Tornado Alerts Near Rapid City, SD 57703

🌪️ Current Alert Status

Live NWS tornado and severe weather alerts

✅

All Clear

No active tornado alerts near Rapid City

There are currently no tornado warnings, watches, or severe thunderstorm alerts in effect for the Rapid City area. This page updates every 60 seconds from the National Weather Service.

Historical Tornado Risk

Activity level Moderate

Average per year 2.9 tornados

Peak season month June

Total on record 146 tornados

📋 Tornado History

Historical tornado events within 250 miles of Rapid City

EF Rating	Damage	Path	Casualties	Distance	Date
EF1	Moderate damage	2.5 mi × 300 yd	None	82 mi	Aug 19, 2024
EF0	Light damage	10.5 mi × 10 yd	None	66 mi	May 6, 2024
EF0	Light damage	3.5 mi × 10 yd	None	61 mi	May 6, 2024
EF0	Light damage	N/A	None	14 mi	May 6, 2023
EF1	Moderate damage	5.9 mi × 10 yd	None	31 mi	May 23, 2021
EF1	Moderate damage	6.6 mi × 20 yd	None	36 mi	May 23, 2021
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 10 yd	None	72 mi	Jul 23, 2020
EF1	Moderate damage	14.8 mi × 250 yd	None	55 mi	Jul 10, 2020
EF2	Considerable damage	5.1 mi × 770 yd	None	54 mi	Jul 6, 2020
EF2	Considerable damage	2.1 mi × 770 yd	None	56 mi	Jul 6, 2020
EF0	Light damage	3.7 mi × 50 yd	None	110 mi	Jul 6, 2020
EF0	Light damage	1.4 mi × 100 yd	None	57 mi	Jul 17, 2019
EF1	Moderate damage	1.2 mi × 200 yd	None	35 mi	Jul 4, 2019
EF1	Moderate damage	0.3 mi × 200 yd	None	42 mi	Jul 4, 2019
EF1	Moderate damage	1.7 mi × 250 yd	None	46 mi	Jul 4, 2019
EF0	Light damage	N/A	None	61 mi	Jul 3, 2019
EF0	Light damage	3.3 mi × 50 yd	None	61 mi	Jul 3, 2019
EF0	Light damage	1.4 mi × 50 yd	None	62 mi	Jul 3, 2019
EF1	Moderate damage	5.4 mi × 80 yd	None	98 mi	Jun 25, 2019
EF1	Moderate damage	5.3 mi × 60 yd	None	98 mi	Jun 25, 2019
EF1	Moderate damage	7.1 mi × 200 yd	None	56 mi	Jun 29, 2018
EF1	Moderate damage	11.7 mi × 200 yd	None	65 mi	Jun 29, 2018
EF0	Light damage	0.7 mi × 10 yd	None	66 mi	Aug 26, 2017
EF2	Considerable damage	7.4 mi × 200 yd	None	14 mi	Jun 13, 2016
EF1	Moderate damage	1.5 mi × 33 yd	None	53 mi	Aug 8, 2015
EF2	Considerable damage	19.7 mi × 100 yd	None	29 mi	Jun 19, 2015
EF1	Moderate damage	5.9 mi × 100 yd	None	87 mi	Jun 25, 2014
EF2	Considerable damage	16.5 mi × 530 yd	0 dead, 1 hurt	90 mi	Jun 13, 2014
EF1	Moderate damage	2.2 mi × 300 yd	None	28 mi	May 27, 2014
EF1	Moderate damage	1.3 mi × 30 yd	None	28 mi	Aug 11, 2013
EF2	Considerable damage	16.7 mi × 800 yd	None	74 mi	Jun 22, 2012
EF1	Moderate damage	0.1 mi × 20 yd	None	44 mi	Jun 7, 2012
EF0	Light damage	N/A	None	50 mi	Jul 1, 2011
EF0	Light damage	N/A	None	75 mi	Jun 12, 2011
EF0	Light damage	N/A	None	76 mi	Jun 12, 2011
EF0	Light damage	N/A	None	70 mi	Jun 22, 2010
EF2	Considerable damage	9.4 mi × 600 yd	0 dead, 2 hurt	79 mi	Jul 13, 2009
EF1	Moderate damage	0.8 mi × 50 yd	None	46 mi	Jul 8, 2009
EF0	Light damage	N/A	None	46 mi	Jun 17, 2008
EF1	Moderate damage	4.7 mi × 400 yd	None	50 mi	Jun 10, 2008
EF1	Moderate damage	2.5 mi × 400 yd	None	53 mi	Jun 10, 2008
EF0	Light damage	0.5 mi × 20 yd	None	93 mi	Jun 2, 2008
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 150 yd	None	97 mi	May 9, 2008
EF1	Moderate damage	4 mi × 70 yd	None	49 mi	Jun 16, 2007
EF1	Moderate damage	0.6 mi × 130 yd	None	40 mi	Jun 7, 2005
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 10 yd	None	68 mi	Sep 14, 2004
EF0	Light damage	0.5 mi × 10 yd	None	93 mi	Sep 14, 2004
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 10 yd	None	91 mi	Sep 14, 2004
EF0	Light damage	1 mi × 25 yd	None	42 mi	Jul 7, 2001
EF0	Light damage	5 mi × 100 yd	None	70 mi	Jun 12, 2001
EF0	Light damage	5 mi × 100 yd	None	78 mi	Jun 12, 2001
EF0	Light damage	2 mi × 100 yd	None	84 mi	Jun 12, 2001
EF0	Light damage	0.2 mi × 30 yd	None	92 mi	Jun 12, 2001
EF0	Light damage	12 mi × 25 yd	None	97 mi	Jun 12, 2001
EF1	Moderate damage	20 mi × 30 yd	None	100 mi	Jun 12, 2001
EF0	Light damage	0.5 mi × 10 yd	0 dead, 2 hurt	59 mi	Jun 9, 2001
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 10 yd	None	63 mi	Jul 17, 1999
EF1	Moderate damage	2 mi × 50 yd	None	48 mi	Jun 27, 1999
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 10 yd	None	71 mi	Jun 5, 1999
EF0	Light damage	1 mi × 10 yd	None	62 mi	May 15, 1999
EF0	Light damage	1 mi × 10 yd	None	63 mi	May 15, 1999
EF1	Moderate damage	0.1 mi × 0 yd	0 dead, 1 hurt	46 mi	Jul 1, 1998
EF1	Moderate damage	0.3 mi × 66 yd	0 dead, 1 hurt	47 mi	Jun 24, 1998
EF0	Light damage	3 mi × 150 yd	None	16 mi	Jun 23, 1998
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 150 yd	None	20 mi	Jun 23, 1998
EF0	Light damage	5 mi × 200 yd	None	20 mi	Jun 23, 1998
EF0	Light damage	N/A	None	61 mi	Jun 22, 1998
EF1	Moderate damage	1.5 mi × 20 yd	None	63 mi	Jun 13, 1998
EF0	Light damage	N/A	None	72 mi	Jun 11, 1998
EF0	Light damage	5 mi × 0 yd	None	62 mi	May 20, 1998
EF0	Light damage	3 mi × 25 yd	None	79 mi	May 20, 1998
EF0	Light damage	5 mi × 0 yd	None	75 mi	May 20, 1998
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 1 yd	None	41 mi	Jun 15, 1997
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 1 yd	None	70 mi	Jun 11, 1997
EF0	Light damage	N/A	None	9 mi	May 30, 1996
EF0	Light damage	N/A	None	11 mi	May 30, 1996
EF1	Moderate damage	3 mi × 100 yd	None	96 mi	May 7, 1996
EF0	Light damage	0.2 mi × 30 yd	None	35 mi	Aug 13, 1993
EF0	Light damage	0.2 mi × 30 yd	None	46 mi	Aug 13, 1993
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 30 yd	None	43 mi	Aug 13, 1993
EF0	Light damage	0.2 mi × 30 yd	None	25 mi	Aug 13, 1993
EF0	Light damage	0.2 mi × 35 yd	None	66 mi	Aug 13, 1993
EF0	Light damage	1 mi × 100 yd	None	102 mi	Aug 13, 1993
EF0	Light damage	0.5 mi × 35 yd	None	115 mi	Aug 13, 1993
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 15 yd	None	12 mi	May 5, 1993
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 15 yd	None	24 mi	May 5, 1993
EF0	Light damage	0.3 mi × 10 yd	None	67 mi	Jul 9, 1992
EF0	Light damage	7 mi × 23 yd	None	65 mi	Jun 13, 1992
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 40 yd	None	98 mi	Aug 7, 1991
EF0	Light damage	4 mi × 150 yd	None	54 mi	May 14, 1991
EF1	Moderate damage	0.2 mi × 80 yd	None	64 mi	May 11, 1991
EF1	Moderate damage	0.5 mi × 50 yd	None	12 mi	May 11, 1991
EF2	Considerable damage	1 mi × 300 yd	0 dead, 5 hurt	15 mi	May 11, 1991
EF3	Severe damage	2 mi × 500 yd	0 dead, 20 hurt	16 mi	May 11, 1991
EF0	Light damage	0.5 mi × 50 yd	None	10 mi	May 11, 1991
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 20 yd	None	81 mi	May 11, 1991
EF0	Light damage	0.7 mi × 50 yd	None	65 mi	May 11, 1991
EF1	Moderate damage	1 mi × 73 yd	None	64 mi	May 11, 1991
EF0	Light damage	0.5 mi × 50 yd	None	70 mi	May 11, 1991
EF0	Light damage	0.5 mi × 20 yd	None	15 mi	May 24, 1990
EF0	Light damage	5 mi × 23 yd	None	117 mi	Jul 16, 1989
EF0	Light damage	0.7 mi × 50 yd	None	85 mi	Jul 17, 1988
EF0	Light damage	2 mi × 13 yd	None	79 mi	May 6, 1988
EF0	Light damage	5 mi × 50 yd	None	98 mi	Jun 19, 1987
EF1	Moderate damage	3 mi × 40 yd	None	53 mi	Sep 24, 1986
EF1	Moderate damage	2 mi × 50 yd	None	71 mi	Jul 4, 1986
EF2	Considerable damage	1 mi × 27 yd	None	67 mi	May 10, 1985
EF2	Considerable damage	4 mi × 30 yd	0 dead, 1 hurt	107 mi	Jun 13, 1984
EF1	Moderate damage	1 mi × 20 yd	None	106 mi	Jun 13, 1984
EF1	Moderate damage	1 mi × 20 yd	None	106 mi	Jun 13, 1984
EF1	Moderate damage	1 mi × 20 yd	None	106 mi	Jun 13, 1984
EF2	Considerable damage	0.5 mi × 20 yd	None	97 mi	May 31, 1984
EF2	Considerable damage	0.2 mi × 10 yd	None	56 mi	Aug 17, 1983
EF0	Light damage	5 mi × 33 yd	None	68 mi	Jun 20, 1983
EF1	Moderate damage	1 mi × 30 yd	None	82 mi	Jun 20, 1983
EF2	Considerable damage	10 mi × 40 yd	None	71 mi	Jun 19, 1983
EF2	Considerable damage	12 mi × 40 yd	None	58 mi	Jun 19, 1983
EF1	Moderate damage	0.1 mi × 10 yd	None	10 mi	Jun 18, 1983
EF1	Moderate damage	0.1 mi × 10 yd	None	10 mi	Jun 18, 1983
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 10 yd	None	28 mi	Jun 18, 1983
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 10 yd	None	64 mi	Jun 16, 1983
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 10 yd	None	56 mi	Aug 23, 1982
EF1	Moderate damage	1 mi × 50 yd	None	96 mi	Jul 24, 1982
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 10 yd	None	10 mi	Jul 5, 1982
EF0	Light damage	0.1 mi × 10 yd	None	75 mi	Jun 17, 1982
EF2	Considerable damage	7 mi × 33 yd	0 dead, 1 hurt	74 mi	Jun 5, 1982
EF2	Considerable damage	1 mi × 17 yd	0 dead, 3 hurt	105 mi	Jun 5, 1982
EF0	Light damage	N/A	None	45 mi	Jul 10, 1980
EF0	Light damage	3.8 mi × 33 yd	None	45 mi	Jul 2, 1980
EF0	Light damage	1.3 mi × 33 yd	None	43 mi	Jul 2, 1980
EF0	Light damage	N/A	None	79 mi	Jun 14, 1980
EF1	Moderate damage	N/A	None	91 mi	Jun 14, 1980
EF0	Light damage	N/A	None	53 mi	Aug 7, 1979
EF0	Light damage	1 mi × 50 yd	None	91 mi	Jul 28, 1979
EF1	Moderate damage	N/A	None	10 mi	Jul 14, 1979
EF1	Moderate damage	N/A	None	62 mi	Jul 8, 1979
EF0	Light damage	N/A	None	22 mi	Jun 24, 1979
EF2	Considerable damage	5 mi × 700 yd	None	106 mi	Jul 28, 1978
EF0	Light damage	N/A	None	40 mi	Jul 18, 1978
EF0	Light damage	2 mi × 180 yd	None	116 mi	May 16, 1978
EF0	Light damage	0.2 mi × 200 yd	None	45 mi	May 4, 1978
EF0	Light damage	N/A	None	99 mi	Sep 21, 1977
EF0	Light damage	N/A	None	54 mi	Jul 26, 1977
EF1	Moderate damage	N/A	None	83 mi	Jul 12, 1976
EF0	Light damage	N/A	None	91 mi	Jun 5, 1976
EF0	Light damage	N/A	None	93 mi	Jun 5, 1976

📈 Historical Trends

Tornado activity near Rapid City over 41 years

146

Total tornados on record

2.9

Average per year

EF3

Strongest recorded

Jun

Peak month

EF Scale Distribution

EF0

85

EF1

43

EF2

17

EF3

1

EF4

0

EF5

0

Yearly Tornado Count

1976 2024

Strongest Tornados on Record

EF3 MEADE, SO May 11, 1991

2 mi path 20 injured

EF2 MEADE, SO Jun 19, 2015

19.7 mi path

EF2 FALL RIVER, SO Jun 22, 2012

16.7 mi path

EF2 CROOK, WY Jun 13, 2014

16.5 mi path 1 injured

EF2 FALL RIVER, SO Jun 19, 1983

12 mi path

📅 Tornado Season

When tornados are most likely near you

⚡

Active Tornado Season

Tornado season is active. Rapid City sees the most tornado activity in Jun. Stay alert and have your shelter plan ready.

US Tornado Activity by Month

Jan

2%

Feb

3%

Mar

7%

Apr

10%

May

18%

PEAK

Jun

16%

Jul

12%

Aug

9%

Sep

7%

Oct

6%

Nov

5%

Dec

3%

Current month Peak for Rapid City

🛡️ Tornado Safety

What to know before, during, and after a tornado

⚠️ Tornado Watch

Meaning: Conditions are favorable for tornado development

Be prepared to take shelter. Stay alert for changing conditions.

🌪️ Tornado Warning

Meaning: A tornado has been spotted or detected on radar

TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY in your nearest safe shelter.

⚠️ Step 1

Tornado Watch — Be Prepared

Conditions are favorable for tornados. Monitor weather alerts, charge your phone, and review your shelter plan. Move vehicles into garages if possible.

🌪️ Step 2

Tornado Warning — Take Cover NOW

A tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar. Move immediately to an interior room on the lowest floor (basement, bathroom, closet). Get under sturdy furniture. Stay away from windows.

🔍 Step 3

After a Tornado

Stay in your shelter until the warning expires. Check for injuries, avoid downed power lines, and watch for gas leaks. Document damage for insurance before cleanup.

Where to Shelter

✓ Best: Underground shelter or basement

✓ Good: Interior room on lowest floor

✓ Acceptable: Bathroom or closet (no exterior walls)

✓ If driving: Pull over, get below road level in a ditch

✗ NEVER: Stay in a mobile home — leave for sturdy building

✗ NEVER: Shelter under a highway overpass

📍 Nearby Tornado Monitoring

Cities near Rapid City with live tracking