Sioux Falls, SD Tornado History — 135 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Sioux Falls, SD had?
Sioux Falls has had 135 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Sioux Falls?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Sioux Falls was an EF0 on July 28, 2025.
When is tornado season in Sioux Falls?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Sioux Falls, with 50 on record. April through June account for 92 of the 135 tornadoes on record near Sioux Falls.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Sioux Falls
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 28 total, averaging 1.4 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Sioux Falls since December 29, 2025
These are 3 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
Radar confirmed tonado. (FSD)
Numerous reports of a brief high-based landspout. Additional public photos on social media. (FSD)
Video via social media of brief gustnado. Location estimated. (FSD)
Within 25 miles of Sioux Falls. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Sioux Falls
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Sioux Falls since 1950, across 1 event. 27 injuries have been reported across all events. 1965 was the deadliest year on record near Sioux Falls.
The deadliest single event was an F0 on June 7, 1965, which caused 1 fatality along a 0.1-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Sioux Falls
What the record shows near Sioux Falls
The 2000s were the busiest decade near Sioux Falls, with 38 of the 135 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 10 so far. The Sioux Falls record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Sioux Falls, 101 reached EF0 or EF1 and 29 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Sioux Falls is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged. A further 5 near Sioux Falls are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Sioux Falls has averaged 1.4 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 28 in total. 2014 was the busiest of them with 5, and 11 of those years passed with none at all.