If you are within NWS Rapid City county coverage area (shown below) and when you can do so safely, send us a report. Include photos if you are able to. Remember, be concise and accurate with your report -- who, what, when, and where. Please do not relay reports based on what you are seeing/hearing on television or on your app.

-Send us a message on Facebook

-Tag us in a Tweet or send a direct message

      Include #

-Call us at

Hail (any size):
Measure the largest hail stone or compare it to a common item.  

0.25" or less - pea

0.50" - mothball

0.75" - dime/penny

0.88" - nickel

1.00" - quarter (severe threshold)

1.25" - half dollar

1.50" - walnut/ping pong ball

1.75" - golf ball

2.00" - hen egg

2.50" - tennis ball

2.75" - baseball

3.00" - tea cup

4.00" - grapefruit

4.50" - softball

Strong or damaging winds
What was damaged and to what extent?

Healthy trees snapped or uprooted

Large tree branches blown down

Power poles downed

Structures damaged (businesses, homes, outbuildings, etc.)

Rotating wall cloud, funnel cloud, or tornado
Be sure to confirm rotation and include the direction and distance of these features from your location.

Flooding:
Focus on water 6" or more in depth that is rapidly flowing or standing water that is 3' or more deep. Is the flood water threatening life or property? Are waterways/streams and creeks rapidly rising?

Severe Thunderstorm criteria (any combination of the following):

Winds of 58+ mph

Hail of 1" in diameter or larger

A tornado