| Type | Tornado outbreak |
|---|---|
| Duration | June 21–24, 2003 |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 125 |
| Max. rating1 | F4 tornado |
| Duration of tornado outbreak2 | 3 days, 9 hours, 23 minutes |
| Fatalities | 2 fatalities, 19 injuries |
| Damage | $13.5 million |
| Areas affected | United States Great Plains |
Part of the tornado outbreaks of 2003 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado | |
The 2003 South Dakota tornado outbreak, known locally as "Tornado Tuesday", was a tornado outbreak that occurred in the southeastern and east central part of South Dakota in the United States on June 24, 2003. [1] At the time, this outbreak, at the time, tied a United States record for the most tornado touchdowns in a single day for one state, with 67. The event was part of a larger outbreak that produced 125 tornadoes. [2]
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 92 | 20 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 125 |
| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | ||||||
| F0 | W of Gillette | Campbell | 1850 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | SE of Wyodak | Campbell | 1925 | 1 miles (1.6 km) | Weak tornado with no damage. | |
| North Dakota | ||||||
| F0 | SW of Mercer | McLean | 2027 | 5 miles (8 km) | Weak tornado with no damage. | |
| F0 | W of Crystal Springs | Kidder | 2244 | unknown | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| Source: Tornado History Project - June 21, 2003 Storm Data [usurped] | ||||||
| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | ||||||
| F0 | E of Ruskin | Thayer | 2230 | 4 miles (6.4 km) | Damage to center pivots and power poles. | |
| F2 | Deshler area | Thayer | 2243 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | 1 death - Major damage occurred on the south side of town. 400 homes were damaged, including 4 destroyed and 100 others with moderate damage. Six businesses were destroyed and 25 others had extensive damage. 7 other people were injured. | |
| F0 | NE of Deshler | Thayer | 2300 | 1 miles (1.6 km) | Weak tornado with no damage. | |
| F0 | NW of Aurora | Hamilton | 2308 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Weak tornado with no damage. | |
| F0 | S of Deshler | Thayer | 2320 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Damage to crops and center pivot systems. | |
| F0 | SW of Marquette | Hamilton | 2342 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | NE of Bradshaw | York | 0030 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage | |
| Minnesota | ||||||
| F1 | E of Starbuck | Pope | 2350 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | A camper was flipped and trees were knocked down. | |
| Kansas | ||||||
| F0 | N of Courtland | Republic | 0012 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Several outbuildings were damaged. | |
| F0 | NW of Scandia | Republic | 0020 | 1 miles (1.6 km) | Damage to power poles and power lines. | |
| F1 | NE of Courtland | Republic | 0030 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | 2 homes were damaged. | |
| F1 | SE of Republic | Republic | 0058 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | One home was damaged. | |
| F2 | NE of Republic | Republic | 0110 | 4 miles (6.4 km) | One home was destroyed. | |
| F0 | NW of Munden | Republic | 0217 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | A sheriff's car was blown into a ditch. | |
| F0 | E of Woodruff | Phillips | 0507 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | SW of Reamsville | Smith | 0545 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | NW of Reamsville | Smith | 0550 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| Source: Tornado History Project - June 22, 2003 Storm Data [usurped] | ||||||
| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | ||||||
| F1 | S of Cogswell | Sargent | 2045 | 2.5 miles (4 km) | Damage mostly to crops. | |
| F0 | S of Brampton | Sargent | 2102 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Weak tornado with no damage. | |
| F0 | SW of Forman | Sargent | 2108 | 1 miles (1.6 km) | Weak tornado with no damage | |
| F0 | SE of Stirum | Sargent | 2115 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Weak tornado with no damage. | |
| South Dakota | ||||||
| F0 | S of Ortley | Grant | 2350 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| Nebraska | ||||||
| F0 | N of Royal | Antelope | 0100 | unknown | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F4 | Coleridge area | Cedar | 0143 | 13 miles (20.8 km) | 1 death - Tornado touched down about 6 miles southwest of Coleridge. The tornado moved northeast and crossed the northern sections of the city uprooting trees, downing power lines, and destroying a couple of grain bins. A construction business in a garage was also destroyed. The tornado then continued northeast of town, hitting a large hog farm. At this farm, a 70-year-old man was killed while in a storage shed when a tractor that was flipped by the winds crushed him. Many livestock were also killed by debris or flung through the air. In one case cattle were carried over a mile then left dead in a pile. The tornado then widened to around 3/4 of a mile, reaching its maximum intensity. Numerous vehicles were tossed at this location and a farmstead was completely flattened. Trees were also stripped and debarked. The tornado remained around 3/4 of a mile wide for a few more miles before turning slightly to the southeast and diminishing, but not before hitting 2 more farmsteads and moving one house off of its foundation. In total, 11 homes received substantial damage and between 100 and 200 utility poles were downed. | |
| F0 | N of McCook | Frontier | 0221 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Damage to power poles. | |
| Iowa | ||||||
| F0 | W of Correctionville | Woodbury | 0251 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| Source: Tornado History Project - June 23, 2003 Storm Data [usurped] | ||||||
| F# | Location | County | Time (UTC) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | ||||||
| F0 | NW of Baggs | Sweetwater | 1830 | unknown | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| South Dakota | ||||||
| F0 | E of Mount Vernon | Davison | 2115 | 0.4 miles (0.6 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F2 | N of Mount Vernon | Davison | 2117 | 6 miles (9.6 km) | A barn, a granary, and a machine shed were destroyed. One home, crops, trees and several farm buildings were damaged. Tornado left cycloidal marks in farm fields. | |
| F0 | Vermillion area | Clay | 2158 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | NE of Centerville (1st tornado) | Lincoln | 2217 | 1 miles (1.6 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | W of Forestburg | Sanborn | 2219 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F3 | W of Woonsocket | Jerauld, Sanborn | 2223 | 6 miles (9.6 km) | Large cone-shaped tornado destroyed or severely damaged several buildings on two farms. The tornado lifted the roof off a house. Another farmhouse had windows blown out, and shingles and aluminum siding torn off. Destroyed buildings included a barn, garage, outbuildings, and other small structures. Vehicles inside the destroyed garage were damaged. The tornado also caused tree, power line, and crop damage. Tornado left cycloidal marks in farm fields. | |
| F0 | N of Harrisburg | Lincoln | 2230 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | N of Vermillion | Clay | 2242 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | SW of Midway | Clay | 2242 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | NE of Woonsocket | Sanborn | 2245 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | W of Carthage | Sanborn | 2255 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | SE of Huron (1st tornado) | Beadle | 2300 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | SE of Huron (2nd tornado) | Beadle | 2300 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | NW of Esmond | Beadle | 2316 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | N of Esmond | Kingsbury | 2327 | 0.4 miles (0.6 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F4 | Manchester | Kingsbury | 2329 | 10 miles (16 km) | See section on this tornado – Four people were injured. Manchester was never rebuilt and is now a "ghost town". | |
| F0 | NW of Hub City | Clay | 2330 | 0.7 miles (1.1 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | NE of Wakonda (1st tornado) | Clay | 2330 | 1 miles (1.6 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F1 | NE of Wakonda (2nd tornado) | Clay | 2332 | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) | Buildings at a farm, crops, and trees were damaged. | |
| F0 | NE of Wakonda (3rd tornado) | Clay | 2332 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Trees and crops were damaged. | |
| F0 | SW of Centerville | Clay | 2333 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | Centerville area | Turner | 2333 | 1 miles (1.6 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | SE of Watertown | Codington | 2335 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | NE of Centerville (2nd tornado) | Lincoln | 2338 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | E of Manchester | Kingsbury | 2352 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | SW of Lake Andes | Charles Mix | 2354 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | NE of Centerville (3rd tornado) | Turner | 2355 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Weak tornado with no damage. | |
| F2 | NE of Manchester | Kingsbury | 2358 | 2.2 miles (3.5 km) | Heavy damage to farm buildings and homes. | |
| F2 | E of Viborg | Turner | 0000 | 7 miles (11.2 km) | Farm equipment and buildings, crops, trees, and power lines were damaged. | |
| F1 | NE of Lake Andes (1st tornado) | Charles Mix | 0003 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Several buildings at an abandoned farm were destroyed or damaged. | |
| F1 | NW of De Smet | Kingsbury | 0005 | 0.7 miles (1.1 km) | Damage to farm buildings and crops. | |
| F1 | NE of Centerville (4th tornado) | Lincoln | 0010 | 2.8 miles (4.5 km) | A machine shed was destroyed while farm equipment, crops, and farm buildings were damaged. | |
| F0 | N of Centerville | Turner | 0010 | 3.5 miles (5.6 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F1 | NE of Lake Andes (2nd tornado) | Charles Mix | 0010 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Four grain bins and two sheds were destroyed. | |
| F0 | SE of Bancroft (1st tornado) | Kingsbury | 0017 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | SE of Bancroft (2nd tornado) | Kingsbury | 0019 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | Viborg area | Turner | 0020 | 0.7 miles (1.1 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | W of Davis | Turner | 0020 | 1 miles (1.6 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F1 | W of Erwin | Kingsbury | 0020 | 0.7 miles (1.1 km) | Structures and trees were damaged. | |
| F2 | E of Davis | Lincoln, Turner | 0020 | 7.7 miles (12.3 km) | One farm home was destroyed with two others damaged. Crops were also damaged. | |
| F1 | SW of Bryant (1st tornado) | Kingsbury, Clark | 0028 | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) | Damage to trees. | |
| F1 | NE of Centerville (5th tornado) | Lincoln, Turner | 0030 | 3.5 miles (5.6 km) | A farmhouse was heavily damaged. Other buildings damaged, as well as power lines and crops. | |
| F0 | NE of Stephen | Hand | 0030 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | SW of Bryant (2nd tornado) | Kingsbury | 0032 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | S of Bryant | Hamlin | 0035 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | S of Lennox (1st tornado) | Lincoln | 0052 | 0.6 miles (1 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | E of Armour | Douglas | 0055 | 0.7 miles (1.1 km) | One barn was damaged. | |
| F0 | SW of Tea (1st tornado) | Lincoln | 0055 | 0.8 miles (1.3 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F1 | S of Lennox (2nd tornado) | Lincoln | 0100 | 1.3 miles (2.1 km) | Farm structures were damaged. | |
| F0 | NE of Armour | Douglas | 0105 | 0.7 miles (1.1 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | N of Worthing | Lincoln | 0105 | 2.3 miles (3.7 km) | Weak tornado with no damage. | |
| F0 | SE of Tea (1st tornado) | Lincoln | 0107 | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) | Weak tornado with no damage. | |
| F0 | SW of Tea (2nd tornado) | Lincoln | 0109 | 1.2 miles (1.9 km) | Weak tornado with no damage. | |
| F0 | SE of Tea | Lincoln | 0112 | 0.8 miles (1.3 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F3 | Cavour area | Beadle | 0125 | 3.5 miles (5.6 km) | Tornado destroyed farm buildings and numerous trees, resulting in F3 damage southwest of Cavour. Homes and businesses within the town of Cavour were severely damaged at F2 intensity. Winds of 120 mph were measured by an anemometer on top of a grain elevator in Cavour. | |
| F2 | Parker area | Turner | 0130 | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) | Tornado heavily damaged or destroyed numerous structures at the county fairgrounds, uprooted numerous trees, and blew down power lines, resulting in power outages which lasted up to a day. The tornado damaged other structures in Parker, including homes and the county courthouse. One home was shifted off its foundation and received broken windows and damaged siding. Some of the damage resulted from falling trees or wind blown debris. | |
| F0 | N of Parker | Turner | 0140 | 0.6 miles (1 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F1 | SE of Pumpkin Center | Minnehaha | 0150 | 0.6 miles (1 km) | Several homes were damaged. 3 people were injured. | |
| F2 | NE of Yale | Beadle | 0205 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Farm structures were destroyed. | |
| F1 | NE of Hartford | Minnehaha | 0205 | 1.7 miles (2.7 km) | At least 20 homes were heavily damaged, some of them were left inhabitable. | |
| F1 | SW of Bryant (3rd tornado) | Kingsbury | 0213 | 0.7 miles (1.1 km) | Several farm structures were damaged or destroyed. | |
| F0 | SW of Renner | Minnehaha | 0234 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | S of Wentworth | Lake | 0240 | 0.8 miles (1.3 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F1 | SW of Viborg | Turner | 0240 | 1.2 miles (1.9 km) | Small farm buildings and two garages were destroyed. Homes, a propane tank, and a barn were damaged. | |
| F0 | SE of Davis | Lincoln | 0247 | 0.9 miles (1.4 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | W of Egan | Moody | 0250 | 0.8 miles (1.3 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| Minnesota | ||||||
| F0 | S of Arco | Lincoln | 2138 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | S of Starbuck | Pope | 2155 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Damage limited to trees. | |
| F1 | S of Buffalo Lake (1st tornado) | Renville, Sibley | 2246 | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) | A grain bin, a silo, sheds, and outbuildings were destroyed. Trees and homes were damaged and a grain dryer was overturned | |
| F0 | W of Stewart | Sibley, Renville | 2330 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Damage to power lines and transformers. | |
| F2 | Buffalo Lake area | Sibley, Renville | 2333 | 5.5 miles (8.8 km) | Multiple-vortex tornado. Outbuildings and sheds were destroyed, and homes were heavily damaged outside Buffalo of Lake. Inside the city, a grain elevator was destroyed while sheds and garages were blown down. A church, homes, and businesses were also damaged. 80 homes were heavily damaged with 29 being inhabitable, and 120 others had minor damage. 5 people were injured. | |
| F0 | SE of Willmar (1st tornado) | Kandiyohi | 2347 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | SE of Willmar (2nd tornado) | Kandiyohi | 2349 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | S of Kandiyohi | Kandiyohi | 2353 | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | Damage to a few trees. | |
| F0 | SW of Kandiyohi | Kandiyohi | 2358 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F1 | SE of Kandiyohi | Kandiyohi | 0003 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Three farmsteads, sheds, outbuildings, and trees were damaged. | |
| F1 | S of Buffalo Lake (2nd tornado) | Sibley, Renville | 0010 | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) | Sheds, outbuildings, and grain bins were damaged. | |
| F0 | S of Atwater | Kandiyohi, Meeker | 0015 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | Damage limited to trees. | |
| F0 | SE of Wegdahl | Yellow Medicine, Chippewa | 0038 | 3 miles (4.8 km) | A shed was damaged, and two gravity boxes were pushed into a building. | |
| F0 | NE of Churchill | Renville | 0039 | 2.5 miles (4 km) | Damage limited to trees. | |
| F0 | NE of Stacy | Chisago | 0050 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) | One home had minor damage. | |
| Iowa | ||||||
| F0 | S of Quick | Pottawatamie | 2153 | 0.3 miles (0.5 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | SW of Alvord | Lyon | 0312 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| Nebraska | ||||||
| F0 | S of Obert | Cedar | 2155 | unknown | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | S of Maskell | Dixon | 2208 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | NE of Maxwell | Lincoln | 2244 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage | |
| F0 | SW of Arnold | Custer, Lincoln | 2300 | 2.1 miles (3.4 km) | 2 center pivot irrigation systems were destroyed | |
| F0 | SW of Brady | Lincoln | 2310 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | One garage was damaged and shifted from its foundation. One home was damaged, along with trees. A camper was lifted and thrown into a fence . | |
| F0 | NE of Rose | Rock | 0004 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | S of Bassett | Rock | 0025 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Damage limited to trees. | |
| F0 | NE of Mills | Keya Paha | 0048 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Damage to a mechanics shops, a garage, and a grain bin. | |
| F0 | E of Hayes Center | Hayes | 0105 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | N of Taylor | Loup | 0230 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| F0 | SW of Newport | Rock | 0252 | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | Brief touchdown with no damage. | |
| Source: Tornado History Project - June 24, 2003 Storm Data [usurped] | ||||||
| F4 tornado | |
|---|---|
| Max. rating1 | F4 tornado |
| Fatalities | 4 injuries |
| Damage | $3 million (2003 USD) |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale | |
The most powerful tornado was located around Manchester in Kingsbury County and was rated an F4 on the Fujita scale. In the National Weather Service survey released shortly after the tornado, winds were estimated to be up to 260 miles per hour. [3] There, every single structure was either heavily damaged or destroyed. Trees were debarked and all three homes were swept away. No fatalities were reported with this tornado, but at least 4 people were injured by the storm. Manchester was never rebuilt and is now a "ghost town" with some farm buildings but otherwise no houses or stores. Researchers had placed several sensors all across the area that was hit by the tornado. The twister passed right over one of the sensors which recorded a 100 millibar pressure drop. One film shot showed the tornado passing directly over a camera placed and buried on the ground. [4] [5]