Svr Warnings CO/KS/SD; MD NE; Tornado Watches E Dakotas/MN; Slight SD — June 3, 2026 — SevereWX
Lead
The Storm Prediction Center holds a Slight risk for severe thunderstorms across South Dakota today, with storms already prompting watches overnight and new discussions signaling heightened threats. Right now, severe thunderstorm warnings dot isolated spots in Florida and New Mexico, while the northern Plains see the main action as discrete storms gain strength. Over the next couple of hours, forecasters eye eastern South Dakota and nearby areas for likely watch issuance as instability builds.
Isolated storms elsewhere carry lower odds, but the focus remains on the Dakotas where damaging winds and large hail loom largest.
Timeline
9:13 PM EDT — Mesoscale Discussion for Northeast Wyoming, Southeast Montana
The Storm Prediction Center issued a mesoscale discussion highlighting severe thunderstorm potential across far northeast Wyoming into far southeast Montana and the western Dakotas. Severe thunderstorm watches 269 and 270 are now in effect for parts of the region to cover the developing storms.
9:56 PM EDT — Mesoscale Discussion Southwest South Dakota, Northwest Nebraska
SPC notes increasing severe thunderstorm activity over southwest South Dakota into northwest Nebraska. Severe thunderstorm watch 269 covers the area as storms strengthen.
3:02 PM EDT — Limited Severe Potential Southern Great Plains
A mesoscale discussion from SPC assesses lower severe thunderstorm odds across portions of the southern and central Great Plains, including parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, and Colorado. Forecasters indicate a watch is unlikely for this region.
3:43 PM EDT — Watch Likely Eastern Dakotas into Western Minnesota
SPC issues a new mesoscale discussion for severe thunderstorm development across the eastern Dakotas into far western Minnesota. An 80% chance exists that a severe thunderstorm watch will be issued soon.
4:09 PM EDT — Severe Thunderstorm Warning Otero County, New Mexico
A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for Otero County, New Mexico, until 5:00 PM EDT as strong storms move through.
4:23 PM EDT — Severe Thunderstorm Warning Monroe County, Florida
A severe thunderstorm warning covers Monroe County, Florida, until 5:15 PM EDT with threats of damaging winds and hail.
4:59 PM EDT — Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Otero Co., NM
The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Otero County, New Mexico, active until 5:30 PM EDT. Strong storms may bring large hail and damaging winds to the area. Take shelter if threatening your spot.
5:02 PM EDT — Tornado Watch: Central/eastern SD counties until midnight
A Tornado Watch is in effect until 12:00 AM EDT for Aurora, Beadle, Brookings, Brule, Charles Mix, Davison, Douglas, Gregory, Hanson and Hutchinson counties in South Dakota. Weather favors tornadoes, severe hail and strong winds this evening. Prepare your safety plan and monitor updates.
5:03 PM EDT — Tornado Watch: W MN, NE SD counties until midnight
Tornado Watch until 12:00 AM EDT covers Big Stone and Traverse counties in Minnesota plus Brown, Buffalo, Clark, Codington, Day, Deuel, Edmunds and Faulk counties in South Dakota. Expect potential for tornadoes, large hail and gusty winds. Stay alert with radar and alerts.
5:04 PM EDT — Tornado Watch: Dickey Co., ND until midnight
The NWS issued a Tornado Watch until 12:00 AM EDT for Dickey County, North Dakota. Be ready for possible tornadoes and severe storms with hail and high winds tonight. Have a plan in place.
5:06 PM EDT — Tornado Watch: Mellette, Todd, Tripp SD counties until midnight
Tornado Watch now active until 12:00 AM EDT for Mellette, Todd and Tripp counties in South Dakota. Storms could spawn tornadoes, very large hail and damaging gusts. Remain weather-aware.
5:17 PM EDT — Tornado Watch: E ND, SW MN counties until midnight
A Tornado Watch until 12:00 AM EDT is issued for Clay, Norman and Wilkin counties in Minnesota; Barnes, Cass, Griggs, Ransom, Richland, Sargent and Steele counties in North Dakota. Setup supports tornadoes and powerful thunderstorms. Watch closely and heed warnings.
4:50 PM EDT — SPC: Low severe risk southern NM/W TX
The Storm Prediction Center issued Mesoscale Discussion 0969 for portions of southern New Mexico into West Texas. Severe potential is low with a watch unlikely. Storms may produce strong winds and hail.
5:50 PM EDT — SPC: Severe possible NE CO/W NE, watch unlikely
Mesoscale Discussion 0970 targets northeast Colorado into adjacent western Nebraska. Severe storms are possible but a watch remains unlikely. Expect potential for damaging winds and large hail.
5:55 PM EDT — Severe Thunderstorm Warning Douglas Co., CO
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for Douglas County, Colorado, until 6:45 PM EDT. The storm may bring damaging wind gusts and large hail. Seek shelter immediately if affected.
5:56 PM EDT — Severe Thunderstorm Warning Clark/Ford/Meade Cty, KS
Severe Thunderstorm Warning now active for Clark, Ford, and Meade Counties, Kansas, until 6:30 PM EDT. Damaging winds and hail are expected with this storm. Stay weather-aware.
5:57 PM EDT — Severe Thunderstorm Warning Douglas/Elbert Cty, CO
NWS issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Douglas and Elbert Counties, Colorado, until 6:15 PM EDT. Threats include strong winds and large hail. Take precautions.
5:57 PM EDT — Severe Thunderstorm Warning Graham Co., KS
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning covers Graham County, Kansas, until 7:00 PM EDT. The storm could produce damaging winds and significant hail. Monitor local updates.
6:00 PM EDT — Severe Thunderstorm Warning Jones, SD
A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for Jones in South Dakota until 6:45 PM EDT. This storm may produce large hail and damaging wind gusts. Take cover if you're in the warned area.
6:05 PM EDT — Severe Thunderstorm Warning Graham, KS
Severe thunderstorm warning now active for Graham in Kansas until 7:00 PM EDT. Expect potential for very large hail and strong winds with this storm. Residents should stay weather-aware.
6:10 PM EDT — Severe Thunderstorm Warning Douglas, CO
A new severe thunderstorm warning covers Douglas in Colorado until 6:45 PM EDT. The storm could bring destructive hail and wind damage. Monitor local radar and alerts.
6:14 PM EDT — Severe Thunderstorm Warning Weld, CO
Severe thunderstorm warning issued for Weld in Colorado, valid until 7:00 PM EDT. Large hail and high winds are the main threats. Seek shelter indoors if affected.
6:07 PM EDT — Severe risk building in north-central Nebraska
The Storm Prediction Center issued Mesoscale Discussion 0971 for north-central Nebraska. Storms may strengthen there this evening with a high chance of severe weather. A severe thunderstorm or tornado watch is possible with 40% probability.
What's Next
Storms continue across CO, KS, and SD under severe warnings, with tornado watches in the eastern Dakotas and MN. North-central Nebraska now faces rising severe potential, where a watch issuance is possible soon. The Slight risk remains focused over South Dakota into tonight.
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