Live updates: NWS issues severe thunderstorm warnings for Lincoln, Minnehaha counties
Update as of 7:57 p.m.: Parts of Lincoln County, including Lennox, are under a severe thunderstorm warning until 9 p.m.
Winds up to 70 mph are expected, the NWS states.
Update as of 7:45 p.m.: Storms are nearing the Sioux Empire area, and as of now, no tornado watch or warning is in effect with this system, NWS radars show.
There are multiple severe thunderstorm warnings to the west still.
The Parker Volunteer Fire/Rescue posted that the new school storm shelter will be open for any families needing shelter from 7 to 11 p.m.
Update as of 6:50 p.m.: A tornado was issued for Plankinton, White Lake and Stickney until 7:30 p.m.
At least five severe thunderstorm warnings were in effect as of this update, stretching from Gregory to north of Watertown, as the system continues to move east across the state.
The storms have yet to reach the Sioux Empire.
A tornado warning has also been issued for Wagner, Lake Andes and Marty until 7:45 p.m.
Update as of 6:40 p.m.: The NWS says it's closely monitoring two tornadic supercells moving southeast. The one near Pickstown could contain a rain-wrapped tornado.
Update as of 6:30 p.m.: Reed Timmer, a well-known meteorologist and storm chaser in the area for today's storm system, captured video of a tornado and wildfire and shared the moment on X.
He stated he had seen three tornadoes, wildfire and gorilla hail east of Hamlin and south of Chamberlain so far.
Update as of 6:15 p.m.: A tornado warning has been issued for Lake Andes, Bonesteel and Pickstown until 7 p.m.
Storm chaser Reed Timmer is in South Dakota tonight, hunting for a tornado
One has also been issued for White Lake, Storla and Plankinton until that same time.
Update as of 6 p.m.: A tornado was spotted on the ground north of Bonesteel, according to the NWS. A tornado warning is in affect until 6:15 p.m. for that area.
Update as of 5:40 p.m.: The NWS has issued a fourth tornado warning, this time for Kimball and Pukwana until 6:15 p.m. The warning affects about 2,000 people and five schools.
Amid the tornado warnings, the NWS has also missed a couple severe thunderstorm warnings, with the latest for Plate, Lake Andes and Burke until 6:30 p.m. the storm has wind gusts of 80 mph, the warning states.
Update as of 5:30 p.m.: As storms fire up to the west of Sioux Falls, central South Dakota has already experienced multiple tornado warnings, according to the NWS.
Three warnings have been issued so far, with the latest for Bonesteel and Saint Charles until 5:45 p.m., the NWS stated. The tornado was observed, and 2-inch hail was possible at the time. The warning area affects 366 people, and three schools.
Before that, a tornado warning was issued for Platte, Bijou Hills and Lucas until 5:30 p.m. The twister was reportedly radar indicated. The area affected by this warning included about 2,300 people, five schools and one hospital.
And the first observed for the day with this system was for Lucas and Academy until 5 p.m. That warned area included 550 people and two schools.
More to the north, the NWS issues at least two tornado warnings between 5 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. for areas including Stephens and Gann Valley.
It's unclear at this time to what extent damage or injuries might exist from any of those warnings at this time.
As of 5 p.m., Gov. Larry Rhoden shared on X that his administration was monitoring today's storm system.
Earlier story: Chances for severe weather the night of July 28 into the early hours of July 29 have increased significantly in the Sioux Falls area, according to the National Weather Service.
NWS' latest update from 12:30 p.m. July 28 about a system expected to bring a "significant wind event" to the area shows the thunderstorm risk level went from enhanced to moderate for the area. The timing was also pushed back to between 5 p.m. and 1 a.m., instead of 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
As of 3:45 p.m., much of central and eastern South Dakota is under a severe thunderstorm watch until 10 p.m., including Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, Brookings, Yankton and Pierre.
More: City: Outdoor warning sirens will now sound for 'destructive severe thunderstorm warnings'
What's expected for Sioux Falls?
While Sioux Falls could see all modes of severe weather tonight, the main concern is the chance of wind gusts reaching 80 mph or greater, or the system evolving into a derecho, with hurricane-force wind speeds.
A derecho is a widespread, long-lived wind storm associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service. A derecho can produce destruction similar to tornadoes, and the term "straight-line wind damage" is sometimes used to describe derecho damage.
More: Here's what we know about the tornado confirmed near Watertown on July 27
"By definition, if the wind damage swath extends more than 240 miles and includes wind gusts of at least 58 mph or greater along most of its length, then the event may be classified as a derecho," the weather service says.
For Sioux Falls, there's a 45% chance the area may see 80 mph winds or more.
What are the other risks for Sioux Falls and surrounding areas?
An extreme heat warning remains in effect through 8 p.m. July 28, with heat indices reaching to more than 105 in some areas.
There's a 15% chance the area could see hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter, or ping-pong ball sized, which is enough to damage vehicles and homes, according to the NWS.
More: 200 million Americans face extreme heat today as a derecho looms
And there's a 5% chance of a few tornadoes as well.
Localized areas could also see heavy downpours of 1-2 inches of rain, with isolated pockets up to 3 inches possible, the agency stated.
More: Derechos are more common in South Dakota than you might think
What's next?
Sioux Falls has a marginal risk July 29 in the evening for scattered storms to return, but the exact timing and severity of those storms is still to be determined, the agency stated.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: NWS: Severe thunderstorm watch issued for parts of South Dakota
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