Today marks the 25th anniversary of a tragic weather event in our region – the Spencer tornado, which killed 6 people, injured more than one-third of the town’s 320 residents, and destroyed most of the town’s 190 buildings. Damage from the F4 tornado, which struck around 8:40 PM on May 30, 1998, was estimated at $18 million. It remains the costliest tornado in South Dakota history. The tornado was one of five tornadoes along a nearly continuous damage track approximately 30 miles long. All five tornadoes were produced by one supercell thunderstorm during a 1 hour and 5-minute period. The most devastating damage was limited to less than 1 mile along the tornado track, but significant damage was inflicted on several farmsteads in McCook and Hanson Counties. Damage included destroyed buildings, loss of crops, and loss of approximately 75 head of livestock.

(Thanks to NWS)