Here’s What South Dakota Will Look Like if Yellowstone Erupts

In case you didn't know, Yellowstone National Park sits on top of one of the largest volcanic systems on earth; and while it hasn't erupted in around 640,000 years, experts say it will inevitably occur again at some point in the future.

If the Yellowstone Super Volcano erupts, it will be a devastating event for the entire nation, as geologists consistently give it the highest ranking for possible destruction that a volcano can have.

Taking that into consideration, it's pretty obvious that the states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho will see the brunt of the destruction, but what about South Dakota? Is the Mount Rushmore State far away from Yellowstone to avoid serious damage?

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Will South Dakota Survive if Yellowstone Erupts?

If you're looking for the short answer: Yes, South Dakota would be greatly impacted if the Super Volcano at Yellowstone erupts. The entire state would be covered in ash, killing livestock, plants, and a large amount of people as well.

As Travel Well puts it; any state in the immediate vicinity of Yellowstone would see mass devastation:

The nearby states of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming would all suffer greatly if the Yellowstone volcano erupted in the same way that it did millions of years ago. Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, and Idaho could all see 3 to 4 feet of ash at once.

-Travel Well Website

I decided to dive a little deeper and see what AI has to say about a possible Yellowstone eruption. I asked Google AI "What Would The State of South Dakota Look Like After a Yellowstone Super Volcano Eruption?" And boy, did it give a detailed answer. Take a look.

A full-scale Yellowstone super-eruption would be a continental disaster, and South Dakota would be heavily impacted, though the outlook would be more severe for West River than East River.

West River (Rapid City, Black Hills, Western Prairies)

• Ash Coverage: West River, being closer to Yellowstone (only a few hundred miles away), would face the deepest accumulation. Past models and geological evidence suggest ashfall could be in the range of several inches to possibly a foot (a few centimeters to over 30 centimeters) in this region, depending heavily on the eruption's magnitude and wind patterns.

• Infrastructure: Cities like Rapid City and smaller towns would be essentially paralyzed. The weight of heavy, wet ash could cause widespread collapse of roofs and structures. Electricity, communication, and water systems would be severely compromised:

  • Power: Power lines would be weighed down and shorted out.

  • Water: Reservoirs and water treatment plants would be contaminated and clogged with abrasive ash, making potable water scarce.

  • Transport: Roads, including I-90, would be impassable due to ash drifts, making rescue and supply efforts extremely difficult. Air travel would be impossible for weeks or months.

• Aesthetics: Everything would be covered in a dark, abrasive gray powder. The landscape would look barren and lifeless, like a heavy, perpetual winter in black and white.

East River (Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, Eastern Prairies)

• Ash Coverage: East River, farther downwind, would receive a thinner layer, likely in the range of centimeters (inches). While less physically destructive to buildings than the West River fall, this amount is still enough to cause major disruption.

• Infrastructure: Major challenges would still exist:

  • Buildings: Structural collapses would be less common, but the ash would still cause widespread damage to machinery, filters, and engines.

  • Air/Health: Even a few millimeters can cause severe respiratory problems (like silicosis) for humans and animals, requiring the use of high-quality masks outdoors.

  • Transport: Airports (like Sioux Falls Regional) would shut down indefinitely, and ground transportation would be very slow and risky due to reduced visibility and engine failure risks.

  • Aesthetics: The ground would be blanketed, but the light gray color would likely thin out over time as wind and rain redistribute it. The air would remain hazy and dark for an extended period.
    -Google Gemini 

It's also worth talking about the local economy. Not only would any crops in the ground be completely destroyed, but the ground would be un-useable for years to come.

Perhaps the most dire outlook is in regards to local livestock. Not only would thousands (perhaps millions) of animals die, but any who survived would have a hard time finding water or any kind of food source.

Fortunately, the Yellowstone Super Volcano doesn't appear to show any signs that it's close to erupting at the present.

To learn more about the consequences of a Yellowstone eruption, and its wider impact on the U.S., check out the article from Travel Well, here.

Story Sources: Yellowstone National Park Website, U.S. Geological Survey Website, Travel Well Website, Google Gemini