The Rapid City National Weather Service (RC NWS) confirmed last Sunday’s wind event in the southern Black Hills to be two tornados. The tornados travelled across many jurisdictions including the National Forest.
Forest officials are assessing the impacts on the National Forest and urge caution as roads and trails may be blocked, and dangerous snags could be adjacent to Forest road and trail systems.
According to RC NWS, the first tornado was reported approximately five miles south of Custer, SD, west of Highway 385 with a 6.5-mile path length. The second tornado touched down northeast of Custer, with a 5.4-mile path length and snapped several trees along Willow Creek Road.
Forest Service officials ask the public to refrain from cutting firewood within the impacted areas. The Forest Service is assessing and evaluating the area for timber salvage operations.
Forest Service crews will continue to clear Forest roads and trails that were impacted.
For more information on Black Hills National Forest, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills.
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