South Dakota Storms Charge Up for 100 MPH Wind Damage — SevereWX

Storms are firing across south-central to southeast South Dakota this afternoon amid scorching heat, with the Storm Prediction Center highlighting a serious risk of 85-100 mph wind gusts.

A hyper-unstable environment—boiling over with near 2000 J/kg of MLCAPE—fuels these storms on the edge of a cirrus deck and weak upper-level energy. Surface temps have soared to 105-110°F, paired with dewpoints supporting explosive development. SPC's Mesoscale Discussion 1729 flags a 95% chance of a severe thunderstorm watch within the next 1-2 hours, and a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) watch isn't off the table.

Expect storms to grow in coverage, congeal into an MCS driven by a cold pool, and barrel eastward with intense downdrafts. Hail up to 1.25 inches is possible too, but damaging winds are the headliner in this steep-lapse-rate setup.

This comes as northern Plains action shifts south from yesterday's ND/MN supercells and MCS. Track updates via radar and local NWS offices (FSD, ABR).

Stay prepared: Secure outdoor items, avoid flooded roads, and have multiple ways to get warnings. Monitor NOAA Weather Radio or apps for watch alerts.