Tornadoes in South Dakota

South Dakota has recorded 1,957 tornadoes since 1950, 16th among the states; 73 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

  • 1,957tornadoes since 1950
  • 73rated F3/EF3 or stronger
  • 19deaths along their paths
  • 1993most in one year, 85
2025
  • Tornadoes on record, by year

Over time

Tornadoes per year in South Dakota 1950: 1 1951: 2 1952: 5 1953: 12 1954: 16 1955: 14 1956: 11 1957: 20 1958: 1 1959: 11 1960: 9 1961: 12 1962: 38 1963: 9 1964: 32 1965: 63 1966: 30 1967: 27 1968: 21 1969: 30 1970: 31 1971: 47 1972: 31 1973: 28 1974: 14 1975: 32 1976: 4 1977: 28 1978: 28 1979: 32 1980: 52 1981: 19 1982: 33 1983: 26 1984: 32 1985: 55 1986: 34 1987: 33 1988: 5 1989: 5 1990: 11 1991: 34 1992: 41 1993: 85 85 1994: 36 1995: 10 1996: 45 1997: 30 1998: 29 1999: 41 2000: 18 2001: 31 2002: 12 2003: 81 2004: 35 2005: 19 2006: 27 2007: 42 2008: 27 2009: 34 2010: 38 2011: 19 2012: 11 2013: 14 2014: 29 2015: 25 2016: 13 2017: 15 2018: 19 2019: 26 2020: 23 2021: 21 2022: 38 2023: 18 2024: 7 2025: 20 19501960197019801990200020102020

The strongest tornadoes

Every county

Counties with any recorded events, highest first.