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Wind in Potter County, South Dakota
203 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 203 wind events in Potter County, South Dakota, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 45 years.
June is the busiest month, with 55 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 133 events against 49 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.1% of the 18,009 wind events recorded in South Dakota; its 23.6 per 100 square miles compares with 23.8 statewide.
168 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 20 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 | Potter County | South Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 203 | 18,009 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 23.6 | 23.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 820.2 | 201.1 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 16 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
11Feb
5Mar
7Apr
16May
10Jun
55Jul
46Aug
23Sep
7Oct
8Nov
9Dec
6
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 200 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 203. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 2026 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Feb 2026 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2026 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2026 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 79 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Nov 2025 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Sep 2025 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2025 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jun 2025 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 May 2025 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Apr 2025 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Apr 2025 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Mar 2025 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2025 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2024 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Nov 2024 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2024 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 May 2024 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Apr 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 2023 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Oct 2022 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 91 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jan 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Sep 2021 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 84 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 2021 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jan 2021 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 2020 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Nov 2020 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Oct 2020 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 2019 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Mar 2017 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Feb 2016 | High Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Nov 2015 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Oct 2015 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2013 | High Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Oct 2012 | High Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Oct 2011 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Sep 2011 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2011 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Sep 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jan 2007 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 94 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2005 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2005 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Mar 2004 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Nov 2002 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Aug 2002 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Apr 2002 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Feb 2002 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Dec 2000 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 2000 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Nov 1999 | High Wind | 56 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 May 1999 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Mar 1999 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Nov 1997 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Sep 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 1996 | High Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Jun 1996 | High Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Apr 1996 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Apr 1996 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Feb 1996 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1967 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1960 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1956 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Potter County had?
203 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 Potter County?
15 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 69 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Potter County?
The thunderstorm wind of 10 Jul 1994, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $5K.
How does Potter County compare with South Dakota for wind?
23.6 events per 100 square miles against 23.8 statewide; the county holds 203 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.