Sioux Falls, SD

Weather Forecast Office

Event Summaries

Thunderstorms / Tornadoes
Flooding
Winter
Heat / Cold
Other

Thunderstorms & Tornadoes

The following summaries cover "significant" or widespread thunderstorm outbreaks and tornadoes. Tornadoes, hail, wind damage, and flooding impacts can be found in these summaries. If the event was focused mainly on flooding it will be found under the "Flooding" section.

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2024

July 29-30, 2024 - Widespread Winds and Damage in Southeast South Dakota and Northwest Iowa
June 8-9, 2024 - Multiple rounds of severe weather and heavy rain
May 31, 2024 - Brief Tornadoes Reported in Northwest Iowa
May 20-21, 2024 - Multiple rounds of storms bring large hail, damaging winds, and heavy rain
April 16, 2024 - Brief Tornadoes and Widespread Rainfall across the Region

2023

October 12-14, 2023 - Widespread Beneficial Rain
August 10-11, 2023 - Tornadoes, Hail, and Gusty Winds
July 13, 2023 - Supercell thunderstorms bring very large hail
July 12, 2023 - A Severe Squall Line Brings Damaging Winds

2022

July 5, 2022 - Derecho moves across southeast South Dakota and northwest Iowa (a.k.a. "The storm with the green sky")
June 20, 2022 - Scattered Strong Winds across southeast South Dakota and southwest Minnesota
May 28-30, 2022 - Memorial Day Weekend Severe Thunderstorms Summary
May 12, 2022 - May Derecho Brings Widespread Damage to the Area
April 12, 2022 - Scattered Hail-producing Thunderstorms across southeast SD, southwest MN, and northwest IA

2021

December 15, 2021 - Historic December Severe Weather Outbreak Brings Damaging Winds and Tornadoes to Northwest Iowa
September 16, 2021 - Damaging Winds Move Across SE South Dakota, SW Minnesota, and NW Iowa
August 30, 2021 - Hail and Heavy Rain in southeast SD and northwest IA
August 28, 2021 - Very Large Hail, Damaging Wind, Brief Tornadoes and Flooding
August 8, 2021 - Multiple Funnel Clouds and Brief Tornado across northwest IA and southwest MN
August 5, 2021 - Large Hail, Strong Winds impact southeast SD, southwest MN, northwest IA
June 11, 2021 - Damaging Winds across the region

2020

October 11, 2020 - Hail and Winds after Wildfires
August 30, 2020 - Scattered Strong to Severe Storms, Mainly Wind & Hail
August 28, 2020 - Strong Winds and 2 Brief Tornadoes Move Through the Highway 14 Corridor
August 10, 2020 - Morning Severe Storms Produce Winds, Large Hail (starting point of Iowa/Illinois Derecho)
August 8-9, 2020 - Nighttime Bow Echo Across Southeast South Dakota
July 6-7, 2020 - Wind, Hail & Flooding Southeast South Dakota through Northwest Iowa
June 25, 2020 - Severe Storms Bring High Winds and Heavy Rain
June 21, 2020 - Father's Day Storms across Northwest Iowa and Nearby Areas
June 20, 2020 - Hail Storms Across South-Central South Dakota on Summer Solstice 2020
June 8-9, 2020 - Multiple Rounds of Severe Weather and Heavy Rain
June 5, 2020 - Strong Storms Across Southwest Minnesota into Northwest Iowa

2019

September 10, 2019 - Tornadoes in Sioux Falls, SD
August 17, 2019 - Large Hail and Bow Echo through southeast SD/southwest MN/northwest IA
August 6, 2019 - Tornado in Burke, SD
July 20, 2019 - Bow Echo through southeast SD/southwest MN/northwest IA
July 18, 2019 - Tornado in Crooks, SD
July 17, 2019 - Bow Echo through southeast SD/northwest IA (south of I-90)
June 30, 2019 - Tornado in Gregory County, SD
June 27, 2019 - Severe Storms and Flash Flooding

2018

September 18-21, 2018 - Widespread Heavy Rain, Flooding, and Severe Storms
August 27-28, 2018 - Hailstorms across southeast South Dakota and northwest Iowa
August 5, 2018 - Wind Damage and a weak tornado across southeast South Dakota and northwest Iowa
June 1, 2018 - Thunderstorms and Localized Damaging Winds with Blowing Dust
May 11, 2018 - Wake Low produces Strong Winds
May 8, 2018 - Hail and a Tornado Impact the Area During the Evening

2017

September 19, 2017 - Line of Severe Storms with Damaging Winds
August 25, 2017 - Line of Severe Storms with Heavy Rain
August 21, 2017 - Solar Eclipse Day Flash Flood and Storm Summary
August 18, 2017 - Tornadic Supercell in southwest Minnesota and northwest Iowa
August 13, 2017 - Summary of Hailstorms in southeast South Dakota and southwest Minnesota
August 1, 2017 - Severe Hail and Wind south of I-90
July 19, 2017 - Long Track Severe Storm Rolls Across South Dakota and Minnesota
June 29, 2017 - Severe Storms Affect Missouri River Valley into northwest Iowa
June 13, 2017 - Long Duration Severe Weather Event across the Region
June 11, 2017 - Large Hail and Damaging Winds from central South Dakota to southwest and central Minnesota
May 16, 2017 - Heat Burst brings Damaging Winds to northwest Iowa/southwest Minnesota
May 15, 2017 - Damaging Winds Impact Armour, SD

2016

September 5, 2016 - Severe Straight-Line Winds Impact Springfield, SD
July 16, 2016 - Strong to Severe Storms Impact Southwest Minnesota and Southeast South Dakota
July 5, 2016 - Large Hail along Highway 14 corridor
June 17, 2016 - Large Hail and Damaging Wind throughout southwest Minnesota, far southeast South Dakota and northwest Iowa
June 14, 2016 - Tornadoes and Damaging Wind in southwest Minnesota and around the Iowa Great Lakes
June 10, 2016 - Large Hail and Damaging Wind in southwest Minnesota and northwest Iowa
May 25, 2016 - Large Hail and Damaging Wind from south central South Dakota through northwest Iowa
May 23, 2016 - Severe Storms in northwest Iowa
May 22, 2016 - Large Hail and Damaging Wind in south central South Dakota
April 24, 2016 - Large Hail and Damaging Wind in northwest Iowa

2015

October 23, 2015 - Six Tornadoes Produced EF-0 Damage in Northwest Iowa
August 6, 2015 - Brief Tornado and Straight Line Wind Damage near Brookings, SD
June 22, 2015 - Damaging Wake Low Winds Impact southeast South Dakota/southwest Minnesota
June 22, 2015 - Damaging Bow Echo Winds Impact southeast South Dakota/northwest Iowa (Garretson, SD, and Sheldon, IA)
May 10, 2015 - Storm Survey Rates Delmont, SD Tornado an EF-2

2014

June 18, 2014 - Jerauld County, SD Tornadoes
June 18, 2014 - EF-4 Tornado Damage near Alpena, SD
June 18, 2014 - EF-2 Tornado Damage in Wessington Springs, SD
June 17, 2014 - June 17th Humboldt Tornado Preliminary Rating EF-2
May 11, 2014 - Preliminary damage survey for Hospers Iowa tornado

2013

October 4, 2013 - Pierson, IA - Tornado Damage Survey
October 4, 2013 - Tri-State Area Tornado Damage Survey

2012

April 15, 2012 - A summary of wind gusts and severe weather reports from April 15, 2012

2011

July 1, 2011 - Tyler and Ruthton Tornado Storm Survey
July 1, 2011 - Radar Review for eastern South Dakota and southwest Minnesota High Precipitation Supercell
May 30, 2011 - Southeast South Dakota Storm Survey
April 9, 2011 - Arthur/Cherokee County, IA - Tornado Damage Survey

2010

Summary of Severe Weather, Heavy Rain, and Flooding in June/July 2010
July 23, 2010 - Sioux Falls Dodges Strong Wind Friday Night
July 22, 2010 - Maurice/Cherokee, IA - Straight-Line Wind Damage
July 17, 2010 - Damaging Winds for Great Lakes Area of Dickinson County
June 25, 2010 - Little Rock/Sibley, IA - Tornado Damage Survey
June 11, 2010 - Sioux Falls, SD - Straight-Line Wind Damage
June 3, 2010 - Akron, IA - Straight-Line Wind Damage

2009

June 24-25, 2009 - Storm Reports including tornadoes in southeast South Dakota
March 23, 2009 - Severe weather reports and radar imagery

2008

August 13, 2008 - Hail and Thunderstorm Wind Damage Reports
July 11, 2008 - Tornadoes in Northwest Iowa and Southwest Minnesota
June 5, 2008 - Tornado Damage in Marty and Baltic, SD
May 29, 2008 - Storm Survey for Southeast South Dakota
May 19, 2008 - Severe Storms Produce Damaging Winds Across Northwest Iowa Monday Afternoon
May 1, 2008 - Northwest Iowa Tornadoes and Large Hail in Southeast South Dakota

2007

August 21, 2007 - Very Large Hail in Dante, South Dakota (State Record at this time)
May 5, 2007 - Southeast South Dakota Tornadoes

2006

August 24, 2006 - Beadle County Tornadoes
August 18, 2006 - Radar Examination of Downburst Near Tea, South Dakota
June 16, 2006 - Severe Weather and Flash Flooding from Supercell Thunderstorm
May 23, 2006 - Union County Thunderstorm Wind Damage
May 2, 2006 - Kingsbury County Tornado

2005

None

2004

June 11, 2004 - Storm Survey for Clay County, Iowa Tornadoes
May 21, 2004 - Spencer, Iowa Hailstorm

2003

June 24, 2003 - "Tornado Tuesday" Outbreak in southeast South Dakota

2002

None

2001

August 17, 2001 - Results of the Jackson, Nebraska, Tornado Damage Survey
August 2, 2001 - Overview of Wind Damage Event in Sioux City, Iowa
July 27, 2001 - Results of the Lennox, South Dakota, Tornado Damage Survey
June 12, 2001 - Recalling the Severe Storms of June 12, 2001

2000

July 11, 2000 - Madison, South Dakota Tornado Damage
June 3-4, 2000 - Damage Survey for Vermillion, SD

Historic

May 30, 1998 - Spencer, South Dakota Tornado
March 29, 1998 - Southern Minnesota Record Tornadoes
July 13, 1997 - The EROS Hail Storm
June 20, 1997 - Damage Survey of Ethan, South Dakota
June 16, 1992 - Chandler-Lake Wilson Minnesota F5 Tornado: Revisited on the 10th Anniversary

Flooding

The following summaries cover "significant" or widespread flooding. River and flash flooding can be found in these summaries. If the flooding event accompanied severe thunderstorms or tornado outbreaks, it will likely be included in that event's summary under the "Thunderstorms / Tornadoes" section.

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2024

June 20-22, 2024 - Heavy Rain and Historic Flooding of Northwest Iowa, Southwest Minnesota, and Southeast South Dakota

2023

August 5-6, 2023 - Flooding and Severe Weather - Southeastern SD and Northwestern IA

2022

August 7, 2022 - Record-Setting Rainfall in Sioux Falls

2021

None

2020

None

2019

September 11-12, 2019 - Heavy Rainfall and Flooding September 11-12, 2019
July 1-2, 2019 - Heavy Rainfall Near & East of I-29
March 13-14, 2019 - Heavy Rain and Snow Melt Create Widespread Flooding

2018

September 18-21, 2018 - Widespread Heavy Rain, Flooding, and Severe Storms
July 3, 2018 - Flash Flooding in Southwest Minnesota
June 20-26, 2018 - Prolonged Rain Leads to Flooding
June 17-18, 2018 - Heavy Rainfall

2017

August 21, 2017 - Solar Eclipse Day Flash Flood and Storm Summary

2016

September 15, 2016 - Heavy Rain and Flash Flooding in the Tri-State Area
June 17, 2016 - Flash Flooding in Brookings, South Dakota

2015

August 27-28, 2015 - Rainfall total across the region for 27-28 August 2015

2014

June 17, 2014 - Rainfall Amounts in the Past 24 Hours Ending Tuesday Morning
June 2014 - Canton Sets South Dakota State Record for Most Moisture
June 2014 - Record Rainfall Across the Area in June 2014
Summary - Sioux City sets record for most rainfall in a year

2013

May 26-27, 2013 - Preliminary 2-Day Rainfall Totals

2012

July 5, 2012 - The variability of rainfall with summer thunderstorms
May 6, 2012 - 24-Hour Heavy Rainfall ending Sunday Morning
February 29, 2012 - 24 Hour Precipitation Reports Ending Wednesday Morning

2011

July 26-27, 2011 - Heavy Rainfall Hits Huron and Sioux Falls

2010

Record Precipitation in 2010 For Many Sites
September 22-23, 2010 - Storm Total Rainfall Map and Data for September 22nd and 23rd, 2010
June - August, 2010 - 2010 Meteorological Summer Rainfall Sets Many New Records
June - July, 2010 - Summary of Severe Weather, Heavy Rain, and Flooding in June/July 2010
July 29-30, 3010 - Heavy Rainfall including 9.5 inches at Wessington Springs
June 28, 2010 - Record Flooding on the Little Sioux River at Cherokee
June 27, 2010 - Heavy Rainfall Totals in Northwest Iowa through Sunday Morning, June 27th
June 9-13, 2010 - Heavy Rainfall over Southeast South Dakota

2009

October 2009 - Closing the books on a cool and wet October
September 3, 2009 - Sioux Gateway Airport measures new record precipitation for September 3

2008

June 6, 2008 - Aerial Photos of Flooding across southeast South Dakota
June 5, 2008 - Heavy Rain and Flash Flooding in southeast South Dakota

2006

June 16, 2006 - Severe Weather and Flash Flooding from Supercell Thunderstorm

2004

June 16, 2004 - Overview of two heavy rain events in southeast South Dakota Spring 2004
May 29, 2004 - Overview of two heavy rain events in southeast South Dakota Spring 2004

2001

July 24, 2001 - Heavy Rain: Sioux Falls into northwest Iowa

Historic

None

Winter Storms

The following summaries cover "significant" or widespread winter storms. Heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain, and blizzards can be found in these summaries. If the event focused on wind chills, it will be found under the "Heat / Cold" section.

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2024

March 24-26, 2024 - Heavy Snow and Heavy Rain
January 11-16, 2024 - Ground Blizzard and Prolonged Dangerous Wind Chills
January 8th, 2024 - Widespread Heavy Snow

2023

December 25, 2023 - Christmas Storm Brings Heavy Snow, Heavy Rain, and Ice
February 21-23, 2023 - Significant Blizzard with Heavy Snow
January 27-28, 2023 - Heavy Snow Across the MO River Valley into northwestern IA
January 18-19, 2023 - Heavy Snow Across the Tri-State Area
January 2-3, 2023 - Heavy Snow and Mixed Precipitation

2022

December 29, 2022 - Banded Snow and Mixed Precipitation Event
December 21-23, 2022 - Ground Blizzard and Dangerous Cold
December 12-16, 2022 - Prolonged Winter Storm Brings Ice, Snow, and Wind
December 8-9, 2022 - Winter Storm Brought Band of Heavy Snow to the Region

2021

December 10, 2021 - Widespread Snow Across the Region
March 14-15, 2021 - Widespread Snow, Heavy in South Dakota
March 10, 2021 - Rain, Thunder, and Snow End Extended Warm Spell
February 27-28, 2021 - Snow Band North of Interstate 90
February 21, 2021 - Widespread Snow, with Heavy Snow in Western Iowa
January 14-15, 2021 - Mid-January Blizzard, mainly east of James River Valley

2020

December 29, 2020 - Widespread Snow Falls Across the Region
December 23, 2020 - Pre-Christmas Blizzard (50-70 mph Winds!)
November 10, 2020 - Ice and Heavy Snow
October 24-26, 2020 - Record Cold and Snow
October 20, 2020 - Early Season Snow for Southwest MN
April 12, 2020 - Easter Storm Brings Snow & Wind
March 19-20, 2020 - Late-season Winter Storm Brings Rain, Snow & Wind
February 19, 2020 - Snow Band in northern Nebraska and northwest Iowa
February 8-9, 2020 - Winter Storm Brings a Foot of Snow
January 17-18, 2020 - Winter Storm Brings Blizzard Conditions
January 12, 2020 - Narrow Snowfall Bands in far southeast South Dakota and northwest Iowa

2019

December 27-30, 2019 - Weekend Winter Storm Created Hazardous Post-Holiday Travel Conditions
November 29-December 1, 2019 - Prolonged Winter Storm Impacts Post-Thanksgiving Travel
May 8, 2019 - Spring Snowfall and Widespread Rain
April 10-12, 2019 - Blizzard and Ice Storm
March 9, 2019 - Widespread Rain and Snow
February 23-24, 2019 - Ground Blizzard
February 19-20, 2019 - Heavy Snow
January 18, 2019 - Heavy Snow Band north of I-90

2018

December 26-28, 2018 - Post-Christmas Winter Storm
December 1-2, 2018 - Wintry Mix to Heavy Snow
October 14, 2018 - Early Season Snow and Record Cold
April 18, 2018 - More Widespread Snow Across the Region
April 14, 2018 - Historic April Blizzard Impacts the Region
April 8, 2018 - Late Season Snow
April 2-3, 2018 - Late Season Snow and Record Cold
March 23-24, 2018 - Heavy Snow and Rain
March 5-6, 2018 - Isolated Thunderstorms followed by Blizzard
February 22, 2018 - Band of Light to Moderate Snow
February 19-20, 2018 - Freezing Drizzle and Snow Impact the Region
February 8-9, 2018 - Prolonged Light Snow Brings Moderate Snowfall
January 22, 2018 - Blizzard affecting northeast Nebraska, far southeast South Dakota, northwest Iowa and southern Minnesota

2017

December 21, 2017 - Winter Storm across southeast South Dakota and southern Minnesota
February 23-24, 2017 - Widespread Heavy Snow south of I-90
January 24-25, 2017 - Widespread Heavy Snow south of I-90

2016

December 16-17, 2016 - Moderate to Heavy Snow and Dangerous Cold
December 10-11, 2016 - Moderate to Locally Heavy Snowfall
March 23-24, 2016 - Early Spring Winter Storm Impacts the Region
February 2, 2016 - Heavy Snow and Blizzard Conditions Over the Tri-State Area

2015

December 15, 2015 - Snow and Lightning in Mid-December
November 30 - December 1, 2015 - Heavy Snow over the Tri State Area
November 20, 2015 - Heavy Snow Band: Southeast South Dakota into northwest Iowa

2014

April 3, 2014 - Snowfall Map and Reports from Early Spring Storm
March 18-19, 2014 - Snowfall Totals

2013

December 3-4, 2013 - Snowfall Reports
November 5, 2013 - Storm Total Snowfall for Southeast South Dakota and Northwest Iowa
April 9-11, 2013 - Event Total Snow & Sleet Reports for April 9-11, 2013

2012

December 28, 2012 - Storm Total Snowfall Reports Ending Friday Morning
December 9-10, 2012 - Weekend Winter Storm Recap
February 23, 2012 - Snowfall reports for Thursday, February 23, 2012

2011

April 15-16, 2011 - Mid-April Snowfall Blankets Area, less than a week after severe weather
February 21, 2011 - Storm Total Snowfall through 11 am CST Monday, February 21, 2011
Jan 30 - Feb 1, 2011 - Event Total Snowfall Amounts from January 30th to Early February 1st, 2011

2010

December 31, 2010 - Snowfall Totals for New Years Eve Storm
November 13, 2010 - Storm Total Snowfall for Mid Autumn 2010 Winter Storm

2009

December 25-26, 2009 - Christmas Storm Total Snowfall
October 2009 - Closing the books on a cool and wet October
October 11-12, 2009 - Snowfall Totals for Sunday night and Monday
April 4-5, 2009 - Snowfall Reports received through noon Sunday, April 5, 2009

2008

December 2008 - The Snow Kept Piling Up in December 2008
December 19-20, 2008 - Event total snowfall reports
December 18-19, 2008 - Heavy Snow: northwest Iowa
November 7, 2008 - An Early Winter Storm
April 25, 2008 - Heavy Snow: southeast South Dakota
March 31, 2008 - Snowfall Totals Through 7 PM Monday Evening
January 21, 2008 - Snowfall reports from Monday, January 21, 2008

2007

April 10-11, 2007 - 24 Snowfall Reports Through Mid Morning - April 11, 2007
February 24 - March 2, 2007 - How much snow did we receive last week? More than two feet!

2006

March 12-13, 2006 - Snowfall Totals for March 12-13, 2006

2001

March 11-12, 2001 - Heavy Snow: southwest Minnesota
February 25, 2001 - Heavy Snow: south central to east central South Dakota
February 14, 2001 - 3 to 6 inch Siouxland snowfall

2000

November 30-December 1, 2000 - Heavy Snow: southwest Minnesota and northwest Iowa
November 15-16, 2000 - Heavy Snow: I-90 corridor
November 11-13, 2000 - Heavy Snow: southeast South Dakota and southwest Minnesota

Historic

October 1, 1999 - Do you remember what happened on October 1st 1999?
November 10, 1998 - Heavy Snow and Record Low Pressure on November 10, 1998
February 8-9, 1909 - A look back 100 years - the snowstorm of Feb 8-9, 1909
A look at snowstorms which affect Sioux Falls

Extreme Heat & Cold

The following summaries cover "significant" or widespread high heat or extreme cold. Dangerous wind chills and life threatening heat indices can be found in these summaries. If the extreme temperatures were associated with a summer or winter storm, it may be found under the "Thunderstorms & Tornadoes" or "Winter" sections. These events tend to more "rare" compared to others, and has not been broken into yearly sections. If wished, that can be done here also (copy and past a snippet of yearly code from another section, then repeat as needed).

Scroll down the page for year, or go directly:

2024

None

2023

2022

December 21-23, 2022 - Ground Blizzard and Dangerous Cold

2021

February 13-16, 2021 - Mid-February Record Cold

2020

None

2019

January 28-31, 2019 - Strong Arctic Front and Extreme Cold

2018

April 4, 2018 - Late Season Snow and Record Cold

2017

None

2016

December 16-17, 2016 - Moderate to Heavy Snow and Dangerous Cold
January 2016 compared to 2014/2015

2015

January 2015 - A Look Back at Temperatures in January 2015

2013

December 23, 2013 - Coldest Wind Chills reported Monday morning
August 11-17, 2013 - Cool Temperatures Across the Region
Spring 2013 - Spring 2013 Among Coldest on Record for Some Locations
Spring 2013 - A Tale of Two Seasons: Temperature Comparison of Spring 2012 to Spring 2013
January 31, 2013 - Coldest Wind Chill Values of the Day

2012

November 21, 2012 - Record Warmth for Parts of the Area Today
October 7, 2012 - Record Breaking Chill Across the Area Sunday Morning
Spring 2012 - A Tale of Two Seasons: Temperature Comparison of Spring 2012 to Spring 2013

2011

August 26, 2011 - Convective Heat Burst affects Chamberlain late Thursday Night

2010

May 7, 2010 - Very cool maximum temperatures

2009

October 2009 - Closing the books on a cool and wet October
July 17-19, 2009 - A Look at Cool Weekend Temperatures
January 20, 2009 - Wide range of temperatures across the Plains
January 15, 2009 - Coldest Temperatures Since 1996

2008

November 1-10, 2008 - A Tale of Two Seasons: Wild Start To November 2008
August 3, 2008 - Convective Heat Burst moves across Sioux Falls
July 30, 2008 - A Heat Burst Affects Mitchell South Dakota

2006

July 17, 2006 - Heat bursts across Minnesota on July 17, 2006

Historic

March 5, 2000 - Record Highs throughout the Northern Plains
November 8, 1999 - Record Highs around South Dakota
December 29, 1999 - Record Highs around South Dakota
December, 1983 - The Coldest December on Record
July 17, 1936 - Remembering an extremely hot day

Other Events

The following summaries cover events that don't fall under the other categories - such as high wind events (not associated with thunderstorms). Other atmospheric events, such as auroras, may be found here.

March 18, 2013 - Peak Wind Speeds
October 18, 2012 - Peak wind speeds
Summer 2012 - A very dry summer across the area
Fall 2011 - Autumn 2011 Among the Driest Ever
September 30, 2008 - Wave clouds over southeast South Dakota and southwest Minnesota
December 11, 2004 - Hoarfrost from Freezing Fog
Weather In Action: Contrails
Weather In Action: Downbursts
Weather In Action: Downslope Winds
Weather In Action: Lake Shadow/Breeze
Weather In Action: Lake Effect
Weather In Action: Smoke Plume
Weather In Action: Valley Fog