High Wind Warning Issued for Western South Dakota and Northeast Wyoming; Gusts Up to 80 MPH Expected

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Rapid City, SD, has issued a High Wind Warning for portions of northwestern, south central, and southwestern South Dakota, as well as northeast Wyoming. The warning is effective from 9:00 AM MDT (10:00 AM CDT) to 9:00 PM MDT (10:00 PM CDT) on Thursday, March 12.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad geographic scope, including the following regions:

• South Dakota: Harding, Northern and Southern Perkins, Butte, Northern and Southern Meade County Plains, Ziebach, Northern Foothills, Rapid City, Southern Foothills, Custer County Plains, Pennington County Plains, Haakon, Western and Eastern Fall River, Northern and Southern Oglala Lakota, Northern and Southern Jackson, Bennett, Mellette, Todd, Tripp, Sturgis/Piedmont Foothills, and Hermosa Foothills.
• Wyoming: Northeastern Crook County.

What You Should Do

Residents in the warning area should take the following actions:

• If you are outdoors, watch for flying or falling objects that may cause injury.
• Use extreme caution if you must drive, especially if operating a high-profile vehicle which may be difficult to control in strong winds.
• Prepare for potential power outages and damage to roofs, small outbuildings, and signs.

Expected Conditions

West winds are expected to range from 35 to 45 mph, with powerful gusts reaching up to 80 mph. These strong winds are likely to cause blowing dust, reduced visibility, and dangerous flying debris.

Timeline

The High Wind Warning is set to begin at 9:00 AM MDT on Thursday, March 12, 2026, and is currently expected to conclude at 9:00 PM MDT that evening.