A derecho is a widespread, long-lived, and fast-moving line of severe thunderstorms that produces destructive straight-line winds.
In this particular case, it’s being described as a “mini derecho” because its width did not meet the 100-kilometer (62 mile) width criteria.
The storms included a peak wind gust of 131 miles an hour in Highmore, which ranks as the 15th strongest thunderstorm wind gust in recorded U.S. history.
The storm continued to produce wind gusts of 60 to 87 mph as it moved across northern Hand and northern Spink counties.
The storm then started to exhibit rotation as it moved through southeastern Brown and western Day counties, prompting Tornado Warnings.
The storm produced a brief tornado 5-and-a-half miles south-southwest of Andover.
It continued to produce wind damage across northeastern South Dakota, before moving into southeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota around 10 a.m.
In the end, the storm traveled over 350 miles from southwest to northeast across South Dakota.
Story courtesy of news partner Watertown Radio.
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