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Wind in Lake County, South Dakota
174 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.
Lake County, South Dakota, has 174 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 41 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 37 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 94 events against 70 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1% of the 18,009 wind events recorded in South Dakota; its 30.9 per 100 square miles compares with 23.8 statewide.
136 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 23 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 | Lake County | South Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 174 | 18,009 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 30.9 | 23.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 160.4 | 201.1 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 16 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
5Feb
5Mar
5Apr
10May
25Jun
37Jul
37Aug
22Sep
8Oct
8Nov
4Dec
8
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 174 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Feb 2026 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2026 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2026 | Strong Wind | 53 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Nov 2025 | Strong Wind | 54 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 2025 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Feb 2025 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2024 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Dec 2024 | Strong Wind | 51 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Nov 2024 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | $12K | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2024 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2023 | Strong Wind | 36 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Oct 2023 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Apr 2023 | Strong Wind | 53 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | — | $71K | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 105 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 110 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 105 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 97 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 97 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2022 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 45 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Mar 2022 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jan 2022 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Dec 2016 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Feb 2016 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Aug 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 2014 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2010 | High Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 45 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Nov 2005 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2005 | High Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Dec 2004 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Feb 2002 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 64 mph | $17K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 1999 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Aug 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 1998 | High Wind | 55 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Nov 1997 | High Wind | — | $3K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Oct 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Oct 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1997 | High Wind | 51 mph | $7K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Apr 1997 | High Wind | 72 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 1996 | High Wind | 66 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Oct 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $400K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1996 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Apr 1996 | High Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Feb 1996 | High Wind | 67 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Oct 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1966 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1966 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 1959 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 1958 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Lake County had?
174 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 Lake County?
12 Mar 2026 (High Wind, 64 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Lake County?
The thunderstorm wind of 11 Jul 2000, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $500K.
How does Lake County compare with South Dakota for wind?
30.9 events per 100 square miles against 23.8 statewide; the county holds 174 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.