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Wind in Mellette County, South Dakota
173 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.
NCEI records 173 wind events in Mellette County, South Dakota, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 36 years.
June is the busiest month, with 35 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 130 events against 39 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 13.2 per 100 square miles compares with 23.8 statewide.
141 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 10 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 | Mellette County | South Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 173 | 18,009 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 13.2 | 23.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 906.7 | 201.1 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 16 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
10Feb
6Mar
4Apr
11May
8Jun
35Jul
34Aug
33Sep
5Oct
11Nov
7Dec
9
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 173 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 2026 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 77 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 77 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2024 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Nov 2024 | High Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Oct 2022 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 44 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jan 2022 | High Wind | 43 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jan 2022 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 78 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Oct 2021 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 2021 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jan 2021 | High Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 2020 | High Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Oct 2020 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jan 2020 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jan 2019 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Dec 2016 | High Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Sep 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2016 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Feb 2016 | High Wind | 83 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Feb 2016 | High Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Nov 2015 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Aug 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Oct 2012 | High Wind | 45 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $60K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 20 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Mar 2012 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Nov 2011 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Oct 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2011 | High Wind | 43 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 43 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Oct 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2010 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 May 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jan 2009 | High Wind | 45 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Aug 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Feb 2007 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Oct 2006 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2005 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Mar 2005 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 2004 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2002 | High Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Apr 2002 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Feb 2002 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2001 | High Wind | 46 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Dec 2000 | High Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Sep 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 1999 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 1999 | High Wind | 46 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Feb 1999 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Nov 1997 | High Wind | 48 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Oct 1997 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 1996 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Feb 1996 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 93 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1966 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Mellette County had?
173 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 Mellette County?
29 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 70 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Mellette County?
The thunderstorm wind of 20 Aug 2000, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $200K.
How does Mellette County compare with South Dakota for wind?
13.2 events per 100 square miles against 23.8 statewide; the county holds 173 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.