Late Spring Storms Spawn Flooding and Tornadoes

Technically we are still a week away from summer. Thus the springtime active weather on Tuesday brought multiple elements into play near Sioux Falls.

Through the late morning and early afternoon rain showers crept through eastern South Dakota and northern Nebraska prompting a flash flood warning from Canton south to Vermillion and near Laurel, Nebraska. As the rain made its way into Iowa, Sioux Center, Le Mars, Akron, Sioux City, Storm Lake, Sheldon and Spencer had to contend with the excess water.

Before 2:00 PM a tornado was spotted near Pipestone, Minnesota. By mid-afternoon this was the only confirmed tornado.

Other storms capable of producing tornadoes were near Sibley, Iowa that worked its way toward Worthington, Minnesota and another west of Spirit Lake that headed northeast into Minnesota. Plus another group of strong storms triggered similar warnings in Day and Marshall counties in northeast South Dakota.

Two watches were issued as the conditions proved ripe for severe weather. Southern Minnesota was under a Tornado Watch with western and central Iowa under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

As the week continues, drier conditions will hold sway and a more summertime pattern should arrive just in time for actual summer.