Today Marks One Year Anniversary of the Derecho

Today marks the 1 year anniversary of the derecho that left a path of destruction across South Dakota, and took the life of one Lake County resident. On May 12, 2022, a strong line of thunderstorms developed in southern Nebraska and began to push Northeast into South Dakota. The storm produced winds between 50 and 70 miles per hour across its path, with some areas receiving even stronger gusts. The peak wind reading came in the city of Madison, at 94 miles per hour. The storm also produced 34 confirmed tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service. 

The storm fully destroyed at least one home and one business in Madison. Many others were left with significant damage. Madison Mayor Roy Lindsay says a number of individuals and businesses discovered they did not have the insurance necessary to fully rebuild. 

Many homes in the area are still waiting to have roof repair work completed, and some are still dealing with downed trees. Much of the construction debris from the storm ended up in the City of Madison’s Restricted Use Site. Lindsay says they’ll have to close that site soon. 

You can find other stories from our look back at the 2022 storm, at AmazingMadison.com.