Tornado History
Buffalo Tornado History
This county-level tornado history page focuses on Buffalo, South Dakota. The records below identify 15 tornadoes from 1955 through 2014, including a highest listed rating of F3 (Severe damage). NOAA damage estimates in this group total at least $25.0M, with 0 deaths and 10 injuries recorded across the listed events.
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Key Tornado Statistics
Key Tornado Facts for Buffalo, South Dakota
Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.
Average 0.2 tornadoes per year (0.0/yr in last decade)
July is the peak tornado month with 8 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: F0 in Buffalo, South Dakota with 0 deaths
1987 was the most active year with 5 tornadoes
The 1980s had the most tornado activity (8 events)
Longest tornado: 8 miles in Buffalo, South Dakota
Widest tornado: 400.0 yards in Buffalo, South Dakota
Most tornadoes in one day: 5 on Jul 6, 1987
Monthly Distribution
Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.
Summary: In Buffalo, South Dakota, July is the most active month with 8 tornadoes.
Annual Tornado Trend
Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.
Summary: 1987 was the most active year with 5 recorded tornadoes.
Property Damage Trends
Visualizes reported property damage over time. Bars use a log-like scale so very large damage years do not flatten the rest of the chart.
Summary: The highest reported property damage year in this group is 1992 with at least $25.0M in NOAA-listed property damage.
Historical Track Sketch
This map covers the wider location—not your exact property.Measure the closest recorded track to a street address in or near Buffalo, South Dakota.
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Notable Tornado Records
The table highlights the strongest and most damaging records in this page's local dataset. Damage totals are NOAA-reported minimum estimates where available.
| Date | Rating | Area | Length | Width | Deaths | Injuries | Min. property damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 16, 1992 | F3 | Buffalo, South Dakota | 2 mi | 73 yd | 0 | 8 | $25.0M |
| May 20, 1982 | F1 | Buffalo, South Dakota | 0.1 mi | 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 |
| July 3, 1971 | F0 | Buffalo, South Dakota | 0 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| July 1, 1955 | F0 | Buffalo, South Dakota | 0.8 mi | 220 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| May 24, 1972 | F0 | Buffalo, South Dakota | 0 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| May 28, 1985 | F0 | Buffalo, South Dakota | 0.1 mi | 3 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| July 6, 1987 | F0 | Buffalo, South Dakota | 0.1 mi | 20 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| July 6, 1987 | F0 | Buffalo, South Dakota | 0.1 mi | 20 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| July 6, 1987 | F0 | Buffalo, South Dakota | 8 mi | 40 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| July 6, 1987 | F0 | Buffalo, South Dakota | 0.5 mi | 30 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| July 6, 1987 | F0 | Buffalo, South Dakota | 0.1 mi | 20 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| July 23, 1988 | F0 | Buffalo, South Dakota | 0.2 mi | 10 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
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Source And Limits
Data sourced from NOAA Storm Prediction Center and the NCEI Storm Events Database. TornadoTrace summarizes reported weather events for screening and research; it is not a damage assessment, inspection, or insurance determination. Coordinates and records can be approximate, incomplete, revised, or missing. No warranty of completeness or accuracy.