Tornado Rips Through Forest Near Spearfish

Officials with the Black Hills National Forest are assessing tornado damage.

The tornado tore a path through the forest Monday night south of Spearfish.

One road was temporarily closed because of downed trees. Some dirt roads and trails were also affected, says forest spokesman Scott Jacobson.

“They’re out looking today to see if they can find any other places it may have gone through or whatever, but I think they’re just kind of going through the trails and roads and seeing maybe where the path of the thing went and what all damage it did.”

The tornado happened on a night of widespread severe weather. Locations from western to southeastern South Dakota suffered strong winds and large hail.