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Rapid City, SD

Weather Forecast Office

July 18, 2018 Severe Thunderstorms and Tripp County Tornado

Weather.gov > Rapid City, SD > July 18, 2018 Severe Thunderstorms and Tripp County Tornado

Overview

Storm approaching Tripp County image by Laura Welker

 

During the afternoon and evening of July 18, 2018, scattered strong to severe thunderstorms developed across western South Dakota. The most intense storm produced a brief tornado and significant straight-line wind damage over northeastern Tripp County, north of Hamill. Based on a storm damage survey, the highest winds of the tornado were estimated to be 90 to 100 mph, which gives it a rating of EF-1. In addition, straight-line winds snapped trees and power poles, with estimated wind speeds up to 115 mph. This storm is pictured to the left. Photo courtesy of Laura Welker from Hamill.

Farther west, a severe thunderstorm produced hail up to two inches in diameter and wind gusts to 70 mph across portions of Pennington, Custer, and Oglala Lakota Counties. The storm also produced locally heavy rainfall, which led to water over roadways across portions of Pennington County.

 

Tornadoes:

Tornado - North of Hamill, SD
Tripp County

Date July 18, 2018
Time (Local) 7:35 PM CDT
EF Rating EF-1
Est. Peak Winds 100 mph
Path Length 0.22 miles
Max Width 20 yards
Injuries/Deaths 0

Summary: A brief tornado developed near the intersection of 257th St and 325th Ave in northeastern Tripp County, tipping over and damaging an irrigation pivot. Surrounding damage to the west and southwest was determined to be a result of straight-line winds.

Track Map

Track Map EF-Scale

Downloadable KMZ File

 

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:

 

Tripp County Tornado and Straight-Line Wind Damage

 

Photo Photo Photo

Irrigation Pivot Blown Over
northeastern Tripp County,
near 257th St and 326th Ave

Irrigation Pivot Blown Over
northeastern Tripp County,
near 257th St and 326th Ave

Irrigation Pivot Moved
northeastern Tripp County,
near 257th St and 326th Ave

 

Photo Photo Photo

Power Pole Damage
northeastern Tripp County,
325th Ave between 257th and 258th

Shed Destroyed
northeastern Tripp County,
325th Ave between 257th and 258th

Outbuilding Damaged and Moved
northeastern Tripp County,
325th Ave between 257th and 258th

 

Photo Photo Photo

Tree Damage
northeastern Tripp County,
325th Ave between 257th and 258th

 

Photo Photo

Storm Approaching
taken 3 miles north of Hamill, SD
(courtesy Ryan Schoenhard)


Storm Video recorded from Rapid City Weather Forecast Office

 

Hail and Heavy Rain Photos

Photo Photo Photo Photo

Box Elder 
(courtesy Amanda Breann)

Box Elder 
​(courtesy Amy McGovern)

Box Elder 
​(courtesy Jade Loup)

Box Elder 
​(courtesy Lori Winterberg)

Photo Photo Photo

Box Elder 
(courtesy Ronna Marie)

South of Box Elder
​(courtesy Ed Milnes)

South of Box Elder
​(courtesy Ed Milnes)

 

Photo Photo

Box Elder 
(courtesy Sarah Marie)

South of Box Elder
​(courtesy Wendy Natchigall)

 

Photo Photo

South of Box Elder
(courtesy Kelly Whitaker)

North of I-90
​(courtesy Lois Peterson)
 
Photo Photo

Water on Radar Hill Road
(courtesy Robyn Ellis)

Hail Damage to Vehicle, south of Box Elder
​(courtesy Darin Chiaroni)

 

Radar:

Overview

Radar from 3 PM through 9 PM MDT on 7/18/2018

Tripp County Tornado

Radar Image Radar Image
Radar Reflectivity (storm intensity) Radar Storm-Relative Velocity (wind)

Storm Reports

Map of preliminary storm reports from July 18, 2018. Red T's, blue W's, and green H's show tornado, wind, and hail reports, respectively. 
..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0238 PM     TSTM WND GST     ELLSWORTH AFB           44.15N 103.10W
07/18/2018  M51 MPH          MEADE              SD   OTHER FEDERAL   

0248 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 E DOWNTOWN RAPID CITY 44.07N 103.21W
07/18/2018  M60 MPH          PENNINGTON         SD   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

0248 PM     HAIL             BOX ELDER               44.12N 103.07W
07/18/2018  M2.00 INCH       PENNINGTON         SD   SOCIAL MEDIA    

0251 PM     HAIL             BOX ELDER               44.12N 103.07W
07/18/2018  M1.75 INCH       PENNINGTON         SD   SOCIAL MEDIA    

0252 PM     HAIL             5 E DOWNTOWN RAPID CITY 44.08N 103.13W
07/18/2018  E1.00 INCH       PENNINGTON         SD   NWS EMPLOYEE    

0252 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 E DOWNTOWN RAPID CITY 44.08N 103.13W
07/18/2018  E60 MPH          PENNINGTON         SD   NWS EMPLOYEE    

0253 PM     TSTM WND GST     RAPID CITY AIRPORT      44.05N 103.06W
07/18/2018  M70 MPH          PENNINGTON         SD   ASOS            

0313 PM     HAIL             2 SE FARMINGDALE        43.95N 102.86W
07/18/2018  M1.25 INCH       PENNINGTON         SD   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0325 PM     HAIL             4 SE FOLSOM             43.80N 102.81W
07/18/2018  M1.00 INCH       CUSTER             SD   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0325 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 SE FOLSOM             43.80N 102.81W
07/18/2018                   CUSTER             SD   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            LARGE TREE BRANCHES BROKEN. 

0358 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 NNE ROCKYFORD         43.51N 102.50W
07/18/2018  E60 MPH          OGLALA LAKOTA      SD   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0410 PM     HAIL             19 S OKREEK             43.10N 100.34W
07/18/2018  M1.00 INCH       TODD               SD   PUBLIC          

0630 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 N HAMILL              43.66N  99.67W
07/18/2018                   TRIPP              SD   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            A SHED WAS LEVELED, MANY WINDOWS BROKEN, CEDAR TREES 
            UPROOTED, 2 VERY LARGE PINE TREES BROKEN OFF ONE 6 FEET 
            OFF THE GROUND THE OTHER ABOUT 12 FEET OFF THE GROUND. 

0655 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 W HAMILL              43.59N  99.71W
07/18/2018  M52 MPH          TRIPP              SD   MESONET         


HAIL REPORTS LISTED BY SIZE (INCHES)

 SIZE    LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME
 ------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------
  2.00   BOX ELDER                SD  PENNINGTON       0248 PM
  1.75   BOX ELDER                SD  PENNINGTON       0251 PM
  1.25   2 SE FARMINGDALE         SD  PENNINGTON       0313 PM
  1.00   19 S OKREEK              SD  TODD             0410 PM
  1.00   4 SE FOLSOM              SD  CUSTER           0325 PM
  1.00   5 E DOWNTOWN RAPID CITY  SD  PENNINGTON       0252 PM


TSTM WIND REPORTS LISTED BY SPEED (MPH)

 SPEED   LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME
 ------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------
 70.00   RAPID CITY AIRPORT       SD  PENNINGTON       0253 PM
 60.00   1 NNE ROCKYFORD          SD  OGLALA LAKOTA    0358 PM
 60.00   5 E DOWNTOWN RAPID CITY  SD  PENNINGTON       0252 PM
 60.00   1 E DOWNTOWN RAPID CITY  SD  PENNINGTON       0248 PM
 56.00   3 ESE PINE RIDGE         SD  OGLALA LAKOTA    1034 PM
 52.00   2 W HAMILL               SD  TRIPP            0655 PM
 51.00   ELLSWORTH AFB            SD  MEADE            0238 PM
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