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Wind in Lincoln County, South Dakota
240 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.
Lincoln County, South Dakota, has 240 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 51 different years.
July is the busiest month, with 69 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 133 events against 65 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.3% of the 18,009 wind events recorded in South Dakota; its 41.6 per 100 square miles compares with 23.8 statewide.
188 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 43 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 | Lincoln County | South Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 240 | 18,009 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 41.6 | 23.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 35.4 | 201.1 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 16 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
4Feb
3Mar
6Apr
20May
25Jun
37Jul
69Aug
42Sep
15Oct
7Nov
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
The 168 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 240. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2026 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2026 | Strong Wind | 55 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Nov 2025 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 115 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2025 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 May 2025 | Strong Wind | 53 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2025 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Feb 2025 | Strong Wind | 56 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2024 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Dec 2024 | Strong Wind | 56 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Nov 2024 | Strong Wind | 53 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2024 | Strong Wind | 51 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Apr 2024 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2023 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Apr 2023 | Strong Wind | 53 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Oct 2022 | High Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Oct 2022 | High Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | $77K | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 76 mph | — | $23K | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Mar 2022 | Strong Wind | 53 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Sep 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $11K | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | $3.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 93 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | $42K | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Oct 2019 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Sep 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Sep 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Sep 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Sep 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Sep 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Dec 2016 | High Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Feb 2016 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Sep 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $500K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 10 Mar 2005 | High Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 64 mph | $17K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 1998 | High Wind | 55 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Nov 1997 | High Wind | — | $3K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Jul 1997 | High Wind | 51 mph | $7K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Apr 1997 | High Wind | 72 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Apr 1996 | High Wind | 71 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Feb 1996 | High Wind | 67 mph | $30K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Sep 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1965 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 1956 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Lincoln County had?
240 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 Lincoln County?
28 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 67 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Lincoln County?
The thunderstorm wind of 28 Aug 2021, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $3.0M.
How does Lincoln County compare with South Dakota for wind?
41.6 events per 100 square miles against 23.8 statewide; the county holds 240 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.