Edmunds County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot South Dakota Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Edmunds County is about the same as South Dakota average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Edmunds County is much lower than South Dakota average and is much lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #59
| Edmunds County | 0.00 |
| South Dakota | 0.05 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Edmunds County | 0.0000 |
| South Dakota | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #59
| Edmunds County | 0.00 |
| South Dakota | 114.73 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 5,770 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Edmunds County were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 50 | Cold: | 18 | Dense Fog: | 1 | Drought: | 3 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 317 | Hail: | 3,174 | Heat: | 4 | Heavy Snow: | 39 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 3 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 51 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 1,939 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 12 | Winter Storm: | 59 | Winter Weather: | 1 |
| Other: | 99 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Edmunds County.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Edmunds County.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Edmunds County.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 37 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Edmunds County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 7.1 | 1955-04-19 | 2 | 45°15'N / 99°10'W | 45°22'N / 99°14'W | 8.20 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Edmunds |
| 10.8 | 1961-06-28 | 2 | 45°37'N / 99°38'W | 45°30'N / 98°37'W | 49.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mcpherson |
| 16.3 | 2010-05-22 | 2 | 45°32'N / 99°00'W | 45°36'N / 98°54'W | 7.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0K | Edmunds |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The seventh tornado formed in northeast Edmunds county and tracked northeast. The tornado took off sections from the roof of a barn. The tornado then tracked through primarily crop and pasture land to near Deerfield Colony and into southeast Mcpherson county. Sporadic tree damage was observed along the tornado path with many wooden power poles completely sheared off. Wind speeds with this tornado were estimated between 111 and 120 mph. EPISODE NARRATIVE: 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. | |||||||||||
| 22.6 | 2010-05-22 | 4 | 45°27'N / 99°42'W | 45°28'N / 99°38'W | 4.00 Miles | 1200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0K | Edmunds |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: 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. EPISODE NARRATIVE: 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. | |||||||||||
| 23.8 | 2006-08-24 | 3 | 45°40'N / 99°41'W | 45°36'N / 99°29'W | 14.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Mcpherson |
| Brief Description: A supercell thunderstorm produced an F3 tornado in southwest Mcpherson county. The tornado was on the ground for nearly a half hour and covered about 14 miles. The tornado touched down near the Campbell county line. There were four different sites damaged with the greatest damage 8 miles south of Eureka and 2 miles southeast of Hillsview. Damage included numerous power poles snapped off, trees shredded of leaves, bark and/or uprooted. Numerous livestock and deer were killed. Devastating damage was observed to farm equipment, homes, barns, grain bins, and vehicles. A well anchored mobile home was completely destroyed. Debris from each site was observed up to 3 miles away. One person received minor scrapes and bruises. | |||||||||||
| 24.9 | 2010-05-22 | 2 | 45°36'N / 98°54'W | 45°41'N / 98°43'W | 10.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0K | Mcpherson |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado entered southeast Mcpherson county from northeast Edmunds county. The tornado struck a farm along State Highway 45 where a calving shed was completely destroyed with large sections of the roof blown over 100 yards. The tornado then caused moderate damage to a barn with one collapsed wall. Multiple softwood and hardwood trees were uprooted and many power poles were completely snapped near the base. The tornado tore the roof off a turkey barn at the Long Lake Colony. Several Wetonka homes also sustained minor roof damage. The wind speeds were estimated between 111 and 120 mph. The tornado then moved into western Brown county and dissipated. EPISODE NARRATIVE: 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. | |||||||||||
| 25.3 | 2001-07-18 | 2 | 45°15'N / 99°40'W | 45°14'N / 99°40'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Edmunds |
| Brief Description: A tornado touched down and heavily damaged a house. The attached garage was totally destroyed with two vehicles badly damaged. The metal roof was ripped off of the barn with three outbuildings destroyed. Five telephone/power poles were broken off with 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile of power lines down. Also, a small windmill was wrapped around a power pole. | |||||||||||
| 25.3 | 2010-05-22 | 2 | 45°27'N / 99°45'W | 45°27'N / 99°42'W | 2.00 Miles | 600 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0K | Walworth |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The third tornado formed about four miles west of Bowdle on Highway 12. The tornado came down on a farm or formed immediately to the south of the farm. Several outbuildings were severely damaged with the residence sustaining siding and roof damage. A stock trailer was thrown about 75 yards from its initial point. Tree damage was sustained on the west side of the property with fallen trees leaning west. On the east side of the property, debris was scattered to the northeast. The damage on the farm was consistent with an EF2 rating with wind speeds ranging from 111 to 135 mph. The tornado continued moving northeast crossing into western Edmunds county where it intensified to an EF4. EPISODE NARRATIVE: 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. | |||||||||||
| 26.4 | 1957-06-09 | 3 | 45°02'N / 99°08'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Faulk | |
| 26.4 | 1964-06-18 | 2 | 45°15'N / 99°47'W | 45°34'N / 99°43'W | 21.90 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Walworth |
| 28.9 | 1966-07-26 | 2 | 45°00'N / 99°06'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Faulk | |||
| 30.2 | 1961-06-28 | 2 | 45°15'N / 99°47'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Walworth | |
| 30.9 | 1966-07-31 | 3 | 46°00'N / 99°25'W | 45°43'N / 99°05'W | 25.10 Miles | 280 Yards | 2 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Mcpherson |
| 31.6 | 1964-06-18 | 2 | 45°12'N / 99°49'W | 45°15'N / 99°47'W | 2.70 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Potter |
| 32.6 | 1959-07-03 | 2 | 45°30'N / 99°52'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Walworth | |||
| 32.6 | 1961-09-07 | 2 | 45°45'N / 98°44'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Mcpherson | |||
| 35.0 | 1966-07-31 | 2 | 45°26'N / 98°31'W | 45°27'N / 98°27'W | 2.30 Miles | 253 Yards | 1 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Brown |
| 35.2 | 1955-04-19 | 2 | 45°30'N / 98°30'W | 45°34'N / 98°30'W | 4.60 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Brown |
| 35.3 | 1973-04-19 | 2 | 44°55'N / 98°54'W | 44°57'N / 99°00'W | 4.90 Miles | 27 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Faulk |
| 35.4 | 1983-09-02 | 2 | 44°54'N / 99°15'W | 0.20 Mile | 10 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Hand | |
| 36.0 | 1973-07-01 | 3 | 45°15'N / 98°30'W | 0.30 Mile | 30 Yards | 1 | 3 | 25K | 0 | Brown | |
| 36.3 | 1962-07-06 | 2 | 45°56'N / 99°04'W | 45°55'N / 99°01'W | 3.00 Miles | 550 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Mcpherson |
| 38.7 | 2002-06-23 | 3 | 45°44'N / 98°37'W | 45°42'N / 98°27'W | 10.00 Miles | 900 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Brown |
| Brief Description: A powerful supercell thunderstorm produced six tornados from eastern McPherson county and across northern Brown county during the evening hours of June 23rd. The first weak tornado (F0) touched down briefly 6.4 miles northeast of Leola and resulted in no damage. The second tornado (F1) touched down 8.5 miles northeast of Leola and crossed over into Brown county where it dissipated 9 miles northwest of Barnard. This tornado brought down many trees and a barn and caused damage to the siding and the roof of a farmhouse in McPherson county and caused no damage in Brown county. A third weak satellite tornado (F0) occurred following the dissipation of the second tornado and resulted in no damage. A fourth strong tornado (F3) developed 6 miles west of Barnard and moved east and dissipated 3 miles southeast of Barnard. This tornado brought down some high power lines along with a support tower and tossed a pickup truck 100 yards into a group of trees. The pickup truck was totaled. The tornado caused extensive damage to two farmhouses, several farm buildings, and farm equipment. One farmhouse lost its garage and most of its roof with many trees completely snapped off down low and debarked. The fifth tornado developed 5 miles southeast of Barnard and became a violent tornado (F4). This tornado caused damage to one farmhouse, several outbuildings, trees, and equipment as it moved northeast and strengthened. The tornado then completely demolished two unoccupied homes, several outbuildings, many trees, along with destroying or damaging some farm equipment before dissipating 7.6 miles northeast of Barnard. Also, a sixth weak satellite tornado (F0) occurred with this violent tornado and caused no damage. This was the first F4 tornado recorded in Brown county and one of few recorded in South Dakota. The total estimated property loss exceeded a million dollars. | |||||||||||
| 39.0 | 1957-06-20 | 2 | 45°01'N / 98°38'W | 1 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Spink | |||
| 39.7 | 1956-06-21 | 2 | 45°10'N / 98°28'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Spink | |||
| 40.0 | 1955-04-19 | 2 | 45°01'N / 99°56'W | 45°10'N / 99°51'W | 10.80 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Potter |
| 40.6 | 1968-06-20 | 3 | 45°30'N / 100°02'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Walworth | |||
| 42.2 | 1966-07-31 | 3 | 46°00'N / 99°28'W | 46°00'N / 99°25'W | 1.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Mcintosh |
| 42.3 | 1983-09-02 | 2 | 44°48'N / 99°09'W | 0.20 Mile | 10 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Hand | |
| 42.4 | 1962-07-06 | 2 | 46°01'N / 99°03'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Mcintosh | |||
| 43.4 | 1962-07-06 | 2 | 46°02'N / 99°04'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Mcintosh | |||
| 43.7 | 1970-06-14 | 2 | 45°40'N / 100°02'W | 2.50 Miles | 1760 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Campbell | |
| 44.0 | 1978-06-15 | 2 | 45°28'N / 98°18'W | 0 | 15 | 250K | 0 | Brown | |||
| 45.0 | 2002-06-23 | 4 | 45°41'N / 98°26'W | 45°49'N / 98°23'W | 9.00 Miles | 900 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Brown |
| Brief Description: A powerful supercell thunderstorm produced six tornados from eastern McPherson county and across northern Brown county during the evening hours of June 23rd. The first weak tornado (F0) touched down briefly 6.4 miles northeast of Leola and resulted in no damage. The second tornado (F1) touched down 8.5 miles northeast of Leola and crossed over into Brown county where it dissipated 9 miles northwest of Barnard. This tornado brought down many trees and a barn and caused damage to the siding and the roof of a farmhouse in McPherson county and caused no damage in Brown county. A third weak satellite tornado (F0) occurred following the dissipation of the second tornado and resulted in no damage. A fourth strong tornado (F3) developed 6 miles west of Barnard and moved east and dissipated 3 miles southeast of Barnard. This tornado brought down some high power lines along with a support tower and tossed a pickup truck 100 yards into a group of trees. The pickup truck was totaled. The tornado caused extensive damage to two farmhouses, several farm buildings, and farm equipment. One farmhouse lost its garage and most of its roof with many trees completely snapped off down low and debarked. The fifth tornado developed 5 miles southeast of Barnard and became a violent tornado (F4). This tornado caused damage to one farmhouse, several outbuildings, trees, and equipment as it moved northeast and strengthened. The tornado then completely demolished two unoccupied homes, several outbuildings, many trees, along with destroying or damaging some farm equipment before dissipating 7.6 miles northeast of Barnard. Also, a sixth weak satellite tornado (F0) occurred with this violent tornado and caused no damage. This was the first F4 tornado recorded in Brown county and one of few recorded in South Dakota. The total estimated property loss exceeded a million dollars. | |||||||||||
| 45.1 | 1955-04-19 | 2 | 45°01'N / 100°07'W | 45°16'N / 99°59'W | 18.20 Miles | 27 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Potter |
| 48.1 | 1955-04-19 | 2 | 45°56'N / 99°50'W | 45°59'N / 99°49'W | 2.30 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Potter |
| 49.8 | 1964-05-05 | 2 | 45°55'N / 100°06'W | 45°41'N / 100°03'W | 16.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Campbell |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.