The June 23, 2002 tornado

A powerful supercell thunderstorm produced six tornados from eastern McPherson county and across northern Brown county during the evening hours of June 23rd. The first weak tornado (F0) touched down briefly 6.4 miles northeast of Leola and resulted in no damage. The second tornado (F1) touched down 8.5 miles northeast of Leola and crossed over into Brown county where it dissipated 9 miles northwest of Barnard. This tornado brought down many trees and a barn and caused damage to the siding and the roof of a farmhouse in McPherson county and caused no damage in Brown county. A third weak satellite tornado (F0) occurred following the dissipation of the second tornado and resulted in no damage. A fourth strong tornado (F3) developed 6 miles west of Barnard and moved east and dissipated 3 miles southeast of Barnard. This tornado brought down some high power lines along with a support tower and tossed a pickup truck 100 yards into a group of trees. The pickup truck was totaled. The tornado caused extensive damage to two farmhouses, several farm buildings, and farm equipment. One farmhouse lost its garage and most of its roof with many trees completely snapped off down low and debarked. The fifth tornado developed 5 miles southeast of Barnard and became a violent tornado (F4). This tornado caused damage to one farmhouse, several outbuildings, trees, and equipment as it moved northeast and strengthened. The tornado then completely demolished two unoccupied homes, several outbuildings, many trees, along with destroying or damaging some farm equipment before dissipating 7.6 miles northeast of Barnard. Also, a sixth weak satellite tornado (F0) occurred with this violent tornado and caused no damage. This was the first F4 tornado recorded in Brown county and one of few recorded in South Dakota. The total estimated property loss exceeded a million dollars.