NWS provides recap of supercell storms that dropped large hail

July 18, 2023

ABERDEEN, S.D.–Two supercells thunderstorms developed over east central South Dakota and southwestern Minnesota during the late afternoon of July 13th, 2023.

One supercell traveled from east central South Dakota to northwestern Iowa during the late afternoon and evening. The storm produced up to golf ball size hail southwest of Brookings and again west and south of Pipestone.

After briefly weakening in southern Pipestone County, the storm restrengthened and produced up to baseball size hail in eastern Rock and southwestern Nobles County in southwestern Minnesota. The storm then slowly weakened as it moved into northwestern Iowa although it was still able to produce 1 to 1.5 inch hail in Osceola and O’Brien Counties.

The second supercell developed in northeastern South Dakota in the late afternoon and moved into southwestern Minnesota. The storm reached its peak intensity across Lincoln County Minnesota where up to 2.5 inch hail fell near Lake Benton. As the storm continued to move southeast, it quickly weakened as it moved into southern Murray county during the early evening.