National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Overview

Severe storms produced tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds during the afternoon and evening hours of July 19 and 20. An EF-1 tornado was confirmed northwest of Moorcroft, Wyoming on July 19 and EF-Unknown tornado was confirmed near Parmelee, South Dakota on July 20. Tennis ball, baseball, and softball sized hail was reported in Parmelee, Green Mountain, and Saint Francis on July 20.

Image
Photo by Em W

Tornadoes

Select a tornado from the table to zoom into the track and view more information. The default table view is limited to 8 tracks, but can be scrolled by a mouse wheel or dynamically expanded. Additionally, the table can fill the entire window by clicking the small circular expanding arrow icon at the very top right of the table and returned to its original size by clicking the button again. The side information panel that opens over the map can be closed using the "X" on the upper right corner of the pop-up. Zoom into the map and click damage points to see detailed information and pictures from the surveys.

How to Use the Map

NOTE: times shown below are local to your device's time zone.

Download Data | Instructions




EF-Scale

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
Tornadoes that fail to impact any ratable damage indicators on the EF-Scale are rated EF-Unknown (EF-U)

Photos & Video

Funnel cloud photo Photo of hail Storm Photo Photo
Funnel Cloud from Keyhole Reservoir July 19, 2025
(Andrea H)
Tornado northwest of Moorcroft
July 19, 2025
(Anthony F)
Lightning in Rapid City
July 19, 2025
(Jackie S)
Tree Damage in Rapid Valley
July 19, 2025
(Deborah G)
Hail photo Hail photo Funnel cloud photo Funnel cloud photo
Hail at Parmelee
July 20, 2025
(Victoria O)
Hail at Parmelee
July 20, 2025
(Victoria O)
Funnel Cloud from Pine Haven
July 19, 2025
(Andrea H)
Funnel Cloud from Keyhole Reservoir July 19, 2025
(Adam T)
Hail photo Hail photo Storm photo Hail photo
Hail at Parmelee
July 20, 2025
(Elisha Y)
Hail at Parmelee
July 20, 2025
(Elisha Y)
Storm from Box Elder
July 19, 2025
(Amber M)
Hail at Parmelee
July 20, 2025
(Viva W)
Hail photo Hail photo    
Hail at Buckhorn
July 19, 2025
(Sadie N)
Hail in Rapid City
July 19, 2025
(Sarah C)

 
 



Video from Parmelee by Victoria O


Radar

July 20, 2025

Radar Image
Radar reflectivity, watches and warnings, and local storm reports from July 20, 2025 over south central South Dakota

Storm Reports

...MAXIMUM HAIL SIZE (AT LEAST 0.50 INCH) SORTED BY MAGNITUDE...

LOCATION                      MAX SIZE    
                               IN/S/

Rosebud SD                     4.50        615 PM 7/20/2025
Parmelee SD                    4.00        545 PM 7/20/2025
5 NW Saint Francis SD          2.50        604 PM 7/20/2025
Saint Francis SD               2.00        643 PM 7/20/2025
7 ESE Saint Francis SD         1.75        650 PM 7/20/2025
7 N Belvidere SD               1.25        655 PM 7/20/2025
3 SSE SILVER CITY SD           1.00        755 PM 7/19/2025
2 W Black Hawk SD              1.00        724 PM 7/19/2025
1 W O`Neil Pass SD             1.00        648 PM 7/19/2025
4 N Dwtn Rapid City SD         1.00        745 PM 7/19/2025
2 S Ludlow SD                  1.00        855 PM 7/20/2025
4 S Dwtn Rapid City SD         1.00        830 PM 7/19/2025
2 N Parmelee SD                1.00        540 PM 7/20/2025
4 NNE Rockerville SD           1.00        825 PM 7/19/2025
5 SW Downtown Rapid City SD    1.00        826 PM 7/19/2025
1 E Piedmont SD                0.75        718 PM 7/19/2025
6 NW Cedar Butte SD            0.75        454 PM 7/20/2025
3 N Downtown Rapid City SD     0.50        738 PM 7/19/2025
Johnson Siding SD              0.50        813 PM 7/19/2025
4 NE Rockerville SD            0.50        826 PM 7/19/2025
5 ESE Norris SD                0.50        520 PM 7/20/2025

...MAXIMUM OBSERVED WINDS (AT LEAST 50 MPH) SORTED BY MAGNITUDE...

LOCATION                      MAX WIND    
                               MPH

9 SSE Saint Francis SD           70        645 PM 7/20/2025
4 NNE Dwtn Rapid City SD         70        802 PM 7/19/2025
Rapid City Arpt SD               63        753 PM 7/19/2025
Ellsworth AFB SD                 62        753 PM 7/19/2025
7 SSW Folsom SD                  61        925 PM 7/19/2025
5 S Potato Creek SD              60       1110 PM 7/19/2025
7 N Rockyford SD                 60       1008 PM 7/19/2025
4 ENE Black Hawk SD              60        740 PM 7/19/2025
13 WNW Ladner SD                 60        945 PM 7/19/2025
1 W Box Elder SD                 60        758 PM 7/19/2025
7 E Wanblee SD                   58       1156 PM 7/19/2025
4 N Ludlow SD                    57        343 AM 7/20/2025
2 N Summerset SD                 55        730 PM 7/19/2025
13 NE Newell SD                  55        816 PM 7/19/2025
8 NNW Oshoto WY                  55        531 PM 7/19/2025
8 SSW Folsom SD                  54        920 PM 7/19/2025
1 WNW Caputa SD                  50        810 PM 7/19/2025
Ludlow SD                        50        850 PM 7/20/2025
8 SE Mud Butte SD                50        850 PM 7/19/2025

...PRELIMINARY RAINFALL TOTALS (AT LEAST 0.50 INCH) SORTED BY MAGNITUDE...

LOCATION                      TOTAL RAIN  
                               IN/S/

5 W Ellsworth AFB SD           1.55        700 AM 7/20/2025
9 WSW Ladner SD                1.29        800 AM 7/21/2025
14 WNW Lodgepole SD            1.16        800 AM 7/21/2025
4 NW Dwtn Rapid City SD        1.10        700 AM 7/21/2025
3 ESE Lemmon SD                1.09        800 AM 7/21/2025
4 WNW Cedar Butte SD           0.99        800 AM 7/21/2025
9 NW Ludlow SD                 0.97        630 AM 7/21/2025
14 S Mission SD                0.94        700 AM 7/21/2025
4 NW Parmelee SD               0.92        700 AM 7/21/2025
4 NNE Johnson Siding SD        0.87        800 AM 7/21/2025
4 NNE Summerset SD             0.85        600 AM 7/20/2025
1 NNW Piedmont SD              0.82        800 AM 7/21/2025
2 N Summerset SD               0.81        800 AM 7/21/2025
Piedmont SD                    0.76        700 AM 7/21/2025
3 NNE Johnson Siding SD        0.74        700 AM 7/21/2025
7 ESE Rosebud SD               0.74        800 AM 7/21/2025
4 W Rapid City SD              0.72        800 AM 7/21/2025
1 SSE Box Elder SD             0.72        700 AM 7/20/2025
4 S Dwtn Rapid City SD         0.68        700 AM 7/21/2025
6 NE Summerset SD              0.61        800 AM 7/20/2025
16 SSE Mission SD              0.61        600 AM 7/21/2025
1 SSW Box Elder SD             0.55        700 AM 7/20/2025
4 E Hisega SD                  0.52        700 AM 7/21/2025
7 SE Moorcroft WY              0.50        800 AM 7/20/2025

**************PEAK WIND GUST (AT LEAST 50 MPH)**************

LOCATION             MAX WIND      TIME/DATE  COMMENTS
                         GUST       MEASURED
                        (mph)

SOUTH DAKOTA

...Butte County...
  13 NE Newell             55   816 PM  7/19  Mesonet

...Custer County...
  7 SSW Folsom             61   925 PM  7/19  Mesonet
  8 SSW Folsom             54   920 PM  7/19  Mesonet

...Harding County...
  13 WNW Ladner            60   945 PM  7/19  Trained Spotter
  4 N Ludlow               57   343 AM  7/20  Mesonet
  Ludlow                   50   850 PM  7/20  Trained Spotter

...Jackson County...
  5 S Potato Creek         60  1110 PM  7/19  Trained Spotter
  7 E Wanblee              58  1156 PM  7/19  Mesonet

...Meade County...
  Ellsworth AFB            62   753 PM  7/19  Other Federal
  4 ENE Black Hawk         60   740 PM  7/19  3/4 inch hail
  2 N Summerset            55   730 PM  7/19  Mesonet
  8 SE Mud Butte           50   850 PM  7/19  Mesonet

...Oglala Lakota County...
  7 N Rockyford            60  1008 PM  7/19  Trained Spotter

...Pennington County...
  4 NNE Dwtn Rapid Cit     70   802 PM  7/19  69.6 mph
  Rapid City Arpt          63   753 PM  7/19  ASOS
  1 W Box Elder            60   758 PM  7/19  Mesonet
  1 WNW Caputa             50   810 PM  7/19  Mesonet

...Todd County...
  9 SSE Saint Francis      70   645 PM  7/20  Storm Chaser

WYOMING

...Crook County...
  8 NNW Oshoto             55   531 PM  7/19  Mesonet


***********MAXIMUM HAIL SIZE (AT LEAST 0.50 MPH)************

LOCATION                 HAIL      TIME/DATE  COMMENTS
                         SIZE       MEASURED
                     (inches)

SOUTH DAKOTA

...Harding County...
  2 S Ludlow             1.00   855 PM  7/20  Public

...Jackson County...
  7 N Belvidere          1.25   655 PM  7/20  Trained Spotter

...Lawrence County...
  1 W O`Neil Pass        1.00   648 PM  7/19  Trained Spotter

...Meade County...
  2 W Black Hawk         1.00   724 PM  7/19  Public
  1 E Piedmont           0.75   718 PM  7/19  Public

...Mellette County...
  6 NW Cedar Butte       0.75   454 PM  7/20  Public
  5 ESE Norris           0.50   520 PM  7/20  Trained Spotter

...Pennington County...
  3 SSE SILVER CITY      1.00   755 PM  7/19  Trained Spotter
  4 N Dwtn Rapid City    1.00   745 PM  7/19  NWS Employee
  4 S Dwtn Rapid City    1.00   830 PM  7/19  NWS Employee
  4 NNE Rockerville      1.00   825 PM  7/19  Nickel to quarter
  5 SW Downtown Rapid    1.00   826 PM  7/19  Public
  3 N Downtown Rapid C   0.50   738 PM  7/19  Public
  Johnson Siding         0.50   813 PM  7/19  Public
  4 NE Rockerville       0.50   826 PM  7/19  Public

...Todd County...
  Rosebud                4.50   615 PM  7/20  Trained Spotter
  Parmelee               4.00   545 PM  7/20  Most baseball size.
  5 NW Saint Francis     2.50   604 PM  7/20  Storm Chaser
  Saint Francis          2.00   643 PM  7/20  Trained Spotter
  7 ESE Saint Francis    1.75   650 PM  7/20  Public
  2 N Parmelee           1.00   540 PM  7/20  Trained Spotter

 


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