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Wind in Buffalo County, South Dakota
136 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
Buffalo County, South Dakota, has 136 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 32 different years.
July is the busiest month, with 28 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 98 events against 35 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.8% of the 18,009 wind events recorded in South Dakota; its 28.8 per 100 square miles compares with 23.8 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to damaging wind.
107 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 11 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.
Compared with South Dakota
| Measure | Buffalo County | South Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 136 | 18,009 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 28.8 | 23.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 707.2 | 201.1 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 16 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
8Feb
6Mar
9Apr
12May
7Jun
24Jul
28Aug
14Sep
2Oct
11Nov
8Dec
7
Magnitude distribution
NWS wind thresholds
- under 58 mph
- below severe threshold
- 58–73 mph
- severe
- 74–95 mph
- hurricane-force
- 96 mph and over
- extreme
Wind speed converted from the knots NCEI records; estimated and measured gusts are combined. Events without a speed are not binned.
Recorded events
All 136 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jun 2026 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Feb 2026 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2026 | High Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2026 | High Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Nov 2025 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Sep 2025 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2025 | High Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Apr 2025 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Mar 2025 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2025 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2024 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Nov 2024 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2024 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Apr 2024 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2023 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Oct 2022 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Oct 2022 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Oct 2022 | High Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Mar 2022 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Mar 2022 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jan 2022 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 2021 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jan 2021 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 2020 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Oct 2020 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 2019 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2018 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Mar 2017 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Dec 2016 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Feb 2016 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Feb 2016 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Nov 2015 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Oct 2015 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | — | — | 1 | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Oct 2012 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Apr 2012 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Oct 2011 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Sep 2011 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Apr 2011 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2010 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jan 2007 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Nov 2005 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2005 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 2004 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2004 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2002 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2002 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Feb 2002 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2000 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Nov 1999 | High Wind | 54 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 82 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 1999 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Nov 1997 | High Wind | 52 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 1996 | High Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Apr 1996 | High Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Apr 1996 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Feb 1996 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jul 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 1959 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Buffalo County had?
136 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of damaging wind became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded wind event in Buffalo County?
15 Jun 2026 (High Wind, 64 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Buffalo County?
NCEI records no damage estimate for events of this type in the county.
How does Buffalo County compare with South Dakota for wind?
28.8 events per 100 square miles against 23.8 statewide; the county holds 136 of the state's 18,009 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Wind hub and the county page.