Although there have been many beautiful and amazing things that have happened in South Dakota, there have also been some absolutely devastating disasters, too. Looking back, here are some of the worst South Dakota natural disasters that you may or may not remember:
- The Spencer Tornado
poo dog / Flickr The tornado hit Spencer on May 30, 1998. Not only was it the most destructive tornado in South Dakota history, it was the second most deadly. In the year following this horrifying tornado, the population of Spencer went from 315 people to only 145 as people chose to rebuild elsewhere.
- Missouri River Flooding of 2011
Sioux City Lewis and Clark Center / Flickr Initially caused by melting snow in the Rocky Mountains, this flooding eventually occurred as a result of overflowing dams. Towns from North Dakota through to Missouri suffered severe flooding as a result. This flood was especially devastating as it lasted from June all the way through August. It destroyed many homes all along the river, even outside of flood plains.
- The Grizzly Gulch Fire
Project LM/Flickr Beginning June 29, 2002 and lasting until July 7, the Grizzly Gulch Fire ravaged western South Dakota. Though the scars left by the fire and the memories still exist today, no one was killed in this horrifying natural disaster and for that we can be thankful.
- The Schoolhouse Blizzard of 1888
Aaron Molina / Flickr A combination of snowfall and dangerously low temperatures created the perfect condition for this storm back in 1888. Temperatures of -20 degrees Fahrenheit plus brutal winds hit South Dakota hard. This storm took 235 lives and is still remembered today.
- The Ice Storm of 2013
Ice Storm 2013 / Facebook A late spring ice storm surprised everyone back in 2013. The sleet and ice came down in sheets covering absolutely everything. In some areas, ice was 3-4 inches thick on cars, windows and electrical poles. Trees and poles came down under the weight of the ice causing major destruction in many areas. Many livestock were killed as a result of this storm as well.
- The Black Hills flood of 1972
NOAA/Wikimedia Between June 9th and 10th of 1972, Rapid City received 15 inches of rain in only 6 hours. This rapid rainfall caused immediate flooding and resulted in the death of 238 people, injuring far more. Over 1300 homes and 5000 automobiles also fell victim to this flood.
- The Blizzard of 1997
woodleywonderworks / Flickr Two snowfalls in one week plus wind made for a treacherous combination in 1997. Drifts reached over 20 feet high and many livestock lost their lives.
- The Delmont Tornado
Niccolò Ubalducci/Flickr In 2015, Delmont was hit with a devastating tornado. It ripped into the town, taking historic homes and the church with it. In this small town, more than 20 buildings damaged made this a horrifying disaster.
Which horrifying disaster in South Dakota stands out the most in your memory?
poo dog / Flickr
The tornado hit Spencer on May 30, 1998. Not only was it the most destructive tornado in South Dakota history, it was the second most deadly. In the year following this horrifying tornado, the population of Spencer went from 315 people to only 145 as people chose to rebuild elsewhere.
Sioux City Lewis and Clark Center / Flickr
Initially caused by melting snow in the Rocky Mountains, this flooding eventually occurred as a result of overflowing dams. Towns from North Dakota through to Missouri suffered severe flooding as a result. This flood was especially devastating as it lasted from June all the way through August. It destroyed many homes all along the river, even outside of flood plains.
Project LM/Flickr
Beginning June 29, 2002 and lasting until July 7, the Grizzly Gulch Fire ravaged western South Dakota. Though the scars left by the fire and the memories still exist today, no one was killed in this horrifying natural disaster and for that we can be thankful.
Aaron Molina / Flickr
A combination of snowfall and dangerously low temperatures created the perfect condition for this storm back in 1888. Temperatures of -20 degrees Fahrenheit plus brutal winds hit South Dakota hard. This storm took 235 lives and is still remembered today.
Ice Storm 2013 / Facebook
A late spring ice storm surprised everyone back in 2013. The sleet and ice came down in sheets covering absolutely everything. In some areas, ice was 3-4 inches thick on cars, windows and electrical poles. Trees and poles came down under the weight of the ice causing major destruction in many areas. Many livestock were killed as a result of this storm as well.
NOAA/Wikimedia
Between June 9th and 10th of 1972, Rapid City received 15 inches of rain in only 6 hours. This rapid rainfall caused immediate flooding and resulted in the death of 238 people, injuring far more. Over 1300 homes and 5000 automobiles also fell victim to this flood.
woodleywonderworks / Flickr
Two snowfalls in one week plus wind made for a treacherous combination in 1997. Drifts reached over 20 feet high and many livestock lost their lives.
Niccolò Ubalducci/Flickr
In 2015, Delmont was hit with a devastating tornado. It ripped into the town, taking historic homes and the church with it. In this small town, more than 20 buildings damaged made this a horrifying disaster.
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Address: South Dakota, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
South Dakota Natural Disasters June 02, 2022 Tori Jane What kind of natural disasters in South Dakota are there? South Dakota is beautiful, but unfortunately, it is not immune to natural disasters – some of which can be truly horrific. During the summer months (and sometimes other seasons, too), South Dakota can see a fair share of tornadoes, with an average of 36 twisters confirmed per year. It’s also home to some of the gnarliest blizzards and cold-weather conditions in the United States, and even without the bitter cold of a blizzard, the state sees at least 30 inches of snow per year. Flooding is another issue, which is illustrated by the catastrophic Black Hills flood of 1972, which was one of the deadliest in United State History. What are some of the most notorious South Dakota disasters? Well, obviously, there’s the Black Hills flood of 1972, which was so bad it’s worth mentioning twice. But what about some other notorious South Dakota disasters? Some are natural and others are caused entirely by man, but no matter what, they end up going down in the history books as simply the worst. Other notable disasters in South Dakota include the Great Flood of 1993, and the absolutely horrific Schoolhouse Blizzard of 1888 in which 235 people – including lots of children stranded at school – died. The White Draw fire was another notorious disaster in South Dakota, which burned a total of 8,640 acres. Yikes! What are some scary, bad things that happened in South Dakota? South Dakota is a pretty safe place, overall, but unfortunately, sometimes dark or bad things still happen – much like with just about anywhere. Some of the most notable bad things that happened in South Dakota include the infamous and notorious Mathis family murders of 1981, in which an entire family – well, everyone but the patriarch – was shot to death in their beds while they slept. Although he was later acquitted of the crime, there have been no other suspects other than him. Another notorious scary event in South Dakota was the heat wave of 1995, which claimed several lives and spawned numerous derecho storms, which are highly destructive and very dangerous.
The OIYS Visitor Center
South Dakota Natural Disasters
June 02, 2022
Tori Jane
What kind of natural disasters in South Dakota are there? South Dakota is beautiful, but unfortunately, it is not immune to natural disasters – some of which can be truly horrific. During the summer months (and sometimes other seasons, too), South Dakota can see a fair share of tornadoes, with an average of 36 twisters confirmed per year. It’s also home to some of the gnarliest blizzards and cold-weather conditions in the United States, and even without the bitter cold of a blizzard, the state sees at least 30 inches of snow per year. Flooding is another issue, which is illustrated by the catastrophic Black Hills flood of 1972, which was one of the deadliest in United State History. What are some of the most notorious South Dakota disasters? Well, obviously, there’s the Black Hills flood of 1972, which was so bad it’s worth mentioning twice. But what about some other notorious South Dakota disasters? Some are natural and others are caused entirely by man, but no matter what, they end up going down in the history books as simply the worst. Other notable disasters in South Dakota include the Great Flood of 1993, and the absolutely horrific Schoolhouse Blizzard of 1888 in which 235 people – including lots of children stranded at school – died. The White Draw fire was another notorious disaster in South Dakota, which burned a total of 8,640 acres. Yikes! What are some scary, bad things that happened in South Dakota? South Dakota is a pretty safe place, overall, but unfortunately, sometimes dark or bad things still happen – much like with just about anywhere. Some of the most notable bad things that happened in South Dakota include the infamous and notorious Mathis family murders of 1981, in which an entire family – well, everyone but the patriarch – was shot to death in their beds while they slept. Although he was later acquitted of the crime, there have been no other suspects other than him. Another notorious scary event in South Dakota was the heat wave of 1995, which claimed several lives and spawned numerous derecho storms, which are highly destructive and very dangerous.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
South Dakota is beautiful, but unfortunately, it is not immune to natural disasters – some of which can be truly horrific. During the summer months (and sometimes other seasons, too), South Dakota can see a fair share of tornadoes, with an average of 36 twisters confirmed per year. It’s also home to some of the gnarliest blizzards and cold-weather conditions in the United States, and even without the bitter cold of a blizzard, the state sees at least 30 inches of snow per year. Flooding is another issue, which is illustrated by the catastrophic Black Hills flood of 1972, which was one of the deadliest in United State History.
What are some of the most notorious South Dakota disasters?
Well, obviously, there’s the Black Hills flood of 1972, which was so bad it’s worth mentioning twice. But what about some other notorious South Dakota disasters? Some are natural and others are caused entirely by man, but no matter what, they end up going down in the history books as simply the worst. Other notable disasters in South Dakota include the Great Flood of 1993, and the absolutely horrific Schoolhouse Blizzard of 1888 in which 235 people – including lots of children stranded at school – died. The White Draw fire was another notorious disaster in South Dakota, which burned a total of 8,640 acres. Yikes!
What are some scary, bad things that happened in South Dakota?
South Dakota is a pretty safe place, overall, but unfortunately, sometimes dark or bad things still happen – much like with just about anywhere. Some of the most notable bad things that happened in South Dakota include the infamous and notorious Mathis family murders of 1981, in which an entire family – well, everyone but the patriarch – was shot to death in their beds while they slept. Although he was later acquitted of the crime, there have been no other suspects other than him. Another notorious scary event in South Dakota was the heat wave of 1995, which claimed several lives and spawned numerous derecho storms, which are highly destructive and very dangerous.
