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Wind in Sanborn County, South Dakota

139 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.

139 events · 0 deaths recorded · peak month July · county share of state 0.8%

2026-06-17: Wind2026-06-09: Wind2025-08-16: Wind2025-07-27: Wind2025-07-20: Wind2025-07-20: Wind2025-07-20: Wind2025-07-20: Wind2022-08-02: Wind2022-08-02: Wind2022-08-02: Wind2022-07-05: Wind2022-07-05: Wind2022-07-05: Wind2022-07-03: Wind2022-07-03: Wind2022-05-28: Wind2020-08-09: Wind2019-07-20: Wind2017-07-25: Wind2017-07-25: Wind2017-07-25: Wind2017-07-05: Wind2017-06-13: Wind2017-06-11: Wind2016-08-04: Wind2015-08-09: Wind2013-06-21: Wind2012-09-03: Wind2011-08-28: Wind2011-08-28: Wind2010-09-14: Wind2010-08-30: Wind2010-08-30: Wind2010-08-30: Wind2010-06-26: Wind2010-06-22: Wind2010-05-24: Wind2009-06-24: Wind2008-07-27: Wind2008-07-21: Wind2008-06-20: Wind2007-09-29: Wind2007-05-05: Wind2006-09-16: Wind2006-08-10: Wind2006-06-05: Wind2006-06-05: Wind2005-09-05: Wind2005-07-20: Wind2005-06-07: Wind2005-05-07: Wind2004-08-03: Wind2004-07-12: Wind2004-07-10: Wind2003-08-09: Wind2003-07-04: Wind2003-06-24: Wind2003-06-09: Wind2002-08-09: Wind2002-08-09: Wind2002-06-24: Wind2002-06-24: Wind2001-06-09: Wind2000-08-05: Wind2000-08-05: Wind1998-08-19: Wind1996-08-06: Wind1996-07-07: Wind1992-06-30: Wind1991-06-04: Wind1986-08-16: Wind1985-08-22: Wind1985-04-19: Wind1984-07-16: Wind1983-09-10: Wind1982-07-14: Wind1982-07-14: Wind1980-07-03: Wind1975-06-19: Wind1975-06-03: Wind1974-05-11: Wind1973-04-19: Wind1967-06-18: Wind1960-06-19: Wind1958-05-12: Wind1957-06-20: Wind
Wind event locations in and around Sanborn County. Dots: Wind event locations in the kept record. Boundaries: US Census Bureau.

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.

Sanborn County, South Dakota, has 139 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 44 different years.

July is the busiest month, with 27 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 79 events against 44 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.

The county holds 0.8% of the 18,009 wind events recorded in South Dakota; its 24.4 per 100 square miles compares with 23.8 statewide.

101 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 12 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

MeasureSanborn CountySouth DakotaUS
Wind events since 195013918,009701,953
Per 100 square miles24.423.819.9
Per 10,000 residents584.5201.121.1
Deaths recorded0162,166
Busiest monthJulyJulyJune

By year

195019882026
Wind events recorded in Sanborn County per year, 1950 to 2026 (2026 is partial).

Seasonality

Jan
7
Feb
7
Mar
4
Apr
11
May
9
Jun
25
Jul
27
Aug
23
Sep
7
Oct
5
Nov
5
Dec
9
Wind events in Sanborn County by month of occurrence, all years.

Magnitude distribution

under 58 mph37
58–73 mph89
74–95 mph12
96 mph and over0
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 139 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.

DateEvent typeMagnitudeProperty damageCrop damageDeathsInjuriesGeography
17 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind62 mph————County
9 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
12 Mar 2026High Wind70 mph————Forecast zone
18 Feb 2026High Wind64 mph————Forecast zone
21 Jan 2026High Wind62 mph————Forecast zone
18 Jan 2026High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
16 Jan 2026High Wind59 mph————Forecast zone
18 Dec 2025High Wind63 mph————Forecast zone
9 Dec 2025High Wind67 mph————Forecast zone
25 Nov 2025High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
16 Aug 2025Thunderstorm Wind69 mph————County
27 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
20 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind90 mph————County
20 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
20 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
20 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
19 May 2025Strong Wind54 mph————Forecast zone
15 May 2025High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
28 Feb 2025Strong Wind49 mph————Forecast zone
19 Dec 2024Strong Wind53 mph————Forecast zone
4 Dec 2024Strong Wind53 mph————Forecast zone
20 Nov 2024Strong Wind53 mph————Forecast zone
12 Sep 2024Strong Wind32 mph————Forecast zone
6 Jun 2024Strong Wind49 mph—$4K——Forecast zone
16 Apr 2024High Wind66 mph————Forecast zone
6 Mar 2024Strong Wind51 mph————Forecast zone
9 Dec 2023Strong Wind47 mph————Forecast zone
12 Oct 2023Strong Wind54 mph————Forecast zone
30 Apr 2023Strong Wind47 mph————Forecast zone
15 Feb 2023High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
2 Aug 2022Thunderstorm Wind75 mph————County
2 Aug 2022Thunderstorm Wind76 mph————County
2 Aug 2022Thunderstorm Wind75 mph————County
5 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind81 mph—$3K——County
5 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind81 mph————County
5 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
3 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind90 mph$15K———County
3 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
28 May 2022Thunderstorm Wind69 mph—$25K——County
23 Apr 2022High Wind63 mph————Forecast zone
14 Apr 2022High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
7 Apr 2022High Wind41 mph————Forecast zone
25 Mar 2022Strong Wind47 mph————Forecast zone
15 Dec 2021High Wind59 mph————Forecast zone
12 Nov 2021High Wind61 mph————Forecast zone
14 Jan 2021High Wind61 mph————Forecast zone
9 Aug 2020Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
20 Jul 2019Thunderstorm Wind75 mph————County
25 Jul 2017Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
25 Jul 2017Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
25 Jul 2017Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
5 Jul 2017Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
13 Jun 2017Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
11 Jun 2017Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
25 Dec 2016High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
4 Aug 2016Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
19 Feb 2016High Wind41 mph————Forecast zone
9 Aug 2015Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
26 Jan 2014High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
16 Jan 2014High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
21 Jun 2013Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
3 Sep 2012Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
28 Aug 2011Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$20K———County
28 Aug 2011Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
26 Oct 2010High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
14 Sep 2010Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
30 Aug 2010Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$25K———County
30 Aug 2010Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
30 Aug 2010Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
26 Jun 2010Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
22 Jun 2010Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
24 May 2010Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$5K———County
24 Jun 2009Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
26 Oct 2008High Wind45 mph————Forecast zone
27 Jul 2008Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
21 Jul 2008Thunderstorm Wind66 mph————County
20 Jun 2008Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
29 Sep 2007Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
5 May 2007Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
16 Sep 2006Thunderstorm Wind79 mph————County
10 Aug 2006Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
5 Jun 2006Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$10K———County
5 Jun 2006Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
8 Nov 2005High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
5 Sep 2005Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
20 Jul 2005Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
7 Jun 2005Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
7 May 2005Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
10 Mar 2005High Wind60 mph$10K———Forecast zone
12 Dec 2004High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
30 Oct 2004High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
3 Aug 2004Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
12 Jul 2004Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
10 Jul 2004Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
9 Aug 2003Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
4 Jul 2003Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
24 Jun 2003Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
9 Jun 2003Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$10K———County
11 Feb 2003High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
9 Aug 2002Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
9 Aug 2002Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
24 Jun 2002Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
24 Jun 2002Thunderstorm Wind66 mph————County
11 Feb 2002High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
9 Jun 2001Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$5K———County
5 Aug 2000Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$5K———County
5 Aug 2000Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$10K———County
5 Apr 2000High Wind64 mph$17K———Forecast zone
10 Jan 2000High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
19 Aug 1998Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$10K———County
12 Apr 1998High Wind55 mph————Forecast zone
30 Dec 1997High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
2 Nov 1997High Wind—$3K———Forecast zone
2 Jul 1997High Wind51 mph$7K———Forecast zone
6 Apr 1997High Wind72 mph$10K———Forecast zone
29 Oct 1996High Wind66 mph————Forecast zone
6 Aug 1996Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
7 Jul 1996Thunderstorm Wind71 mph$10K———County
24 May 1996High Wind52 mph————Forecast zone
25 Apr 1996High Wind71 mph$10K———Forecast zone
10 Feb 1996High Wind67 mph$10K———Forecast zone
30 Jun 1992Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
4 Jun 1991Thunderstorm Wind69 mph————County
16 Aug 1986Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
22 Aug 1985Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
19 Apr 1985Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
16 Jul 1984Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
10 Sep 1983Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
14 Jul 1982Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
14 Jul 1982Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
3 Jul 1980Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
19 Jun 1975Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
3 Jun 1975Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
11 May 1974Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
19 Apr 1973Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
18 Jun 1967Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
19 Jun 1960Thunderstorm Wind84 mph————County
12 May 1958Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
20 Jun 1957Thunderstorm Wind94 mph————County

Questions and answers

How many wind events has Sanborn County had?

139 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 Sanborn County?

17 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 62 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.

What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Sanborn County?

The thunderstorm wind of 30 Aug 2010, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25K.

How does Sanborn County compare with South Dakota for wind?

24.4 events per 100 square miles against 23.8 statewide; the county holds 139 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.