South Dakota’s 4 Biggest Tornadoes of the Last 50 Years

South Dakota may not be right smack in the middle of tornado alley, but we get our share of twisters each year.

How Many Tornadoes Hit South Dakota Each Year?

On average, South Dakota has about 28 tornadoes each year. Texas gets 124 each year, so we don't do too badly on the tornado front. We probably get more snow than Texas; we got 'em beat there.

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MORE: Tornado Tuesday - Remembering the Day Dozens Of Twisters Ripped Through South Dakota

Tornadoes are columns of air that are spinning very fast, sometimes hundreds of miles an hour fast, that extend down from a thunderstorm to the ground. The United States gets the most tornadoes in the world each year.

The unique nature of the middle of the country leads to conditions that make the storms that create tornadoes more likely. East of the Rocky Mountains, cold air from the north is funneled south and clashes with warm, moist air that comes north from the southeast. The mixing of the air masses creates the perfect conditions for tornadoes.

How Fast Are Tornado Winds?

Tornadoes can be very destructive because they are basically focused winds. The wind in a tornado can spin at speeds of 65 miles per hour up to 300 mph.

Tornadoes are rated on what is called the Enhanced Fujita Scale, named after its creator, Ted Fujita. The scale categorizes tornadoes by their wind speed.

Enhanced Fujita Scale:

• EF0: 65-85 mph
• EF1: 86-110 mph
• EF2: 111-135 mph
• EF3: 136-165 mph
• EF4: 166-200 mph
• EF5: Over 200 mph

The Biggest Tornado in South Dakota History

Most of the tornadoes that hit South Dakota are on the smaller side. They usually rate an EF-0 to EF-2. The tornadoes that touched down in the middle of Sioux Falls in 2019 were EF-2s. While not huge, they still caused plenty of damage.

Over the last fifty years, South Dakota has experienced five big tornadoes rated EF-4 or higher.