States › South Dakota › McPherson County › Tornado
Tornado in McPherson County, South Dakota
27 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 27 tornado events in McPherson County, South Dakota, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 21 years.
July is the busiest month, with 10 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 7 events against 10 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.4% of the 1,947 tornado events recorded in South Dakota; its 2.4 per 100 square miles compares with 2.6 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 13 at (E)F0, 5 at (E)F1, 5 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 | McPherson County | South Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 27 | 1,947 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 111.6 | 21.7 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 19 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | July | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
0May
1Jun
6Jul
10Aug
7Sep
3Oct
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 27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Aug 2025 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2020 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Sep 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2010 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2006 | Tornado | F3 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 9 Aug 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2002 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2002 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2001 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 1991 | Tornado | F1 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1986 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 1985 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1979 | Tornado | F1 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1977 | Tornado | — | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 1966 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | 2 | 4 | County |
| 1 Jul 1966 | Tornado | F1 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 1963 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1962 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 1961 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1961 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has McPherson County had?
27 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 McPherson County?
5 Aug 2025 (Tornado, EF unrated). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in McPherson County?
The tornado of 19 Jun 1979, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does McPherson County compare with South Dakota for tornado?
2.4 events per 100 square miles against 2.6 statewide; the county holds 27 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.