By A severe storm system moved across eastern South Dakota early on June 29, carrying extreme winds, hail and two confirmed tornado touch downs.
While a gray, ominous sky greeted many residents as they woke, Aberdeen was spared from everything but light rain and the rumbling of thunder.
Conditions were more dangerous in other parts of the region.
A tornado touched down about 2 miles south of Andover at 8:02 a.m. That was confirmed with a photo and short video, according to the National Weather Service office in Aberdeen. There was minor damage to one tree, according to the report.
Gusts of 130 mph in the Highmore area knocked down power lines and caused other damage the morning of Monday, June 29. Photo courtesy of Dave Swain.
MORE: Rare, sacred white buffalo among three bison calves at Wylie Park petting zoo
Scott Doering, a NWS meteorologist in Aberdeen, said the other touch down was near Pierpont and was reported by the Day County emergency manager.
No injuries were reported from either tornado, Doering said.
He said the Highmore area got hit hard, with winds reaching 130 mph as the storm passed through around 6:30 a.m.
There was considerable damage in and around Highmore, according to a series of social media posts. Grain bins and buildings were damaged, and power lines were knocked down.
Wind gusts of 84 mph were reported in the Redfield and Orient areas in the roughly 7 to 7:20 a.m. time frame, according to NWS reports. There was also a 131 mph gust reported near Holabird at 6:15 a.m., according to the NWS. That’s just west of Highmore.
The storm began near White River before rolling northeast, including through the Aberdeen area where 0.05 inch of rain fell, according to NWS data. An inch of rain was reported in the Groton area, as was hail.
More rain is possible as the week proceeds. There’s a 40% chance of rain on Wednesday, July 1, then a 60% chance of rain for the night of Thursday, July 2, according to the forecast. The high temperatures in Aberdeen will hover around 90 for much of the week.
