2003 South Dakota tornado outbreak

Infobox tornado outbreak
name = 2003 South Dakota tornado outbreak
image location =


date = June 24, 2003
duration = Approx. three hours
fujitascale = F4
tornadoes = 67
total damages (USD) = $13.5 million
total fatalities =
areas affected = Southeast South Dakota
enhanced =

The 2003 South Dakota tornado outbreak was a tornado outbreak that occurred in the southeastern and east central part of South Dakota in the United States on June 24, 2003. [cite web | last =Moore | first =Gene | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =The Record Breaking South Dakota Tornado Outbreak of 24 June, 2003 | work = | publisher = | date = | url =http://www.chaseday.com/SDoutbreak-1.htm | accessdate =2008-03-03 ] At the time, this outbreak tied a United States record for the most tornado touchdowns in a single day for one state, with 67. [cite web | last =NOAA | first = | authorlink =National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | coauthors = | title =June Tornadoes in South Dakota Tie National Record | work = | publisher = | date = | url =http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/storms/tor062403/sdtor062403.php | accessdate =2008-03-03 ] However this record was surpassed by a tornado outbreak in Kansas on May 23, 2008 when 73 tornadoes hit the state, including two that started in Oklahoma.

Centerville tornado

The most powerful tornado was located around Centerville, South Dakota and was rated an F-4 on the Fujita scale. It had maximum winds of 260 miles per hour and caused damage in the town of Centerville and surrounding areas. Every single structure in the Manchester area in Kingsbury County were either heavily damaged or destroyed. No fatalities were reported with this tornado but at least 4 people were injured by the storm. Researchers had placed several sensors all across the area that was hit by the tornado. The cyclone passed right over one of the sensors which recorded a 100 millibar pressure drop. One film shot showed the tornado passing directly over a camera placed and buried on the ground. [ [http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/storms/tor062403/samaras/samaras.php NWS Sioux Falls, SD ] ] [ [http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~515034 NCDC: Event Details ] ]

Other tornadoes

Most tornadoes across South Dakota during that day were weak F0's and F1's however many caused extensive damage to farms and crops. One tornado tore through the Turner County Fairgrounds in Parker destroying many structures at the site. [ [http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~515107 NCDC: Event Details ] ]

In Minnesota, several tornadoes touched down near the Buffalo Lake area with one of the storms causing extensive damage to the town. [ [http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~500693 NCDC: Event Details ] ] No tornado-related fatalities were reported during the entire day, however tornadoes on June 22 and 23 killed two people in Nebraska. [ [http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~505719 NCDC: Event Details ] ] [ [http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~505804 NCDC: Event Details ] ]

During a four-day period from June 21 to June 24, the entire area from Wyoming to Minnesota were hit by a total of 125 tornadoes including 2 F4s.

Confirmed tornadoes

ee also

*List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
*Tornadoes of 2003

References

External links

* [http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/storms/tor062403/24jun03tracks.php Southeastern South Dakota tornado tracks (NWS Sioux Falls)]
* [http://www.stormgasm.com/6-24-03/6-24-03.htm Images of the Manchester tornado]