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Tornado in Clark County, South Dakota
36 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
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.
NCEI records 36 tornado events in Clark County, South Dakota, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 23 years.
June is the busiest month, with 14 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 13 events against 6 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.8% of the 1,947 tornado events recorded in South Dakota; its 3.8 per 100 square miles compares with 2.6 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 19 at (E)F0, 7 at (E)F1, 6 at (E)F2, 2 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 2 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with South Dakota
| Measure | Clark County | South Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 36 | 1,947 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 3.8 | 2.6 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 93.4 | 21.7 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 19 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | June | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
1May
9Jun
14Jul
6Aug
2Sep
4Oct
0Nov
0Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 36 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Aug 2023 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2023 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 1991 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1985 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1984 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 1984 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 10 Jul 1977 | Tornado | — | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1972 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1972 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 1967 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1964 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1964 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1964 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 1963 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1962 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1961 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | 1 | 7 | County |
| 31 May 1960 | Tornado | F0 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 1953 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1953 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Clark County had?
36 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Clark County?
10 Aug 2023 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Clark County?
The tornado of 12 May 1984, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Clark County compare with South Dakota for tornado?
3.8 events per 100 square miles against 2.6 statewide; the county holds 36 of the state's 1,947 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 Tornado hub and the county page.