List of 2003 South Dakota tornado outbreak tornadoes explained

The 2003 South Dakota tornado outbreak produced an all-time one-day record for most tornadoes in South Dakota with 67 on June 24, 2003 and a total of 95 tornadoes across five states on that day. It was a part of a four-day event which produced a total of 125 tornadoes from Wyoming to Minnesota from June 21 to June 24. While there were no fatalities on June 24, one person was killed on June 22 and another on June 23, both in Nebraska.

Confirmed tornadoes

June 21 event

F#LocationCounty Time (UTC)Path lengthDamage
Wyoming
bgcolor=# F0W of GilletteCampbell18500.5 miles
(0.8 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0SE of WyodakCampbell19251 miles
(1.6 km)
Weak tornado with no damage.
North Dakota
bgcolor=# F0SW of MercerMcLean20275 miles
(8 km)
Weak tornado with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0W of Crystal SpringsKidder2244unknownBrief touchdown with no damage.
Source: Tornado History Project - June 21, 2003 Storm Data

June 22 event

F#LocationCounty Time (UTC)Path lengthDamage
Nebraska
bgcolor=# F0E of RuskinThayer22304 miles
(6.4 km)
Damage to center pivots and power poles.
bgcolor=# F2Deshler areaThayer22433 miles
(4.8 km)
1 death - Major damage occurred on the south side of town. 400 homes were damaged, including 4 destroyed and 100 others with moderate damage. Six businesses were destroyed and 25 others had extensive damage. 7 other people were injured.
bgcolor=# F0NE of DeshlerThayer23001 miles
(1.6 km)
Weak tornado with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0NW of AuroraHamilton23082 miles
(3.2 km)
Weak tornado with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0S of DeshlerThayer23202 miles
(3.2 km)
Damage to crops and center pivot systems.
bgcolor=# F0SW of MarquetteHamilton23420.5 miles
(0.8 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0NE of BradshawYork00300.2 miles
(0.32 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage
Minnesota
bgcolor=# F1E of StarbuckPope23500.1 miles
(0.16 km)
A camper was flipped and trees were knocked down.
Kansas
bgcolor=# F0N of CourtlandRepublic00120.5 miles
(0.8 km)
Several outbuildings were damaged.
bgcolor=# F0NW of ScandiaRepublic00201 miles
(1.6 km)
Damage to power poles and power lines.
bgcolor=# F1NE of CourtlandRepublic00303 miles
(4.8 km)
2 homes were damaged.
bgcolor=# F1SE of RepublicRepublic00582 miles
(3.2 km)
One home was damaged.
bgcolor=# F2NE of RepublicRepublic01104 miles
(6.4 km)
One home was destroyed.
bgcolor=# F0NW of MundenRepublic02170.5 miles
(0.8 km)
A sheriff's car was blown into a ditch.
bgcolor=# F0E of WoodruffPhillips05070.2 miles
(0.32 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0SW of ReamsvilleSmith05450.2 miles
(0.32 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0NW of ReamsvilleSmith05500.2 miles
(0.32 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
Source: Tornado History Project - June 22, 2003 Storm Data

June 23 event

F#LocationCounty Time (UTC)Path lengthDamage
North Dakota
bgcolor=# F1S of CogswellSargent20452.5 miles
(4 km)
Damage mostly to crops.
bgcolor=# F0S of BramptonSargent21023 miles
(4.8 km)
Weak tornado with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0SW of FormanSargent21081 miles
(1.6 km)
Weak tornado with no damage
bgcolor=# F0SE of StirumSargent21152 miles
(3.2 km)
Weak tornado with no damage.
South Dakota
bgcolor=# F0S of OrtleyGrant23500.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
Nebraska
bgcolor=# F0N of RoyalAntelope0100unknownBrief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F4Coleridge areaCedar014313 miles
(20.8 km)
1 death - Tornado touched down about 6 miles southwest of Coleridge. The tornado moved northeast and crossed the northern sections of the city uprooting trees, downing power lines, and destroying a couple of grain bins. A construction business in a garage was also destroyed. The tornado then continued northeast of town, hitting a large hog farm. At this farm, a 70-year-old man was killed while in a storage shed when a tractor that was flipped by the winds crushed him. Many livestock were also killed by debris or flung through the air. In one case cattle were carried over a mile then left dead in a pile. The tornado then widened to around 3/4 of a mile, reaching its maximum intensity. Numerous vehicles were tossed at this location and a farmstead was completely flattened. Trees were also stripped and debarked. The tornado remained around 3/4 of a mile wide for a few more miles before turning slightly to the southeast and diminishing, but not before hitting 2 more farmsteads and moving one house off of its foundation. In total, 11 homes received substantial damage and between 100 and 200 utility poles were downed.
bgcolor=# F0N of McCookFrontier02210.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Damage to power poles.
Iowa
bgcolor=# F0W of CorrectionvilleWoodbury02510.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
Source: Tornado History Project - June 23, 2003 Storm Data

June 24 event

F#LocationCounty Time (UTC)Path lengthDamage
Wyoming
bgcolor=# F0NW of BaggsSweetwater1830unknownBrief touchdown with no damage.
South Dakota
bgcolor=# F0E of Mount VernonDavison21150.4 miles
(0.6 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F2N of Mount VernonDavison21176 miles
(9.6 km)
A barn, a granary, and a machine shed were destroyed. One home, crops, trees and several farm buildings were damaged. Tornado left cycloidal marks in farm fields.
bgcolor=# F0Vermillion areaClay21580.2 miles
(0.32 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0NE of Centerville (1st tornado)Lincoln22171 miles
(1.6 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0W of ForestburgSanborn22190.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F3W of WoonsocketJerauld, Sanborn22236 miles
(9.6 km)
Large cone-shaped tornado destroyed or severely damaged several buildings on two farms. The tornado lifted the roof off a house. Another farmhouse had windows blown out, and shingles and aluminum siding torn off. Destroyed buildings included a barn, garage, outbuildings, and other small structures. Vehicles inside the destroyed garage were damaged. The tornado also caused tree, power line, and crop damage. Tornado left cycloidal marks in farm fields.
bgcolor=# F0N of HarrisburgLincoln22300.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0N of VermillionClay22420.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0SW of MidwayClay22420.5 miles
(0.8 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0NE of WoonsocketSanborn22450.5 miles
(0.8 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0W of CarthageSanborn22550.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0SE of Huron (1st tornado)Beadle23000.2 miles
(0.32 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0SE of Huron (2nd tornado)Beadle23000.2 miles
(0.32 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0NW of EsmondBeadle23160.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0N of EsmondKingsbury23270.4 miles
(0.6 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F4ManchesterKingsbury232910 miles
(16 km)
See section on this tornado – Four people were injured. Manchester was never rebuilt and is now a "ghost town".
bgcolor=# F0NW of Hub CityClay23300.7 miles
(1.1 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0NE of Wakonda (1st tornado)Clay23301 miles
(1.6 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F1NE of Wakonda (2nd tornado)Clay23321.5 miles
(2.4 km)
Buildings at a farm, crops, and trees were damaged.
bgcolor=# F0NE of Wakonda (3rd tornado)Clay23322 miles
(3.2 km)
Trees and crops were damaged.
bgcolor=# F0SW of CentervilleClay23330.5 miles
(0.8 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0Centerville areaTurner23331 miles
(1.6 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0SE of WatertownCodington23350.5 miles
(0.8 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0NE of Centerville (2nd tornado)Lincoln23380.5 miles
(0.8 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0E of ManchesterKingsbury23520.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0SW of Lake AndesCharles Mix23540.5 miles
(0.8 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0NE of Centerville (3rd tornado)Turner23552 miles
(3.2 km)
Weak tornado with no damage.
bgcolor=# F2NE of ManchesterKingsbury23582.2 miles
(3.5 km)
Heavy damage to farm buildings and homes.
bgcolor=# F2E of ViborgTurner00007 miles
(11.2 km)
Farm equipment and buildings, crops, trees, and power lines were damaged.
bgcolor=# F1NE of Lake Andes (1st tornado)Charles Mix00033 miles
(4.8 km)
Several buildings at an abandoned farm were destroyed or damaged.
bgcolor=# F1NW of De SmetKingsbury00050.7 miles
(1.1 km)
Damage to farm buildings and crops.
bgcolor=# F1NE of Centerville (4th tornado)Lincoln00102.8 miles
(4.5 km)
A machine shed was destroyed while farm equipment, crops, and farm buildings were damaged.
bgcolor=# F0N of CentervilleTurner00103.5 miles
(5.6 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F1NE of Lake Andes (2nd tornado)Charles Mix00103 miles
(4.8 km)
Four grain bins and two sheds were destroyed.
bgcolor=# F0SE of Bancroft (1st tornado)Kingsbury00170.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0SE of Bancroft (2nd tornado)Kingsbury00190.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0Viborg areaTurner00200.7 miles
(1.1 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0W of DavisTurner00201 miles
(1.6 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F1W of ErwinKingsbury00200.7 miles
(1.1 km)
Structures and trees were damaged.
bgcolor=# F2E of DavisLincoln, Turner00207.7 miles
(12.3 km)
One farm home was destroyed with two others damaged. Crops were also damaged.
bgcolor=# F1SW of Bryant (1st tornado)Kingsbury, Clark00281.5 miles
(2.4 km)
Damage to trees.
bgcolor=# F1NE of Centerville (5th tornado)Lincoln, Turner00303.5 miles
(5.6 km)
A farmhouse was heavily damaged. Other buildings damaged, as well as power lines and crops.
bgcolor=# F0NE of StephenHand00300.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0SW of Bryant (2nd tornado)Kingsbury00320.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0S of BryantHamlin00350.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0S of Lennox (1st tornado)Lincoln00520.6 miles
(1 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0E of ArmourDouglas00550.7 miles
(1.1 km)
One barn was damaged.
bgcolor=# F0SW of Tea (1st tornado)Lincoln00550.8 miles
(1.3 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F1S of Lennox (2nd tornado)Lincoln01001.3 miles
(2.1 km)
Farm structures were damaged.
bgcolor=# F0NE of ArmourDouglas01050.7 miles
(1.1 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0N of WorthingLincoln01052.3 miles
(3.7 km)
Weak tornado with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0SE of Tea (1st tornado)Lincoln01071.5 miles
(2.4 km)
Weak tornado with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0SW of Tea (2nd tornado)Lincoln01091.2 miles
(1.9 km)
Weak tornado with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0SE of TeaLincoln01120.8 miles
(1.3 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F3Cavour areaBeadle01253.5 miles
(5.6 km)
Tornado destroyed farm buildings and numerous trees, resulting in F3 damage southwest of Cavour. Homes and businesses within the town of Cavour were severely damaged at F2 intensity. Winds of 120 mph were measured by an anemometer on top of a grain elevator in Cavour.
bgcolor=# F2Parker areaTurner01301.5 miles
(2.4 km)
Tornado heavily damaged or destroyed numerous structures at the county fairgrounds, uprooted numerous trees, and blew down power lines, resulting in power outages which lasted up to a day. The tornado damaged other structures in Parker, including homes and the county courthouse. One home was shifted off its foundation and received broken windows and damaged siding. Some of the damage resulted from falling trees or wind blown debris.
bgcolor=# F0N of ParkerTurner01400.6 miles
(1 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F1SE of Pumpkin CenterMinnehaha01500.6 miles
(1 km)
Several homes were damaged. 3 people were injured.
bgcolor=# F2NE of YaleBeadle02052 miles
(3.2 km)
Farm structures were destroyed.
bgcolor=# F1NE of HartfordMinnehaha02051.7 miles
(2.7 km)
At least 20 homes were heavily damaged, some of them were left inhabitable.
bgcolor=# F1SW of Bryant (3rd tornado)Kingsbury02130.7 miles
(1.1 km)
Several farm structures were damaged or destroyed.
bgcolor=# F0SW of RennerMinnehaha02340.5 miles
(0.8 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0S of WentworthLake02400.8 miles
(1.3 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F1SW of ViborgTurner02401.2 miles
(1.9 km)
Small farm buildings and two garages were destroyed. Homes, a propane tank, and a barn were damaged.
bgcolor=# F0SE of DavisLincoln02470.9 miles
(1.4 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0W of EganMoody02500.8 miles
(1.3 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
Minnesota
bgcolor=# F0S of ArcoLincoln21380.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0S of StarbuckPope21550.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Damage limited to trees.
bgcolor=# F1S of Buffalo Lake (1st tornado)Renville, Sibley22464.5 miles
(7.2 km)
A grain bin, a silo, sheds, and outbuildings were destroyed. Trees and homes were damaged and a grain dryer was overturned
bgcolor=# F0W of StewartSibley, Renville23303 miles
(4.8 km)
Damage to power lines and transformers.
bgcolor=# F2Buffalo Lake areaSibley, Renville23335.5 miles
(8.8 km)
Multiple-vortex tornado. Outbuildings and sheds were destroyed, and homes were heavily damaged outside Buffalo of Lake. Inside the city, a grain elevator was destroyed while sheds and garages were blown down. A church, homes, and businesses were also damaged. 80 homes were heavily damaged with 29 being inhabitable, and 120 others had minor damage. 5 people were injured.
bgcolor=# F0SE of Willmar (1st tornado)Kandiyohi23470.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0SE of Willmar (2nd tornado)Kandiyohi23490.2 miles
(0.32 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0S of KandiyohiKandiyohi23530.2 miles
(0.32 km)
Damage to a few trees.
bgcolor=# F0SW of KandiyohiKandiyohi23580.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F1SE of KandiyohiKandiyohi00033 miles
(4.8 km)
Three farmsteads, sheds, outbuildings, and trees were damaged.
bgcolor=# F1S of Buffalo Lake (2nd tornado)Sibley, Renville00101.5 miles
(2.4 km)
Sheds, outbuildings, and grain bins were damaged.
bgcolor=# F0S of AtwaterKandiyohi, Meeker00150.5 miles
(0.8 km)
Damage limited to trees.
bgcolor=# F0SE of WegdahlYellow Medicine, Chippewa00383 miles
(4.8 km)
A shed was damaged, and two gravity boxes were pushed into a building.
bgcolor=# F0NE of ChurchillRenville00392.5 miles
(4 km)
Damage limited to trees.
bgcolor=# F0NE of StacyChisago00500.3 miles
(0.5 km)
One home had minor damage.
Iowa
bgcolor=# F0S of QuickPottawatamie21530.3 miles
(0.5 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0SW of AlvordLyon03120.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
Nebraska
bgcolor=# F0S of ObertCedar2155unknownBrief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0S of MaskellDixon22080.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0NE of MaxwellLincoln22440.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage
bgcolor=# F0SW of ArnoldCuster, Lincoln23002.1 miles
(3.4 km)
2 center pivot irrigation systems were destroyed
bgcolor=# F0SW of BradyLincoln23100.1 miles
(0.16 km)
One garage was damaged and shifted from its foundation. One home was damaged, along with trees. A camper was lifted and thrown into a fence .
bgcolor=# F0NE of RoseRock00040.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0S of BassettRock00250.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Damage limited to trees.
bgcolor=# F0NE of MillsKeya Paha00480.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Damage to a mechanics shops, a garage, and a grain bin.
bgcolor=# F0E of Hayes CenterHayes01050.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0N of TaylorLoup02300.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
bgcolor=# F0SW of NewportRock02520.1 miles
(0.16 km)
Brief touchdown with no damage.
Source: Tornado History Project - June 24, 2003 Storm Data

See also

External links