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Tornadoes

Tornado Watch Issued for North Central Nebraska and South Central South Dakota

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A tornado watch has been issued for parts of North Central Nebraska and South Central South Dakota, effective from 420 PM MDT on Sunday, July 20, 2025, until 1000 PM MDT. The watch area includes regions around Valentine, Nebraska, and surrounding areas.

Key Takeaways:

  • A tornado watch has been issued for portions of North Central Nebraska and South Central South Dakota, indicating conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms.
  • The primary threats include a couple of tornadoes, scattered large hail, and isolated very large hail events up to 2.5 inches in diameter, as well as scattered damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph.
  • Isolated supercell thunderstorms are forming in a very unstable airmass, posing a risk of very large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes.
  • The tornado watch area covers approximately 50 statute miles east and west of a line from 85 miles north of Valentine, Nebraska, to 55 miles south southwest of Valentine, Nebraska.
  • Aviation areas have been issued with a tornado watch product, approximating the watch area with shaded regions.
  • The Storm Prediction Center has issued a tornado watch, cautioning individuals in the affected areas to be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and to listen for later statements and possible warnings.

Statistics:

  • The watch area is approximately 50 statute miles wide and 300 miles long.
  • The watch is effective from 420 PM MDT on July 20, 2025, until 1000 PM MDT.
  • The primary threats include:

+ A couple of tornadoes (40% probability)

+ Scattered large hail (60% probability)

+ Isolated very large hail events (60% probability)

+ Scattered damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph

  • The probability of 2 or more tornadoes is moderate (40%).
  • The probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes is low (20%).
  • The probability of 10 or more severe wind events is moderate (50%).
  • The probability of 1 or more wind events 65 knots is low (20%).
  • The probability of 10 or more severe hail events is moderate (60%).
  • The probability of 1 or more hailstones 2 inches is moderate (60%).

Sources:

  • NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 420 PM MDT Sun Jul 20 2025.
  • SAW2 WW 532 TORNADO NE SD 202220Z.

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