Severe Thunderstorms Threaten Hail, Hurricane-Force Winds South Dakota, Montana

Severe thunderstorms are impacting multiple regions across the northern United States and parts of Canada, with meteorologists issuing warnings for damaging hail, high winds, and potential tornadoes. In Mountain View County near Bearberry, a thunderstorm moving southeast with large hail poses risks of significant damage and injury. Southwest Montana faces scattered strong thunderstorms that could bring damaging winds, large hail, and lightning that may ignite wildfires. Eastern South Dakota is under threat from a line of severe thunderstorms expected to produce hurricane-force wind gusts exceeding 70 mph, large hail, and possible tornadoes, with the storm system potentially evolving into a derecho—a widespread, long-lived windstorm capable of causing destruction akin to tornadoes. This severe weather coincides with extreme heat warnings in southeast South Dakota, where heat indices may reach 107 degrees, exacerbating risks such as flash flooding due to heavy rainfall over saturated ground. Authorities strongly advise residents in affected areas to secure loose items and take immediate cover when storms approach.