Tornado History
McPherson Tornado History
This county-level tornado history page focuses on McPherson, South Dakota. The records below identify 27 tornadoes from 1961 through 2025, including a highest listed rating of F3 (Severe damage). NOAA damage estimates in this group total at least $3.3M, with 2 deaths and 5 injuries recorded across the listed events.
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Key Tornado Statistics
Key Tornado Facts for McPherson, South Dakota
Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.
Average 0.4 tornadoes per year (0.2/yr in last decade)
July is the peak tornado month with 10 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: F3 in McPherson, South Dakota with 2 deaths
1961 was the most active year with 2 tornadoes
The 2000s had the most tornado activity (7 events)
Longest tornado: 49.7 miles in McPherson, South Dakota
Widest tornado: 550.0 yards in McPherson, South Dakota
Most tornadoes in one day: 2 on Jun 23, 2002
Monthly Distribution
Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.
Summary: In McPherson, South Dakota, July is the most active month with 10 tornadoes.
Annual Tornado Trend
Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.
Summary: 1961 was the most active year with 2 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 1979 with at least $2.5M 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 McPherson, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 31, 1966 | F3 | McPherson, South Dakota | 25.1 mi | 280 yd | 2 | 4 | $250K |
| August 24, 2006 | F3 | McPherson, South Dakota | 14 mi | 300 yd | 0 | 1 | N/A |
| June 28, 1961 | F2 | McPherson, South Dakota | 49.7 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| September 7, 1961 | F2 | McPherson, South Dakota | 0 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| July 6, 1962 | F2 | McPherson, South Dakota | 3 mi | 550 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| May 22, 2010 | EF2 | McPherson, South Dakota | 10.3 mi | 200 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| July 4, 2020 | EF2 | McPherson, South Dakota | 2.66 mi | 150 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| June 19, 1979 | F1 | McPherson, South Dakota | 0 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M |
| August 10, 1963 | F1 | McPherson, South Dakota | 2.3 mi | 160 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| July 1, 1966 | F1 | McPherson, South Dakota | 0.1 mi | 27 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 |
| September 8, 1991 | F1 | McPherson, South Dakota | 0.5 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 |
| June 23, 2002 | F1 | McPherson, South Dakota | 2 mi | 500 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.