south dakota wind storm turbines snapped
© Jakob McMillin/XA field of toppled wind turbines following a massive windstorm in South Dakota, June 29. 2026
An early morning storm ripped through Highmore, South Dakota, about 220 miles east of Rapid City, producing a reported 131 mph wind gust that, if sustained, would fall within Category 4 hurricane strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Local KELOLAND meteorologists Scot Mundt and Brian Karstens were absolutely stunned by the wind speed, which reached 131 mph.
wind storm metrics south dakota
Wind statistics for June 29, 2026 in Highmore, South Dakota. It is the 2nd highest wind gust in recorded in the state's history


The violent straight-line winds toppled grain silos, damaged infrastructure, and knocked over large wind turbines.



The severity of the storm system is now under review by the National Weather Service for potential state or national wind gust records.