Rapid City, South Dakota – Damaging winds and large hail threaten communities across western South Dakota and eastern Wyoming this afternoon as a Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 8 p.m. Wednesday.
According to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center, counties under watch include Pennington, Meade, Lawrence, Butte, Custer, and Fall River in South Dakota, as well as Campbell, Converse, Crook, Johnson, Natrona, Niobrara, and Weston in Wyoming. Emergency officials urge residents in Rapid City, Sturgis, and Casper to prepare for possible 70 mph wind gusts, torrential rain, and scattered power outages through the evening.
Law enforcement warns drivers along I-90, Highway 16, and other major routes to expect sudden road hazards from fallen branches and reduced visibility. Hikers and campers in the Black Hills region should seek shelter immediately as cloud-to-ground lightning and hail up to 2 inches in diameter are likely. Residents are advised to charge devices, secure outdoor furniture, and avoid unnecessary travel until the watch expires.
This is the region’s most significant thunderstorm risk of July, with storms potentially mirroring last summer’s event that downed power lines and damaged property across Pennington County. Additional warnings or extensions are possible if storms intensify.
The Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 8 p.m. MDT. Monitor local alerts for updates throughout the evening.
