This Day in Weather History Archive

On This Day In

                   Weather History...

June 16, 1992:

An F3 tornado caused major destruction as it moved northeast across the northwestern side of Ft. Thompson. The tornado virtually destroyed the Lake Sharpe Visitor Center. In Ft. Thompson, the tornado destroyed at least 4 homes and 15 mobile homes were damaged, leaving about 55 persons homeless. Eight people were injured, two of them seriously. The storm also destroyed other buildings, six 50,000 bushel grain bins, and four high voltage towers from Big Bend Dam. At the Shady Bend campground, 19 campers and several boats were destroyed. Also, heavy rains fell over a three day period beginning on the 15th. The hardest hit area was in Clear Lake were the three day total was 11.53 inches. As a result, wall of water up to 15 feet high swept down creeks in the Clear Lake area. The resultant flash flooding went through first floors of many houses and even filled basements of houses on hills. The wave of water hit a car that was occupied by a woman and her son. The water spun them around as they floated about 200 yards. The car finally grounded without any reported injuries. All roads into Clear Lake were cut off as the town became completely surrounded by water. Officials in Deuel County estimated at least 37 bridges and culverts were destroyed. Other three day rainfall totals include; 6.35 inches in Conde; 5.99 in Castlewood; 4.91 inches 2NW of Big Stone City; 4.90 in Redfield; and 4.65 inches at Artichoke Lake. Heavy rains fell over a three day period beginning on the 15th. The hardest hit area was in Clear Lake were the three day total was 11.53 inches. As a result, wall of water up to 15 feet high swept down creeks in the Clear Lake area. The resultant flash flooding went through first floors of many houses and even filled basements of houses on hills. The wave of water hit a car that was occupied by a woman and her son. The water spun them around as they floated about 200 yards. The car finally grounded without any reported injuries. All roads into Clear Lake were cut off as the town became completely surrounded by water. Officials in Deuel County estimated at least 37 bridges and culverts were destroyed. Other three day rainfall totals include; 6.35 inches in Conde; 5.99 in Castlewood; 4.91 inches 2NW of Big Stone City; 4.90 in Redfield; and 4.65 inches at Artichoke Lake.

June 16, 2010:

Very strong winds were observed during the evening hours in Dewey County, South Dakota. Three weather stations near Lantry observed winds from 101 to 142 mph. One station recorded a 101 mph wind before it was destroyed. The other two stations recorded 131 mph and 142 mph winds. The winds destroyed an airplane hanger and badly damaged another one. Several semi-trailers were also tipped over and damaged by the very high winds.

Record Highs:	Record Lows:
Aberdeen: 109 (1933)	Aberdeen: 34 (1903)
Kennebec: 102 (1959)	Kennebec: 38 (1974)
Mobridge: 103 (1933)	Mobridge: 38 (1945)
Pierre: 109 (1940)	Pierre: 41 (1974)
Sisseton: 103 (1933)	Sisseton: 39 (1976)
Timber Lake: 102 (1933)	Timber Lake: 34 (1915)
Watertown: 103 (1933)	Watertown: 35 (1902)
Wheaton: 95 (1995)	Wheaton: 36 (1972)

Record Precipitation:
Aberdeen: 1.89" (1939)
Kennebec: 2.30" (1990)
Mobridge: 0.77" (1962)
Pierre: 1.60" (2007)
Sisseton: 1.33" (1939)
Timber Lake: 1.97" (1977)
Watertown: 2.53" (1977)
Wheaton: 3.31" (1935)