PIERRE — The National Weather Service, across their three South Dakota offices, are marking Severe Weather Awareness week this week. Each of the week’s five days features a different aspect of severe weather issues. Monday highlighted the difference between watches and warnings. Kelly Serr at the Nation Weather Service says Tuesday features severe storms and the multiple hazards they include like damaging winds, hail and especially lightning…
Lightning can strike 10 to 15 miles from a parent thunderstorm and has been known to strike from even farther distances. The farthest lightning strike traveled 477 miles across Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi in April of 2020. Lightning also kills more people than any other weather phenomenon including flooding or tornadoes. Speaking of twisters, tornadoes take center stage Wednesday. Thursday will feature Flash Flooding and Extreme Heat will end the week on Friday. The National Weather Service will not be issuing a test tornado watch and warning this year. However, many jurisdictions across the state will continue with the testing of tornado sirens; encouraging residents to practice their tornado precautions wherever they are.
