Sioux Falls, S.D. – A dangerous round of severe storms could hit central and eastern South Dakota starting Thursday afternoon, with threats of 70 mph wind gusts, large hail up to 2 inches, and heavy downpours bringing flood risk along and south of I-90 through Friday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, storms are likely to form Thursday afternoon and track east, impacting communities including Chamberlain, Mitchell, and Sioux Falls. The highest threat zone sits south of I-90, where storms may bring damaging winds, very large hail, and rainfall rates high enough to cause localized flash flooding. The atmosphere holds unusually high moisture, increasing the flood potential. While the exact storm path remains uncertain, areas from Winner and Platte east toward Brookings and the I-29 corridor are at greatest risk.
Travel may become dangerous during heavy rainfall, with visibility quickly dropping and water pooling on roadways. Residents are urged to have multiple ways to receive weather warnings and avoid driving through flooded roads. Power outages and tree damage are possible in the most intense cells…