Severe Weather

   Weather forecasters say the track of the projected storm has moved to the south.  That has put parts of northwest Iowa and northeast Nebraska in the bullseye for the heaviest snow--as the map above shows, southeast South Dakota drivers are still in for dangerous driving conditions.  SDPB's Gary Ellenbolt visits with Mike Gillispie with the National Weather Service about the storm.  Gillispie starts by reminding listeners the storm is still something to be reckoned with.

 Much of the Northern Plains is in for treacherous travel conditions this week.  After several days of above-normal temperatures, a strong cold front will bring heavy snow and powerful winds.  SDPB's Gary Ellenbolt visits with Jen Hacker with the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls about what to expect Wednesday and Thursday.
 

Parts of South Dakota are experiencing wave after wave of significant weather. Some people saw everything from rain to hail.

Over the weekend storms moved from central to eastern South Dakota. Between an inch and an inch and a half of hail fell in areas of Lyman County with the largest hail being two and a half inches wide. The hail continued east toward Watertown with the storm increasing wind speed and rainfall.

Cari Fleegel is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Aberdeen. She says some areas saw substantial rain Saturday and Sunday.

People in southeast South Dakota are finding dangerous travel conditions.  Freezing rain has frozen to road surfaces and sidewalks.  A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for southeast counties, including the Sioux Falls Metro area.  Matthew Dux with the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls visits with SDPB's Gary Ellenbolt about the overnight precipitation, and what people can expect for the rest of the day.

In Nebraska, Iowa and several other states to the south, Ice Storm Warnings remain in effect through Monday.

Officials with the National Weather Service say flash floods are the leading weather-related killer in the United States. It’s Severe Weather Preparedness Week in South Dakota and officials want to remind the public how to stay safe in bad weather.

Susan Sanders is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.  She says most flash flooding deaths come when high water sweeps away a vehicle.

Sanders advises drivers to watch for any water covering the road, especially at night.

Southeast South Dakota residents are recovering from heavy snow and strong winds that basically shut down the region Tuesday.  SDPB's Gary Ellenbolt visits with Brad Temeyer with the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls about the storm's aftermath, and what's ahead for the next few days.

Storms in mid-June ripped across South Dakota. A tornado, 95-mile-per-hour winds, baseball-sized hail, and heavy rains knocked down power lines, slammed trees and branches to the ground, and washed out roads and bridges.

The severe weather cause nearly $3 million in damage to public property. Jason Bauder with South Dakota’s Office of Emergency Management says the federal government is covering some of the repair costs.

Tech Radio guest host Kealey Bultena and "The Computer Guys" discussed Amazon's Prime Day, a day-long sales event held Wednesday for Amazon Prime users.  The panel talked about post-Prime Day data and the response on social media.  They also discussed how mobile devices can keep you safe during severe weather and how you can learn more about your surroundings with specialized apps and add-ons.  Other topics on today's program included scam phone calls and Windows operating systems.

The mayor of Delmont says she doesn’t know what the future holds for the small town. A tornado ripped through the southeastern South Dakota community Sunday, and community members are just starting to tackle cleanup. Below are a series of reports from the southeast South Dakota town of about 200 residents.

Past the quiet area where law enforcement officials guard the entrance to town, Delmont is a noisy place. National Guard troops use bobcats and dump trucks to clear branches and brush off the streets.

Small Business Administration professionals are in South Dakota this week and next helping connect people suffering from storm damage with government resources. The SBA has loans available to people directly harmed by June’s tornadoes and flooding, and some low-interest loans are open to organizations the storms impact indirectly.

The government says homeowners in South Dakota impacted by June’s severe weather don’t qualify for federal assistance. FEMA officials say the storms didn’t cause enough damage for individuals to receive emergency aid.

More than one dozen tornadoes spawned in Jerauld County in June; one of those hit Wessington Springs, destroying and damaging homes and businesses.
People in Lincoln and Union counties experienced flash flooding that inundated houses.

South Dakota leaders are beginning the long process of assessing and repairing damage from June’s severe weather. Multiple tornadoes touched down in east-central South Dakota, and the western and southeastern parts of the state experienced flooding.  Officials are requesting help from the federal government to restore mother nature’s destruction.

South Dakota leaders are examining which dollars from where can help places like Wessington Springs recover from storm damage. Citizens in the town of 1,000  people are cleaning extensive damage from a tornado on June 18th.  

South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard is impressed with the progress he sees in Wessington Springs one week after a tornado destroyed more than two dozen homes. He says some state resources and block grants may help the city with major municipal projects. That way Wessington Springs leaders can use city money to restore groundwork damaged in the storm.

A tornado ripped through the town of Wessington Springs around 8pm Wednesday night. Dozens of homes and businesses were damaged, and some buildings are a total loss. On Thursday's Dakota Midday, SDPB News Reporter Kealey Bultena described the scene live from Wessington Springs.

Springtime weather in South Dakota has already been severe in many areas across the state. Strong winds, damaging hail, heavy rains, even tornados have been reported. Severe weather can be dangerous – even life threatening. Officials say it’s important to know what to look for and how to protect yourself and your family when severe weather strikes.