ABERDEEN, S.D.(KCCR)- The National Weather Service in Aberdeen continues to investigate storm damage from a powerful supercell thunderstorm that churned across central South Dakota two weekends ago. Warning Coordination Meteorologist Kelly Serr says they so-far have confirmed one twister in Jones County.
That tornado was on the ground for just over six and half miles and was 80 yards wide. A brief touchdown of a tornado was also reported in Lyman County along the Missouri River near the Joe Creek Rec Area. Serr says they are still waiting on additional evidence to finalize their damage surveys.
A tornado was also reported with the same storm eight miles northeast of Philip in Haakon County. The Aberdeen office issued around a half dozen tornado warnings for the storm, which is rare for this part of the state, but not for the current severe weather season.
Serr says it’s a good reminder that tornados can happen anywhere in South Dakota although they seem more frequent in East River parts of the state. Serr says they’ve seen straight-line wind damage in Jones County with the June 12th storms that have been estimated at 120 miles an hour.