477  
NOUS43 KABR 031847 AAC  
PNSABR  
SDZ023-040700-  
 
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...UPDATED  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ABERDEEN SD  
147 PM CDT THU JUL 3 2025  
   
..NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 06/28/2025 TORNADO EVENT UPDATE #3  
 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELAYED TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN  
ABERDEEN HAS ALLOWED FOR FURTHER FINE TUNING OF THE EF3 TORNADO  
TRACK. THE LENGTH OF THE TORNADO TRACK HAS INCREASED AND IS NOW  
ESTIMATED TO BE 9.71 MILES.  
   
TORNADO #1 - NORTHWEST OF CLEAR LAKE, SD  
 
RATING: EF-2  
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 115-125 MPH  
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 3.43 MILES  
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 60 YARDS  
FATALITIES: 0  
INJURIES: 0  
 
START DATE: JUNE 28, 2025  
START TIME: 6:53 PM CDT  
START LOCATION: 5.2 MILES NORTHWEST OF CLEAR LAKE, SD  
START LAT/LON: 44.7956 / -96.7694  
 
END DATE: JUNE 28, 2025  
END TIME: 7:08 PM CDT  
END LOCATION: 2.4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ALTAMONT, SD  
END LAT/LON: 44.8345 / -96.7388  
 
AT APPROXIMATELY 6:53 P.M. ON JUNE 28, 2025, A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN  
IN A FIELD ABOUT FIVE MILES NORTHWEST OF CLEAR LAKE, JUST SOUTH  
OF AN UNOCCUPIED FARMSTEAD. WHILE NO FULL-TIME RESIDENTS LIVED ON THE  
PROPERTY, THE HOUSE WAS STILL USED INTERMITTENTLY AS A FAMILY CABIN.  
AS THE TORNADO APPROACHED, IT FIRST TORE THROUGH AN EXPANSIVE SHELTERBELT,  
SNAPPING AND UPROOTING NUMEROUS TREES AS IT CLOSED IN ON THE PROPERTY.  
 
THE TORNADO THEN FLIPPED A SHIPPING CONTAINER USED FOR STORAGE INCLUDING  
LAWNMOWERS, GRILLS, AND OUTDOOR FURNITURE. A NEARBY SHED WAS COMPLETELY  
DESTROYED, AND AN EMPTY CONCRETE STAVE SILO WAS TOPPLED. WHEN THE TORNADO  
REACHED THE HOUSE, THE WINDS WERE POWERFUL ENOUGH TO SHIFT THE STRUCTURE  
ENTIRELY OFF ITS CENTURY-OLD FOUNDATION. SIGNIFICANT TREE DAMAGE CONTINUED  
ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PROPERTY AS THE TORNADO MOVED THROUGH THE  
REMAINING SHELTERBELT.  
 
FROM THERE, THE TORNADO TRACKED NORTHEAST, SNAPPING MORE TREES AS IT  
CROSSED 178TH STREET. IT CONTINUED NORTH NORTHEAST CROSSING BOTH 177TH  
AND 176TH STREETS NEAR LAKE COTEAU. EYEWITNESSES NEAR LAKE COTEAU REPORTED  
SEEING THE TORNADO AS WELL AS DAMAGE THAT INCLUDED TWISTED ROAD SIGNS.  
THE TORNADO LIFTED AROUND 7:08 P.M., ENDING A 15-MINUTE PATH THAT STRETCHED  
APPROXIMATELY 3.4 MILES.  
   
TORNADO #2 - WEST OF GARY, SD  
 
RATING: EF-0  
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 65-75 MPH  
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 0.16 MILES  
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 10 YARDS  
FATALITIES: 0  
INJURIES: 0  
 
START DATE: JUNE 28, 2025  
START TIME: 7:34 PM CDT  
START LOCATION: 2.25 MILES WEST OF GARY, SD  
START LAT/LON: 44.789 / -96.5037  
 
END DATE: JUNE 28, 2025  
END TIME: 7:37 PM CDT  
END LOCATION: 2.25 MILES WEST OF GARY, SD  
END LAT/LON: 44.7894 / -96.5004  
 
A BRIEF, SHORT LIVED TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN AN OPEN FIELD. EYEWITNESSES  
REPORTED BRANCHES FROM NEARBY TREES BEING BROKEN AND TOSSED.  
   
TORNADO #3 - SOUTHWEST OF GARY, SD  
 
RATING: EF-3  
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 155-165 MPH  
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 9.71 MILES  
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 100 YARDS  
FATALITIES: 0  
INJURIES: 2  
 
START DATE: JUNE 28, 2025  
START TIME: 8:10 PM CDT  
START LOCATION: 2.5 MILES EAST OF CLEAR LAKE, SD  
START LAT/LON: 44.7535 / -96.6318  
 
END DATE: JUNE 28, 2025  
END TIME: 8:49 PM CDT  
END LOCATION: 2.4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GARY, SD  
END LAT/LON: 44.7780 / -96.5026  
 
A TORNADO DEVELOPED EAST OF CLEAR LAKE, SOUTH DAKOTA, ON THE EVENING  
OF JUNE 28, 2025. AROUND 8:10 P.M., THE TORNADO WAS STILL IN A  
DISORGANIZED STAGE BUT WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO INTERMITTENTLY TOUCH  
DOWN, RIP A ROOF AND DOOR OF OF A BARN AND FLIP IRRIGATION PIVOTS  
ON THE NORTH SIDE OF HIGHWAY 22 ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MILES EAST OF  
CLEAR LAKE.  
 
BY APPROXIMATELY 8:14 P.M., THE TORNADO CROSSED TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF  
HIGHWAY 22 AND BEGAN TO INTENSIFY. FROM THERE, IT TRACKED SLOWLY EASTWARD,  
FREQUENTLY CHANGING APPEARANCE. NUMEROUS REPORTS, PHOTOS, AND VIDEOS  
CAPTURED THE TORNADO "SHAPESHIFTING," INCLUDING A DISTINCT WOBBLE OR  
DANCING MOTION. DURING THIS TIME, THE TORNADO PASSED OVER A GRAVEL  
PIT, WHERE LARGE TREES WERE SNAPPED AND WINDOWS WERE BROKEN OUT OF  
HEAVY MACHINERY.  
 
CONTINUING EAST, THE TORNADO REACHED 483RD AVENUE, WHERE IT CAUSED ADDITIONAL  
TREE DAMAGE. AROUND 8:26 TO 8:27 P.M., IT CROSSED BACK TO THE  
NORTH SIDE OF HIGHWAY 22, BRIEFLY STALLED, AND BROUGHT DOWN A POWER  
POLE.  
 
THE TORNADO THEN PICKED UP SPEED AND CONTINUED EAST TOWARD A FARMSTEAD  
ON 484TH AVENUE, ARRIVING AROUND 8:31 P.M. THE CORE OF THE TORNADO PASSED  
JUST NORTH OF THE MAIN HOUSE, BUT THE PROPERTY STILL SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT  
DAMAGE. A PORTION OF THE HOUSE ROOF PANELS WERE RIPPED OFF AND WINDOWS  
WERE BROKE OUT. A MACHINE SHED WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, ALONG WITH  
A GARAGE AND ANOTHER OUTBUILDING. THE SHELTERBELT ON THE NORTH SIDE  
OF THE PROPERTY WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED, WITH TREE TRUNKS SNAPPED, TREES  
UPROOTED, AND LARGE BRANCHES BROKEN.  
 
AROUND 8:32 P.M., THE TORNADO CONTINUED EAST, PASSING NORTH OF ANOTHER  
FARMSTEAD WHERE A SINGLE SHED WAS DESTROYED. THEN, AT APPROXIMATELY  
8:34 P.M., THE TORNADO DIRECTLY STRUCK A FARMSTEAD. EVIDENCE OF  
GROUND SCOURING WAS VISIBLE IN THE FIELD BEFORE THE TORNADO  
REACHED THE PROPERTY. AS IT APPROACHED, IT TORE THROUGH A WIDE  
SHELTERBELT, SNAPPING AND UPROOTING TREES AND COMPLETELY BLOCKING  
THE DRIVEWAY WITH DEBRIS.  
 
THE HOUSE, WHICH INCLUDED THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE WHICH WAS OVER A  
CENTURY OLD COMBINED WITH A NEWER ADDITION, WAS COMPLETELY WIPED  
FROM ITS FOUNDATION. THE DEBRIS WAS THROWN WEST AND NORTH. THE  
RESIDENTS SHELTERED IN THE BASEMENT, WHERE HAY BALES WERE LOFTED  
INTO THE AIR AND LANDED ON TOP OF THEM. DESPITE THE EXTREME  
DAMAGE, ONLY TWO NON-LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES WERE REPORTED.  
 
A GARAGE AND MACHINE SHED JUST NORTH OF THE HOUSE WERE ALSO COMPLETELY  
SWEPT OFF THEIR SLABS. VEHICLES INSIDE WERE LOFTED, WITH TWO ENDING  
UP WEDGED IN TREES APPROXIMATELY 50 TO 60 YARDS NORTHEAST OF WHERE  
THE GARAGE ONCE STOOD. A HORSE TRAILER AND OTHER FARM EQUIPMENT WERE  
ALSO THROWN INTO THE SHELTERBELT. ANOTHER VEHICLE, A HALF-TON CHEVY  
SILVERADO PICKUP, WAS HURLED NEARLY 300 YARDS NORTHEAST. THE TRUCK'S  
REAR AXLE WAS TORN COMPLETELY OFF DURING FLIGHT, WITH NO EVIDENCE OF  
THE VEHICLE ROLLING OR TUMBLING UNTIL IT HIT THE GROUND.  
 
ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, TWO EMPTY METAL GRAIN BINS WERE WIPED  
CLEAN FROM THEIR FOUNDATIONS. A CONCRETE FOUNDATION BARN WAS DISMANTLED,  
A POLE BARN COLLAPSED, AND AN EMPTY CONCRETE SILO WAS COMPLETELY SWEPT  
FROM ITS SLAB.  
 
AS THE TRACK CONTINUED NORTHEAST, FENCE POSTS WERE SHEARED OFF AT GROUND  
LEVEL, AND LARGE PIECES OF DEBRIS WERE DRIVEN INTO THE CROP GROUND WITH  
EXTREME FORCE. A TRACK OF DEBRIS WAS SCATTERED INTO THE ADJACENT FIELDS.  
 
THE TORNADO TRACK TURNED MORE NORTH NORTHEAST AS IT CROSSED 181ST STREET.  
MORE TREE DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED, WITH TRUNKS SNAPPED AND LARGE  
BRANCHES DOWN. DEBRIS WAS CAUGHT IN FENCE LINES, AND HAY WAS SEEN HANGING  
FROM POWER LINES IN THE AREA.  
 
THE TORNADO CROSSED 180TH STREET AND SOMEWHERE AROUND 8:45 P.M.  
AND BEGAN TO ROPE OUT, SWIRLING OVER AN OPEN FIELD AND TRACKING BACK  
TO THE SOUTHWEST. IT FINALLY LIFTED AROUND 8:49 P.M., CONCLUDING A  
NEARLY 40-MINUTE TRACK THAT STRETCHED ROUGHLY 9.71 MILES.  
 
 
 
EF SCALE: THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE CLASSIFIES TORNADOES INTO THE  
FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:  
 
EF0.....65 TO 85 MPH  
EF1.....86 TO 110 MPH  
EF2.....111 TO 135 MPH  
EF3.....136 TO 165 MPH  
EF4.....166 TO 200 MPH  
EF5.....>200 MPH  
 
NOTE:  
THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO  
CHANGE PENDING FINAL REVIEW OF THE EVENTS AND PUBLICATION IN NWS  
STORM DATA.  
 
 
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