Rapid City, S.D. – Residents across western South Dakota and southwestern North Dakota could face damaging winds and large hail through midnight Saturday as a severe thunderstorm watch blankets the region.
According to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center, Severe Thunderstorm Watch 528 is in effect until 12:00 a.m. MDT and includes nine counties in South Dakota—Butte, Custer, Fall River, Harding, Lawrence, Meade, Oglala Lakota, Pennington, and Perkins—as well as seven in North Dakota, including Stark, Bowman, and Hettinger.
Wind gusts up to 70 mph and hail up to 2 inches in diameter are the primary threats. Areas like Rapid City, Belle Fourche, and Dickinson may experience brief power outages, downed trees, or hazardous road conditions, especially on U.S. Highway 85 and Interstate 90.
Residents are urged to secure outdoor items, stay indoors during thunderstorm activity, and have multiple ways to receive weather alerts. Those camping in the Black Hills or traveling through the Badlands should seek shelter immediately.
Storm chances taper off overnight, but additional alerts could follow Sunday morning if storm systems linger.
