Sioux Falls, S.D. – Residents across eastern South Dakota may be woken early Sunday by strong to severe thunderstorms packing hail up to the size of ping-pong balls and damaging winds topping 65 mph. The National Weather Service said the greatest threat runs from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m., especially north of Highway 14.
According to the NWS Sioux Falls office, areas from Brookings to Watertown sit in the risk zone for large hail and intense wind gusts as storms sweep eastward before sunrise. Drivers on Interstate 29 could encounter sudden downpours and reduced visibility, while rural stretches may see tree damage and scattered power outages.
Communities in Huron, Madison, and Marshall County should be prepared for rapidly developing storms during the early morning commute. Emergency officials urge residents to keep phones charged and avoid travel during peak storm activity.
While the most intense threat arrives early, additional storm chances linger into Sunday afternoon and evening, meaning the risk for hail and lightning will not end with sunrise. Warnings and advisories could be issued with little notice.
