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Sioux Falls, SD

Weather Forecast Office

Severe Storms Produce Significant Damage in Burke, SD - August 6, 2019

Weather.gov > Sioux Falls, SD > Severe Storms Produce Significant Damage in Burke, SD - August 6, 2019

Overview

During the evening hours of August 6, 2019 a cluster of severe thunderstorms moved across central South Dakota and into northern Nebraska.  These severe storms produced dangerous hail greater than 3" along with damaging straight line winds.  

As this storm moved into Gregory county in south central South Dakota, a tornado rapidly developed in the town of Burke.  This tornado produced significant damage to portions of the city center, including the school, civic center, local lumberyard and many surrounding businesses and homes.  NWS storm survey specialists rated this tornado as an EF-1, with peak wind speeds estimated at or near 110 MPH on the enhanced fujita scale. This tornado traveled an estimated 3.8 miles with a peak width of 75 yards.  Two injuries were reported as this storm moved through the area. 

 Radar Loop of Severe Storms
Radar Loop of Severe Storms
Image Image Image
Aerial Photo of Burke, SD Severe Storm Arriving At Burke, SD Summary of Issued Warnings

Tornadoes

Tornado - BURKE, SD
GREGORY COUNTY

Date August 6, 2019
Time (Local) 10:25 PM - 10:33PM
EF Rating EF - 1
Est. Peak Winds 110 mph
Path Length 3.8 Miles
Max Width 75 Yards
Injuries/Deaths 2 Injuries

Summary:

While widespread 80-100 mph straight line winds caused much of the damage in Burke, a small tornado did touch down in the city.  This tornado touched down at 10:25 pm near city center, lifting at 10:33 pm south of the city of Burke.

 

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0
Weak
65-85 mph		 EF1
Moderate
86-110 mph		 EF2
Significant
111-135 mph		 EF3
Severe
136-165 mph		 EF4
Extreme
166-200 mph		 EF5
Catastrophic
200+ mph
ef-scale

Photos & Video

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Burke, SD
(NWS Survey)		 Burke, SD
(NWS Survey)		 Burke, SD
(NWS Survey)		 Burke, SD
(NWS Survey)
Photo Photo Photo Photo
Burke, SD
(NWS Survey)		 Burke, SD
(NWS Survey)		 Burke, SD
(NWS Survey)		 Burke, SD
(NWS Survey)
Photo Photo Photo Photo
Aerial Imagery
(Computer Access)		 Aerial Imagery
(Computer Access)		 Aerial Imagery
(Computer Access)		 Aerial Imagery
(Computer Access)

Radar

Header

Radar/Photo Radar/Photo Radar/Photo Radar/Photo
10:01PM 10:11PM 10:20PM 10:28PM
  Radar/Photo Radar/Photo  
  10:34PM 10:43PM  

Storm Reports

Here is a look at local storm reports during the evening of August 6, 2019. Additional information will be shown as the page is updated.

Maps of Local Storm Reports
Report Time Location ST Event Type Mag. Source Remark
Tue Aug 06 2019 21:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 9 S Watauga SD TSTM WND GST 60 public brief hail between nickel and quarter size.
Tue Aug 06 2019 21:25:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 6 WSW Little Eagle SD HAIL 1 public most hailstones between nickel and quarter size.
Tue Aug 06 2019 21:45:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 5 SSE Little Eagle SD HAIL 1 public ground became white with hail.
Tue Aug 06 2019 22:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 3 N Trail City SD HAIL 1 public depth of hail was 5 inches. corn crop was stripped.
Tue Aug 06 2019 22:02:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 10 N Timber Lake SD HAIL 0.5 public  
Tue Aug 06 2019 22:04:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 4 W Trail City SD TSTM WND GST 59 mesonet  
Tue Aug 06 2019 22:24:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 5 E Trail City SD HAIL 1 public 40 mph wind estimate. corn crop was stripped.
Tue Aug 06 2019 23:23:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Whitlocks Bay Rec Area SD TSTM WND GST 70 public 1.75 inch hail also reported.
Tue Aug 06 2019 23:25:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 3 SSW Whitlocks Bay Rec SD TSTM WND DMG 0 public winds estimated at at least 80 mph. hail as large as tennis balls, although most were smaller. hail accumulated in drifts that were 7 to 8 inches deep. wind driven hail shredded siding, many windows broken. trees were both uprooted and broken at the trunk and many very large branches are down. the roof of a nearby storage unit was partially torn off.
Tue Aug 06 2019 23:25:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 2 N Herreid SD TSTM WND GST 57 mesonet  
Tue Aug 06 2019 23:35:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 7 ESE Herreid SD TSTM WND GST 60 public 3 inch diameter branch down. a few quarter size hail, but mostly dime to nickel size.
Tue Aug 06 2019 23:39:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 4 WSW Gorman SD HAIL 1.75 trained spotter all windows on north side of house broken out.
Tue Aug 06 2019 23:43:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 6 W Agar SD HAIL 1.75 trained spotter 18 inch diameter tree down on power lines.
Tue Aug 06 2019 23:43:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 9 ENE Mound City SD TSTM WND DMG 0 public garden crops damaged and some flattened.
Tue Aug 06 2019 23:50:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Onida SD HAIL 1.75 public  
Wed Aug 07 2019 00:15:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 4 SSE Blunt SD FUNNEL CLOUD 0 storm chaser  
Wed Aug 07 2019 00:18:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 3 NE Selby SD HAIL 1 trained spotter over 60 mph estimated as well.
Wed Aug 07 2019 00:20:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 1 WSW Blunt SD TSTM WND GST 78 storm chaser also measured 2.4 inch hail 20 minutes after it fell.
Wed Aug 07 2019 00:21:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 1 E Blunt SD HAIL 2.75 trained spotter golf ball to baseball sized hail fell from 1 mile west to 1 mile east of blunt. several reports of windows and siding broken. tree limbs down. winds estimated 60 to 65 mph.
Wed Aug 07 2019 00:28:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 2 S Java SD HAIL 1 emergency mngr mostly dime to nickel size hail with some quarter size.
Wed Aug 07 2019 00:30:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 2 S Java SD HAIL 2.75 trained spotter mostly golf ball size hail. vehicle windows shattered.
Wed Aug 07 2019 00:33:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 2 S Java SD TSTM WND GST 60 emergency mngr  
Wed Aug 07 2019 00:40:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 6 W Bowdle SD HAIL 1 emergency mngr time estimated from radar.
Wed Aug 07 2019 00:47:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 2 N Hoven SD HAIL 1 public  
Wed Aug 07 2019 00:48:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 8 NNW West Bend Rec Are SD HAIL 3 storm chaser many hail stones exceeding 3 inches in size.
Wed Aug 07 2019 00:50:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 3 NE Hoven SD HAIL 1.25 public mostly quarter size hail, some half dollar size. some garden crop damage.
Wed Aug 07 2019 01:04:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 3 NNW Tolstoy SD HAIL 0.88 nws employee  
Wed Aug 07 2019 01:05:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 5 SE Joe Creek Rec Area SD HAIL 2.75 trained spotter mostly golf ball size hail with a few baseball size.
Wed Aug 07 2019 01:10:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 3 ESE Tolstoy SD HAIL 1 public  
Wed Aug 07 2019 01:20:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 1 E Blunt SD HAIL 1.75 trained spotter  
Wed Aug 07 2019 01:28:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 5 ESE Blunt SD HAIL 1.25 public quarter to half dollar size. no apparent damage noticeable.
Wed Aug 07 2019 01:45:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 3 SE Reliance SD TSTM WND GST 64 mesonet dot rwis.
Wed Aug 07 2019 01:55:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 11 S Chamberlain SD HAIL 0.88 trained spotter reported nickel size hail before the rain started, then nothing bigger than pea-size since then.
Wed Aug 07 2019 01:55:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 6 SSW Chamberlain SD HAIL 0.7 trained spotter lots of pea sized with some dime sized hail. otherwise just very heavy rain.
Wed Aug 07 2019 01:57:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 8 SSW Chamberlain SD HAIL 1 trained spotter  
Wed Aug 07 2019 01:57:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 6 SSW Chamberlain SD HAIL 1 trained spotter hail stones have been increasing in size over the past 5 minutes.
Wed Aug 07 2019 02:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 6 SSW Chamberlain SD HAIL 1 trained spotter hail stones have been increasing in size over the past 5 minutes.
Wed Aug 07 2019 02:05:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 4 NW West Bend Rec Area SD HAIL 1 public  
Wed Aug 07 2019 02:15:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 6 SSW Chamberlain SD HAIL 2 trained spotter  
Wed Aug 07 2019 02:15:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 6 SSW Platte SD HAIL 2 trained spotter  
Wed Aug 07 2019 02:15:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lower Brule SD TSTM WND GST 60 fire dept/rescue  
Wed Aug 07 2019 02:15:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lower Brule SD HAIL 2.75 fire dept/rescue tennis ball to baseball size hail. window damage to vehicles and homes.
Wed Aug 07 2019 02:28:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 18 S Pukwana SD HAIL 1 trained spotter  
Wed Aug 07 2019 02:42:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 15 WNW Platte SD HAIL 0.88 trained spotter nickel sized hail currently falling.
Wed Aug 07 2019 02:50:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 6 SSW Platte SD HAIL 0.88 trained spotter storm total rainfall so far at 1.00 inch.
Wed Aug 07 2019 02:54:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 5 S Chamberlain SD HAIL 1.75 co-op observer nickel up to golf ball sized hail fell.
Wed Aug 07 2019 02:57:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 2 NE Iona SD TSTM WND DMG 0 public trees down, shingles off homeowners roof. radar estimated time.
Wed Aug 07 2019 03:04:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 3 SSW Iona SD HAIL 2 public hail size is unknown, but it was large enough to damage siding, break windows, and severely damage crops. radar estimated time.
Wed Aug 07 2019 03:10:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 7 NNE Dixon SD HAIL 2.75 public hail destroyed windshield and headlights. no injuries. report relayed via spotter who came across the disabled vehicle and occupants.
Wed Aug 07 2019 03:16:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Platte SD FLASH FLOOD 0 law enforcement roads under water on the south side of platte, south of highway 44.
Wed Aug 07 2019 03:18:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 8 SW Herrick SD HAIL 0.7 trained spotter estimating wind gusts up to 50 mph.
Wed Aug 07 2019 03:25:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Burke SD TORNADO 0 nws storm survey *** 2 inj *** widespread 80 to 100 mph winds were reported across burke. an ef-1 tornado touched down in burke with path width of 75 yards and path length of 3.8 miles.
Wed Aug 07 2019 03:30:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Burke SD TSTM WND GST 70 trained spotter at least six large pine, spruce, and cedar trees down in yard.
Wed Aug 07 2019 03:30:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Burke SD TSTM WND GST 70 trained spotter building debris scattered across the highway.
Wed Aug 07 2019 03:30:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Burke SD TSTM WND DMG 0 fire dept/rescue very strong wind gust has caused tree branches to come down, and burke lost power for a couple minutes.
Wed Aug 07 2019 03:39:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Fairfax SD HAIL 0.5 trained spotter  
Wed Aug 07 2019 04:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Spencer NE TSTM WND DMG 0 broadcast media large branches downed. time estimated from radar
Wed Aug 07 2019 04:03:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 15 NNE Stuart NE HAIL 2 public report via social media with picture.
Wed Aug 07 2019 04:20:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 13 NE Atkinson NE TSTM WND DMG 0 broadcast media grain bin damage... top caved in from wind. time estimated from radar
Wed Aug 07 2019 04:30:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 16 N Oneill NE TSTM WND DMG 0 broadcast media trees downed blocking road. time estimated from radar
Wed Aug 07 2019 04:30:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 10 N Atkinson NE TSTM WND DMG 0 broadcast media trees down. camper moved a few feet and has window damage. time estimated from radar
Wed Aug 07 2019 04:40:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Emmet NE TSTM WND DMG 0 law enforcement report of tree and powerlines down along highway near emmet
Wed Aug 07 2019 05:02:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Oneill NE TSTM WND GST 58 awos  
Wed Aug 07 2019 06:21:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 4 SSE Bartlett NE TSTM WND GST 59 mesonet  
Wed Aug 07 2019 06:50:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 8 ESE Rose NE HAIL 1 public dime to quarter size hail. 2.10 inches of rain
Wed Aug 07 2019 12:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Burwell NE HEAVY RAIN 1.37 cocorahs  
Wed Aug 07 2019 12:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 5 SSE Spencer NE HEAVY RAIN 1.64 co-op observer  
Wed Aug 07 2019 12:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 8 WNW Ericson NE HEAVY RAIN 1.22 co-op observer  
Wed Aug 07 2019 12:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 2 W Oneill NE HEAVY RAIN 1.31 awos  
Wed Aug 07 2019 12:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 16 N Oneill NE HEAVY RAIN 1.75 broadcast media  
Wed Aug 07 2019 12:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) SW Chambers NE HEAVY RAIN 2.8 broadcast media  
Wed Aug 07 2019 12:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 20 NW Oneill NE HEAVY RAIN 1.8 broadcast media  
Wed Aug 07 2019 12:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) S Oneill NE HEAVY RAIN 1.6 broadcast media  
Wed Aug 07 2019 12:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) SW Atkinson NE HEAVY RAIN 1.5 broadcast media  
Wed Aug 07 2019 12:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) N Atkinson NE HEAVY RAIN 1.2 broadcast media  
Wed Aug 07 2019 12:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Spencer NE HEAVY RAIN 1.6 broadcast media  
Wed Aug 07 2019 12:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 10 N Atkinson NE HEAVY RAIN 1.6 broadcast media  
Wed Aug 07 2019 12:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Oneill NE HEAVY RAIN 1.65 co-op observer  
Wed Aug 07 2019 13:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 7 N Atkinson NE HEAVY RAIN 1.15 broadcast media  
Wed Aug 07 2019 13:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 1 N Gross NE HEAVY RAIN 1.35 broadcast media  
Wed Aug 07 2019 13:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) 5 S Newport NE HEAVY RAIN 1.22 broadcast media  
Wed Aug 07 2019 13:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) NE Bartlett NE HEAVY RAIN 1.52 broadcast media  
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