2003 South Dakota tornado outbreak
Encyclopedia
The 2003 South Dakota tornado outbreak known locally as "Tornado Tuesday" was a tornado outbreak
that occurred in the southeastern and east central part of South Dakota
in the United States
on June 24, 2003. At the time, this outbreak tied a United States record for the most tornado touchdowns in a single day for one state, with 67. 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
.
in Kingsbury County
and was rated an F-4 on the Fujita scale
. In the National Weather Service survey released shortly after the tornado, winds were estimated to be up to 260 miles per hour (now estimated to be up to 200 miles per hour by the EF-scale). There, every single structure was 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 twister 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.
Fairgrounds in Parker
, destroying many structures at the site.
In Minnesota
, several tornadoes touched down near the Buffalo Lake
area with one of the storms causing extensive damage to the town. No tornado-related fatalities were reported during the entire day; however, tornadoes on June 22 and 23 killed two people in Nebraska
.
During a four-day period from June 21 to June 24, the entire area from Wyoming
to Minnesota was hit by a total of 125 tornadoes including 2 F4s.
Tornado outbreak
While there is no single agreed upon definition, generally at least 6-10 tornadoes produced by the same synoptic scale weather system is considered a tornado outbreak. The tornadoes usually occur within the same day, or continue into the early morning hours of the succeeding day, and within the...
that occurred in the southeastern and east central part of South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on June 24, 2003. At the time, this outbreak tied a United States record for the most tornado touchdowns in a single day for one state, with 67. However this record was surpassed by a tornado outbreak
Late-May 2008 tornado outbreak sequence
The Late May 2008 tornado outbreak sequence was a series of tornado outbreaks affecting the central plains of the United States since May 22, 2008. Over 250 tornadoes were reported across many states and two Canadian provinces from Wyoming to Ohio and from Manitoba to Texas, of which at least 235...
in Kansas on May 23, 2008 when 73 tornadoes hit the state, including two that started in Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
.
Manchester tornado
The most powerful tornado was located around ManchesterManchester, South Dakota
Manchester was a small unincorporated community in Kingsbury County in the east-central part of the U.S. state of South Dakota. On June 24, 2003, the town was completely annihilated by a large F4-rated tornado, and has since become a ghost town.-History:...
in Kingsbury County
Kingsbury County, South Dakota
Kingsbury County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,148. It's county seat is De Smet. It was named for two brothers, George W. and T. A. Kingsbury, who were prominently involved in the affairs of Dakota Territory and members of...
and was rated an F-4 on the Fujita scale
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
. In the National Weather Service survey released shortly after the tornado, winds were estimated to be up to 260 miles per hour (now estimated to be up to 200 miles per hour by the EF-scale). There, every single structure was 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 twister 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.
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 CountyTurner County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,849 people, 3,510 households, and 2,478 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile . There were 3,852 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile...
Fairgrounds in Parker
Parker, South Dakota
Parker is a city in Turner County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,022 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Turner County.-Geography:Parker is located at ....
, destroying many structures at the site.
In Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, several tornadoes touched down near the Buffalo Lake
Buffalo Lake, Minnesota
Buffalo Lake is a city in Renville County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 733 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
area with one of the storms causing extensive damage to the town. No tornado-related fatalities were reported during the entire day; however, tornadoes on June 22 and 23 killed two people in Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
.
During a four-day period from June 21 to June 24, the entire area from Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
to Minnesota was hit by a total of 125 tornadoes including 2 F4s.