaton, MN by the morning of the 14th
Radar Reflectivity Loop from October 13, 2021: 1:00 PM CDT to 5:00 PM CDT	Radar reflectivity (left) and storm relative velocity (right) across west central Minnesota at 420pm, at the time of a damaging tornado north of Wheaton	Radar reflectivity (left) and storm relative velocity (right) across west central Minnesota at 422pm, at the time of a damaging tornado east of Wheaton	GOES-16 satellite (blend of visible and infrared) from 1pm to 445pm on October 13th, 2021 (10 minute time steps) from the CIRA RAMMB SLIDER
List of some of the highest 48 hour rainfall totals across central & northeastern SD and west central MN	Radar-estimated 48 hour rainfall totals	List of some of the highest non-thunderstorm wind gusts across central & northeastern SD, associated with the deep surface low	Snowfall amounts across the Black Hills of South Dakota and region. More information from the Rapid City, SD NWS office here

Photos

Two landspout funnels (one briefly touched down) located 4 miles west of Onida at approximately 1:15 PM.  (Photo from Sully County EM)	Tornado occurring in Big Stone County around or after 3:40 PM on October 13, 2021 (Photo from Big Stone County Sheriff's Office)	Tornado occurring in Big Stone County around or after 3:40 PM (Photo from Big Stone County Sheriff's Office)	Tornado 4 miles west of Clinton, MN at 3:42 PM (Photo by Jason Haugen, relayed by Nick and Amanda Elms)
Tornado about 4 miles south of Barry, MN around 345pm. (Photo courtesy of Dusty Escher)	Tornado about 4 miles south of Barry, MN around 345pm. (Photo courtesy of Dusty Escher)	Tornado spotted north of Milbank. (Photo from Matthew Wohlleber). Note, tornadoes can and did develop in close proximity to blue skies, being on the edge of relatively small storms.	Debris from a tornado at 427pm 6 to 7 miles west of Herman, MN. (Photo courtesy of Preston Lund)
Tornado damage to a tree at a farm north of Wheaton, MN. Photo from the official NWS storm survey	Tornado damage to a farm building north of Wheaton, MN. Photo from the official NWS storm survey	Tornado damage to a farm building north of Wheaton, MN. Photo from the official NWS storm survey	A convergent wind pattern in the corn stocks from where the tornado north of Wheaton, MN entered. Photo from the official NWS storm survey
Tornado damage to trees on a farm  east of Wheaton, MN. Photo from the official NWS storm survey	Tornado damage to a farm building  east of Wheaton, MN. Photo from the official NWS storm survey	The tornado shifted heavy farm equipment east of Wheaton, MN. Photo from the official NWS storm survey	Tornado damage to farm equipment  east of Wheaton, MN. Photo from the official NWS storm survey

October 9th Storm Reports

The map below can be found in an interactive form here. 

An official NWS survey crew documented the following tornado from October 9th. Additional tornado and other severe weather reports can be found listed further down the page. Information is preliminary. 

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0412 PM     Tornado          2 SW Brentford          45.14N 98.35W
10/09/2021                   Spink              SD   Trained Spotter  
            12 large hay bales were rolled some distance, including over a fence. Time 
            estimated based on radar. Secondary public report of brief tornado southwest of 
            Brentford in an open field. 

0425 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     6 ENE Brentford         45.18N 98.21W
10/09/2021  E75 MPH          Spink              SD   Trained Spotter         

0436 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 ESE Aberdeen          45.45N 98.41W
10/09/2021  M56 MPH          Brown              SD   Official NWS Obs              

0510 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Andover                 45.41N 97.90W
10/09/2021  M66 MPH          Day                SD   Mesonet          
            Corrects previous non-tstm wnd gst report from Andover. Mesonet station 45 Andover 
            (SDDOT). 

0512 PM     Tornado          3 W Langford            45.60N 97.88W
10/09/2021                   Marshall           SD   Emergency Mngr                

0529 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     6 W Henry               44.88N 97.58W
10/09/2021  M57 MPH          Clark              SD   Mesonet          
            Corrects previous non-tstm wnd gst report from 6 W Henry. Mesonet station 174 Clark (SDDOT). 

0531 PM     Tornado          2 NW Roslyn             45.52N 97.52W
10/09/2021                   Day                SD   Fire Dept/Rescue 
            Fire Department report a brief tornado touchdown. Time estimated. 

0535 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Roslyn                  45.50N 97.49W
10/09/2021                   Day                SD   Fire Dept/Rescue 
            Trees down in Roslyn. Estimated 60 to 70 mph winds. 

0605 PM     Funnel Cloud     2 W Ortley              45.34N 97.24W
10/09/2021                   Day                SD   Public           
            
0615 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Bryant                  44.59N 97.47W
10/09/2021                   Hamlin             SD   Public           
            Tree damage in Bryant. Time estimated. 

0628 PM     Hail             4 W Hayti               44.66N 97.29W
10/09/2021  M1.00 inch       Hamlin             SD   Trained Spotter  
             
0636 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 NW Peever             45.57N 96.99W
10/09/2021                   Roberts            SD   Emergency Mngr   
            30 foot trailer pulled by a pick up truck overturned on Interstate 29. Time estimated by radar. 

0638 PM     Hail             2 S Thomas              44.73N 97.20W
10/09/2021  E1.00 inch       Hamlin             SD   Trained Spotter  
             
0718 PM     Tornado          2 SW Dumont             45.70N 96.45W
10/09/2021                   Traverse           MN   Public           
            Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 2 SW Dumont. A tornado caused damage to a 
            barn. The winds damaged a wall, and unroofed part of the barn. Time estimated based on 
            radar. 

0721 PM     Tornado          7 ENE Dumont            45.76N 96.29W
10/09/2021                   Traverse           MN   NWS Storm Survey 
            Damage to trees, grain bins and out buildings. See official NWS damage survey 
            for more information. 

October 13th Storm Reports

The map below can be found in an interactive form here.  

An official NWS survey crew documented the following tornadoes from October 13th. Additional tornado and other severe weather 
reports can be found listed further down the page. Information is preliminary.





..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0115 PM     Funnel Cloud     1 SW Onida              44.69N 100.09W
10/13/2021                   Sully              SD   Emergency Mngr   
            Emergency Manager relayed a report of a funnel cloud made by the public. Storm in 
            that area also producing pea size hail. 

0115 PM     Tornado          2 SW Onida              44.69N 100.09W
10/13/2021                   Sully              SD   Emergency Mngr   
            Emergency Manager relayed a report of a funnel cloud made by the public. This funnel 
            cloud made very brief contact with the ground. 

0117 PM     Funnel Cloud     5 NE Grey Goose         44.55N 100.28W
10/13/2021                   Sully              SD   Trained Spotter  
            Approximate time and location, relayed via social media with photos. 

0303 PM     Tornado          3 NE Rudebusch Corner   45.46N 97.10W
10/13/2021                   Roberts            SD   Trained Spotter  
            Approximate tornado begin time and location based on report and radar. The tornado 
            lasted for about 5 minutes. 

0315 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Lake City               45.72N 97.42W
10/13/2021  M56 MPH          Marshall           SD   Mesonet          
            Mesonet station 2 Lake City (SDDOT). 

0325 PM     Tornado          5 ENE Wilmot            45.44N 96.76W
10/13/2021                   Roberts            SD   Public           
            Approximate location and time. 

0325 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 SW Big Stone City     45.27N 96.51W
10/13/2021  M57 MPH          Grant              SD   Mesonet          
            Mesonet station 292 7NE Milbank (SDDOT). 

0330 PM     Tornado          9 NW Big Stone City     45.40N 96.59W
10/13/2021                   Roberts            SD   Trained Spotter  
            A small waterspout tracked across Big Stone Lake. Approximate location based on report 
            and radar. 

0333 PM     Tornado          3 N Odessa              45.30N 96.34W
10/13/2021                   Big Stone          MN   Public           
            Tornado observed with photo. Time approximated from radar. 

0342 PM     Tornado          4 NW Clinton            45.51N 96.50W
10/13/2021                   Big Stone          MN   Fire Dept/Rescue 
            Confirmed by Graceville Fire Department. Time approximated based on radar. 

0346 PM     Tornado          4 S Barry               45.50N 96.56W
10/13/2021                   Big Stone          MN   Public           
            Confirmed with pictures sent via social media. 

0418 PM     Tornado          9 NNW Wheaton           45.93N 96.55W
10/13/2021                   Traverse           MN   NWS Storm Survey 
            Damage to trees, a pole barn, and farm equipment. See official NWS damage survey 
            for more information. 

0422 PM     Tornado          9 NE Dumont             45.80N 96.29W
10/13/2021                   Traverse           MN   Law Enforcement  
            Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 9 NE Dumont. Uprooted tree and roof off an 
            outbuilding, reported by Traverse County Sheriff. See PNS for NWS survey information. 

Historical Perspective

Tornadoes in October are very infrequent, with the last October tornado in South Dakota or Minnesota occurring in 2013. Prior to 2021, there had been just 18 total confirmed October tornadoes in the state of South Dakota, and 29 in Minnesota (left two images below). The biggest October tornado outbreak in both Minnesota and South Dakota occurred on October 26, 1996, when a combined 24 tornadoes occurred (10 in SD and 14 in MN), and the year with the most October tornadoes for both states was also 1996 (10 in SD and 16 in MN). The October 9th and 13th, 2021 events combined for a preliminary total of 7 tornadoes in SD and 9 in MN, which ranks as the 2nd highest number of October tornadoes for both states since records began in 1950.  

15 total Tornado Warnings were issued by NWS Aberdeen in October (right two images below), by far the largest number ever issued for the month, and similar to what we would normally issue during an active June or July. This is only the 5th time that a tornado warning was issued in October since record keeping began in 1986. The 12 tornado warnings issued on the *single day* of October 9th is higher than the *total monthly amount* for any August, September or October on record.  

Listing of all documented South Dakota tornadoes in the month of October, prior to 10-9-2021, from Storm Data	Listing of all documented Minnesota tornadoes in the month of October, prior to 10-9-2021, from Storm Data	Chart of Tornado Warnings issued by NWS Aberdeen by month since 1986 (Iowa State - IEM)	Chart of the first and last days that Tornado Warnings were issued by NWS Aberdeen and listed by year (Iowa State - IEM)