MAY 19, 2022:
The Aberdeen office of the National Weather Service has issued a final report on the severe storms that spawned tornadoes across northeastern South Dakota and west-central Minnesota last Thursday (May 12, 2022).
A total of 12 tornadoes have been confirmed. The strongest of the 12 was an EF-2 tornado with peak winds estimated at 135 miles per hour that dropped down a mile south of Gary, where a farmhouse lost its roof, along with most of the exterior walls on the main floor of the home.
Other locations for confirmed tornadoes were in:
- The city of Castlewood (EF-2, 120 mph peak winds)
- Six miles west-northwest of Rauville (EF-1, 110 mph peak winds)
- Five miles east of Dumont, Minnesota (EF-1, 100 mph peak winds)
- Four miles southwest of Norcross, Minnesota (EF-0, 80 mph peak winds)
- One mile east-southeast of Tunerville (EF-1, 100 mph peak winds)
- Seven miles south of Webster (EF-1, 100 mph peak winds)
- Four miles west-southwest of Thomas (EF-1, 95 mph peak winds)
- Three miles east-southeast of Estelline (EF-2, 120 mph peak winds)
- Three miles north of Garden City (EF-1, 97 mph peak winds)
- Four miles north-northwest of Naples (EF-0, 80 mph peak winds)
- Five miles north-northeast of Raymond (EF-0, 80 mph peak winds)
(News partner Watertown Radio contributed to this story.)
Hear more about the May 12, 2022, derecho by listening to the DRG Media Group Beyond the Mic podcast titled “Agriculture In-depth with National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist Kelly Serr.”
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MAY 16, 2022:
A preliminary evaluation from the National Weather Service says a rare and particularly dangerous storm system moved through the Northern Plains during the late afternoon and early evening hours last Thursday (May 12, 2022).
Kelly Serr is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service Office in Aberdeen.
Serr says the NWS uses a combination of radar and on-site evaluation to determine the strength of a storm.
Serr explains how they determine what sites they need to see in person in order to evaluate them effectively.
Seven tornadoes have been confirmed so far.
Hear more about the May 12, 2022, derecho by listening to the DRG Media Group Beyond the Mic podcast titled “Agriculture In-depth with National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist Kelly Serr.”
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A preliminary evaluation from the National Weather Service says a rare and particularly dangerous storm system known as a derecho moved through the Northern Plains– including eastern South Dakota and west central Minnesota– during the late afternoon and early evening last Thursday (May 12, 2022).
Derechos feature unusually widespread wind damage, and the NWS says this was one of the most extreme examples on record. It raced north-northeastward at 50 to 70+ mph, and produced measured straight-line winds of between at 60 to over 100 mph. This is about the same as a category 1 hurricane (74 to 95 mph) and an EF0 to EF1 tornado (65 to 110 mph) over a large area. Significant blowing dust was also reported, especially across southeastern South Dakota.
Additionally, seven tornadoes were reported and confirmed. Some of the worst damage occurred in Hamlin and Deuel counties. An EF2 tornado, with wind speeds up to 120 mph passed through the town of Castlewood. Many significantly damaged or destroyed structures resulted. Another farmstead south of Gary was also devastated by a tornado. At this location, wind speeds are estimated at 135 mph, which ranks it as a high end EF2 tornado.
The National Weather Service in Aberdeen deployed three damage survey crews to document and rate tornado damage. Results are preliminary and are subject to change, but the initial report can be found below.
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Aberdeen SD 754 PM CDT Fri May 13 2022 /654 PM MDT Fri May 13 2022/ ...NWS Damage Survey for 05/12/22 Tornado Event... Tornado #1... Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 120 mph Path Length /statute/: 1.9756 miles Path Width /maximum/: 80.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 1 Start Date: 05/12/2022 Start Time: 05:45 PM CDT Start Location: Castlewood / Hamlin County / SD Start Lat/Lon: 44.717 / -97.0279 End Date: 05/12/2022 End Time: 05:49 PM CDT End Location: 1 N Castlewood / Hamlin County / SD End Lat/Lon: 44.7454 / -97.0286 Survey Summary: Several eyewitnesses reported a small funnel/tornado descending, widening and developing very rapidly at the edge of Castlewood, SD. Damage was evident as soon as it reached the southern edge of town. A majority of the damage occurred between 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue. On Market Street, a small funeral home visitation center was completely blown off its foundation. Debris from the funeral home was tossed to the north, including the air conditioning unit which was tossed into a yard one block to the north. A garage was destroyed and completely blown from its foundation on Allen St. The next block to the north, a manufactured home lost a roof and sustained significant damage to external walls. Another garage on this street was completely blown off the foundation and destroyed. Similar damage was noted a block north on Main Street. Another manufactured home lost an entire roof and its external walls collapsed. Yet another garage was destroyed as it slid off the foundation. The next block north, on Alice St, significant roof damage was noted to several homes and another garage was completely shifted off of the foundation. One particular residence had a roof that appeared to be slightly rotated and was sagging. The Castlewood Elementary school, situated between Harry St and Pear St, sustained significant damage to the school and gymnasium roof. Damage was also sustained to sections of the brick external walls. The school bus shed was completely destroyed with loss of the roof and external walls. North of the school, on Prairie St, a residence sustained significant damage. At this property, a garage was completely destroyed, and a shed was tossed in the air landing upside down. The home itself lost the entire roof and the south facing external walls collapsed. The tornado would continue to track north across an open field and across US HWY 22. Additional debris and tree damage was noted a mile north of US HWY 22 before the tornado lifted. Throughout the entire path of the tornado there were uprooted and snapped trees and significant siding and roof damage to homes. Tornado #2... Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 135 mph Path Length /statute/: 0.4344 miles Path Width /maximum/: 60.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 1 Start Date: 05/12/2022 Start Time: 05:58 PM CDT Start Location: 1 S Gary / Deuel County / SD Start Lat/Lon: 44.7733 / -96.4598 End Date: 05/12/2022 End Time: 06:00 PM CDT End Location: 1 S Gary / Deuel County / SD End Lat/Lon: 44.7777 / -96.4536 Survey Summary: 1 Mile south of Gary, SD a farm sustained significant tornado damage. The home on the property lost the entire roof, along with most of the external walls on the main floor of the house. Only a portion of the internal walls remained standing. The resident home at the time was able to make it to the basement, however did sustain minor injuries when a refrigerator from the main floor fell down through the ceiling. The attached garage was completely blown off the foundation, and the pickup in the garage was pushed at least 6 feet from where it was originally parked. Nearby outbuildings sustained roof damage, including a hole in one roof that was likely caused from flying debris. The tornado continued to track north northeast of the farm into an open corn stubble field. Rotation was noted in the stubble. The debris track was spread across the field with large pieces of wood and other construction materials pierced vertically into the ground. Further to the north northeast a semi was turned 180 degrees and flipped on its side. The debris path continued across 180th street and was last noted in a tree grove approximately 0.3 miles from the residence. The resident also noted that the family dog was seen being swept out of the house during the tornado, but was later found safe with only minor injuries after walking to a neighbor's farm about one mile away. Tornado #3... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 110 mph Path Length /statute/: 0.1656 miles Path Width /maximum/: 35.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 05/12/2022 Start Time: 06:02 PM CDT Start Location: 6 WNW Rauville / Codington County / SD Start Lat/Lon: 45.0049 / -97.1903 End Date: 05/12/2022 End Time: 06:03 PM CDT End Location: 6 WNW Rauville / Codington County / SD End Lat/Lon: 45.0069 / -97.192 Survey Summary: A tornado occurred 4 miles north of Lake Kampeska. The tornado hit the northeast side of a house and removed the garage from the house along with part of the roof. The garage was tossed to the north and northeast. An outbuilding to the north of the house was also destroyed and thrown to the north and northwest. The debris was scattered at least a half mile north and northwest of the location of the house. Tornado #4.. Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph Path Length /statute/: 3.338 miles Path Width /maximum/: 10.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 05/12/2022 Start Time: 06:51 PM CDT Start Location: 5 E Dumont / Traverse County / MN Start Lat/Lon: 45.7058 / -96.3115 End Date: 05/12/2022 End Time: 06:54 PM CDT End Location: 6 ENE Dumont / Traverse County / MN End Lat/Lon: 45.7519 / -96.2904 Survey Summary: A tornado developed 6 miles east of Dumont on the leading edge of a line of severe thunderstorms, and then traveled quickly northeast. An outbuilding took heavy damage, with debris strewn northeast a quarter mile. The majority of the 2x4 planks were deposited directly to the east of the shed, while another single 2x4 was lodged into the ground at an angle not consistent with straight-line winds. The tornado then destroyed several large well-anchored, mostly empty grain bins. Some tin from the property was thrown due west into the trees. Tornado #5... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 80 mph Path Length /statute/: 5.6682 miles Path Width /maximum/: 10.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 05/12/2022 Start Time: 06:58 PM CDT Start Location: 4 SW Norcross / Traverse County / MN Start Lat/Lon: 45.8249 / -96.2695 End Date: 05/12/2022 End Time: 07:03 PM CDT End Location: 3 SSE Charlesville / Traverse County / MN End Lat/Lon: 45.9063 / -96.2542 Survey Summary: A tornado developed 11 miles east of Wheaton along the leading edge of a line of severe thunderstorms. This tornado traveled rapidly north-northeastward and impacted three farmsteads. Several trees were uprooted and fell in different directions, outbuildings were severely damaged, and both homes were damaged as well including the partial removal of a garage roof. The tornado continued northeast to along the Grant County line, and impacted another farmstead. Silo damage, trees felled in different directions, and a small outbuilding was moved 10 yards to the northwest. Tornado #6... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph Path Length /statute/: 0.2527 miles Path Width /maximum/: 50.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 05/13/2022 Start Time: 06:05 PM CDT Start Location: 1 ESE Tunerville / Deuel County / SD Start Lat/Lon: 44.8841 / -96.652 End Date: 05/13/2022 End Time: 06:07 PM CDT End Location: 1 E Tunerville / Deuel County / SD End Lat/Lon: 44.8875 / -96.6527 Survey Summary: A tornado touched down on the northeast side of Lake Alice causing damage to a hunting lodge property. Evidence was first noted in a corn stubble field where stubble was broken and flattened. North of the corn field, several trees were uprooted or snapped at the base. North from there, the main lodge house lost half the roof covering and several roof panels on the west side of the house. This resulted in rain damage inside the lodge. On the west side of the property a family was in a camper when they received warnings and decided to leave for a sturdier shelter nearby. Minutes after they left the camper, it was picked up and dropped on its roof. The family was not injured. Tornado #7... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph Path Length /statute/: 0.1199 miles Path Width /maximum/: 20.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 05/13/2022 Start Time: 06:13 PM CDT Start Location: 7 S Webster / Day County / SD Start Lat/Lon: 45.2348 / -97.4948 End Date: 05/13/2022 End Time: 06:14 PM CDT End Location: 7 S Webster / Day County / SD End Lat/Lon: 45.2364 / -97.4959 Survey Summary: A tornado 6 miles to the south-southeast of Webster hit an outbuilding, pulling the roof off and knocking over the interior wall. The debris from the building was carried to the northwest for over 250 yards and spread out to the west. A calving shed was rolled to the north and then northwest. An animal trailer was tipped over and a metal windmill was knocked over and twisted. EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph EF5...Violent...>200 mph NOTE: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data.
Additional information and photos can also be found by vising the summary page on the NWS website: https://www.weather.gov/abr/StormsummaryMay122022.
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