South Dakota
66 counties73 tornadoes rated F3/EF3+77 county disaster declarations
South Dakota has recorded 1,957 tornadoes since 1950, 16th among the states; 1.25 million acres burned by large wildfires since 1984.
2025
- Tornadoes rated F2/EF2+ since 1950
- Large wildfires since 1984
Statewide totals
Unique events: a tornado that crossed three counties counts once.
- Tornadoes since 1950
- 1,957
- 16th of 51
- Rated F3/EF3 or stronger
- 73
- 19th of 51
- Tropical cyclones within 50 mi
- 0
- None since 1851
- At hurricane strength
- 0
- —
- Acres burned since 1984
- 1.25M
- 235 large fires
- Flood insurance claims
- 3,965
- $62.3 million paid
County leaders
Where in South Dakota each hazard has struck most.
Most tornadoes
Most acres burned
- 1Oglala Lakota County226K
- 2Custer County216K
- 3Fall River County122K
- 4Todd County98K
- 5Pennington County69K
Most flood claims
- 1Brown County484
- 2Codington County472
- 3Union County443
- 4Minnehaha County425
- 5Hamlin County347
Notable events
The strongest tornadoes, hurricanes and fires in South Dakota’s record. Each opens its own page.
Tornadoes
- F5 1965, Tripp30.1 mi
- F4 1998, Hanson6 killed
- F4 1965, Yankton1 killed
- EF4 2014, Jerauld11.5 mi
- EF4 2010, Walworth5.7 mi
- F4 2003, Kingsbury10 mi
- F4 2002, Brown9 mi
- F4 1993, Minnehaha54 mi
- F4 1993, Lake10 mi
- F4 1969, Harding1.8 mi
Every county
Sort by any column. Each county opens its full record.
Cities
Places of 10,000 people or more with their own records.