Nebraska Panhandle-South Dakota Weather Alert: Severe Thunderstorm Watch in Effect Until 3AM Saturday
SOUTH DAKOTA – Residents across western and central South Dakota, along with northwestern Nebraska, are under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch through 3 a.m. Saturday, as intense weather continues to build across the region Friday evening.
Counties Affected by the Severe Weather Watch
The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center reports that conditions are ripe for damaging wind gusts exceeding 60 mph, large hail, and frequent lightning strikes. In South Dakota, counties impacted include:
- Pennington
- Meade
- Lyman
- Hughes
- Jones
- Todd
- Tripp
- Oglala Lakota
- And others across the western and central regions
In Nebraska, the watch applies specifically to Cherry and Sheridan counties.
Highway Travel Impacts and Safety Risks
Motorists traveling along I-90 near Rapid City and toward Chamberlain may encounter rapidly changing road conditions, including:
- Heavy downpours
- Strong winds
- Sudden visibility loss
In northwestern Nebraska, travel through Valentine and Gordon may also be affected as the storms move eastward overnight.
Precautionary Guidance for Residents
Authorities urge everyone in the alert zone to secure outdoor items and avoid travel during peak storm hours. Additional safety steps recommended by the National Weather Service include:
- Staying indoors and away from windows
- Charging phones in case of power outages
- Monitoring updated weather alerts and advisories through Saturday morning
If storms continue into the early morning, additional advisories could be issued.
Are you or someone you know in western South Dakota or the Nebraska Panhandle tonight? Stay weather-aware and follow all emergency alerts. For more real-time weather coverage and safety updates across the Midwest, visit ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com daily.
