SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Strong thunderstorms brought tornadoes and damaging winds to portions of central and eastern South Dakota Monday night.
National Weather Service meteorologist Samantha Garrett told SDPB they are assessing the situation and confirming damages.
“A couple of strong supercell storms developed over south central South Dakota,” Garrett said. “Those supercells produced a few – an unknown number – of tornado touchdowns across Gregory County. We do know of some damage out that way, so we’re continuing to work with emergency management out there to determine if any damage surveys may be necessary.”
In Sioux Falls, city officials have asked residents to report downed trees or streetlights that are blocking roads. The city is also opening up its two yard waste disposal sites through Aug. 17 to allow residents to drop off branches and downed trees. The sites are located at Chambers Street, near the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility, and Lyon Boulevard, south of the W. H. Lyon Fairgrounds near West 12th Street. Several thousand people are still without power as of Monday morning, according to the Xcel Energy outage map.
A little farther south, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is reporting extensive damage to southern areas of the county, particularly in the community of Hudson. The office is asking that people not drive around in the area to look at storm damage. Authorities also said a cell phone tower north of Beresford was destroyed in the storm.
