Debunking 5 Common Tornado Myths in South Dakota

Sioux Falls, South Dakota may not be smack dab in the middle of Tornado Alley, but we still get our share of severe thunderstorms. Thunder, rain, lightning, and tornadoes are all possible.

The thing about tornadoes is that they are very destructive and very rare. Most people probably won’t even see an actual twister in their life. But if they do, it can mean devastation.

We don’t need to be at battle stations all spring and summer and freak out every time it gets cloudy.

We do need to think, prepare, and pay attention.

MORE: The Day 67 Tornadoes Touched Down in South Dakota

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FILE: Tornado on the ground (Canva)

What is a Tornado?

Before we get to the tornado myths, let's cover the basics. Like what a tornado is and what a tornado warning means. Here are the answers:

Some call them Twisters or Cyclones, but they all mean the same thing: a column of air reaching from the ground to a storm. Most tornados are small, 250 feet wide with winds spinning at just over 100 MPH. They can be as big as a mile wide with 300 MPH winds.

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Where Do Tornados Come From?

Tornados come out of severe thunderstorms, which are dangerous enough in their own right. They can and do dump lots of rain and hail on South Dakota. They also can produce strong, non-tornadic winds.

"Severe thunderstorms are defined as thunderstorms that produce 1-inch hail or larger and/or strong wind gusts of 58mph or greater. Severe hail that is 1 inch in diameter is roughly the size of a quarter." - National Weather Service

FLASHBACK: Looking Back at the Sioux Falls Tornados of September 2019

Sioux Falls Tornado Damage, August 2019 (PHOTO: TSM)

Severe thunderstorms do more damage every year than tornados. Chances are a severe thunderstorm will hit Sioux Falls every year, but they don't always produce tornados.

Tornados are triggered by the clash of warm air from the surface of the earth mixing with cold air from high in the atmosphere. What exactly causes a tornado to form is not yet fully understood.

What is 'Tornado Alley'?

Tornado Alley (Canva)

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South Dakota is located at the top of Tornado Alley, an area of North America where cold northern air is funneled by the Rocky Mountions across the middle of the continent, where it will clash with warm, moist air pushed north from the Atlantic Ocean.

The area from South Dakota south through Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas are particularly susceptible to tornados in the spring and summer.

What is a Funnel Cloud?

FILE: Funnel cloud (Canva)

You may hear people talking about funnel clouds. Basically, they are tornados that haven't touched the ground yet. What we see are the water droplets from the storm clouds spinning very fast. That's what makes the shape.

When they come out of the clout, they are fullen clouds. When they touch the ground, then they are tornados.

What are Tornado Watches and Tornado Warnings?

Graphic courtesy The National Weather Service

When the conditions are favorable for tornados, the National Weather Service will issue a Tornado Watch. These alerts usually cover a large area and are in effect for several hours. Their purpose is to let people know that severe weather may develop.

When a tornado, rotation in a thunderstorm, or suspected tornado is observed or indicated with radar, the National Weather Service will issue a Tornado Warning. The Warning means a tornado has, or is, forming. These alerts usually cover a smaller area (like a county) and last usually less than an hour.

If a Watch or Warning is issued for Minnehaha or Lincoln County, PAY ATTENTION! Check in with radio stations, TV, or the National Weather Service. Find out where the storm is and be ready to take cover if necessary.

What are Tornado Sirens, and When are They Tested?

FILE: Outdoor Warning Siren (Canva)

The tornado sirens in Sioux Falls, AKA the Outdoor Warning Sirens, are what you would hear when a tornado warning is issued for the city. The same for all towns in South Dakota.

The sirens are meant to warn people who are outside.

NOTE: The City of Sioux Falls will test the city's outdoor warning sirens on the first Friday of each month at 11:00 AM. The Outdoor Warning Sirens outside of Sioux Falls city limits, but within Minnehaha County, will be tested on the first Monday of each month at 7:00 PM. Tests are usually canceled if severe weather is in the forecast for that day.

Tornado Safety

Graphic courtesy The National Weather Service

The only thing to do if you are in the path of a tornado is to get to shelter. It's best if you can get underground. If you can't, find shelter in a sturdy structure and stay away from the windows.

MORE: Remembering Spencer, South Dakota's Deadly 1998 Tornado

5 Myths About Tornadoes You Shouldn't Believe

Sioux Falls, South Dakota may not be smack dab in the middle of Tornado Alley, but we still get our share of severe thunderstorms. Thunder, rain, lighting, and tornadoes are all possible.

The thing about tornadoes is that they are very destructive and very rare. Most people probably won’t even see an actual twister in their life. But if they do, it can mean devastation.

We don’t need to be at battle stations all spring and summer and freak out every time it gets cloudy.

We do need to think, prep, and pay attention.

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns

Where Are You Most Likely to Encounter a Tornado in South Dakota?

The folks at Stacker crunched the numbers to find the top 10 South Dakota counties likely to see tornados.

NOTE: "Since counties can vary in size, they are ranked by the number of tornadoes per 100 square miles." - Stacker

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.

Gallery Credit: KATELYN LEBOFF

Source: Debunking 5 Common Tornado Myths in South Dakota

Filed Under: Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Weather, Tornado

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