The May 22, 2010 tornado
EF4Walworth and Edmunds counties, South Dakota
An EF4 tornado on a 5.7-mile path. It was one of 14 tornadoes recorded in the U.S. that day.
Watch how it happenedEF4 tornado · May 22, 2010
How it happened
Follow the tornado’s path, minute by minute.
The tornado
- Rating
- EF4
- Enhanced Fujita scale
- Path length
- 5.7 mi
- Width up to 1,200 yards
- Killed
- 0
- Along the whole path
- Injured
- 0
- Along the whole path
- Date and time
- Saturday, May 22, 2010
- 5:21 PM CST
The National Weather Service account
Written by the local Weather Service office after its damage survey.
An EF2 tornado in eastern Walworth county crossed into western Edmunds county and intensified into a large EF4 tornado as it struck several farms in its path. At the first farm, several large cottonwood trees were uprooted along with damage to several trailers. Three grain bins were also destroyed with debris located several hundred yards to the northeast. The residence suffered some shingle and antenna damage. The tornado then tracked northeast to a second farm where several outbuildings were damaged or destroyed along with widespread tree damage. The main residence at this location suffered no damage. Several grain cars were also rolled about 100 yards into the trees behind the house.||The large tornado continued to track northeast to a third farm to the north of Bowdle. The main residence suffered major damage to walls with part of the roof structure removed. Widespread tree damage was sustained with many of the |trees completely debarked with only the stumps of the largest branches |remaining. Two large garages were completely destroyed with the |concrete slab wiped clean. The vehicles in one garage were |rolled or tossed from 25 to 100 yards away. It is estimated that one |vehicle flew through the air 75 to 100 yards resting in the tree |shelter belt to the north of the residence. Several other outbuildings were completely destroyed.||The tornado then toppled six to eight metal power transmission towers as it moved to the north of the farm. One tower was sheared off from the concrete footings and traveled an estimated 400 yards. Ground scouring was visible along the path of these towers.||The large tornado continued to track east crossing over State Highway 47 where a state radio tower was toppled. The tornado lifted shortly thereafter. The highest wind speeds were estimated to be from 166 to 200 mph.
The storm system that day
Several supercell thunderstorms developed along a very strong warm front and produced nine tornadoes from Akaska to Bowdle to Hecla. The largest of the tornadoes was an EF4 tornado which occurred near Bowdle. This tornado produced devastating damage in the Bowdle area. The other tornadoes ranged from EF0 to EF2 and caused extensive tree and building damage. Nearly one-hundred power poles were downed along with several high line towers leaving nearly a thousand customers without power. Also, very strong straight line winds and large hail up to the size of golfballs affected parts of the area causing some damage.
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.
Counties on its path
Storm Prediction Center severe weather database. Path drawn as a straight line from the recorded start to end point.