Powerful Winds Leave Sioux Falls Buried In Trees And Broken Fences

Well, this past weekend was fun, huh?

Mother Nature paid another unwelcome visit to the Sioux Empire on Saturday night, July 25, as she unleashed a powerful line of severe thunderstorms that packed destructive winds and left a trail of damage across eastern South Dakota. For many Sioux Falls-area residents, it was one of those nights that had everyone glued to the TV, radio, and weather apps, hoping their backyard trampoline didn't end up on the roof of their neighbor's garage.

Unfortunately, plenty of people across the region weren't that lucky.

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Sioux Falls, Tea, Harrisburg, Brandon, and several surrounding communities took the brunt of the storm as wind gusts topping 90 mph were reported in some locations. Those hurricane-force gusts snapped large trees like toothpicks, knocked down power lines, damaged homes and businesses, flattened fences, and sent lawn furniture on an unexpected trip into Iowa in some cases.

Now that the storms have moved on, the evidence is impossible to miss. A drive through Sioux Falls reveals uprooted trees, piles of branches stacked along curbs, damaged roofs, and cleanup crews working around the clock.

I was a recipient of Mother Nature's fury myself.

Sioux Falls Storm Damage

One of the trees in my backyard was a storm casualty. Thankfully, it missed my fence by just enough to avoid turning one problem into two. Compared to many others throughout the Sioux Empire who suffered significant damage to their homes and property, I consider myself more than lucky.

If there's one business that's suddenly in high demand, it's tree removal. Arborists and landscaping crews will be having their phones and cash registers ring for a while as homeowners scramble to clear fallen trees and make their properties safe again. If you own a chainsaw and know how to use it, you may suddenly be the most popular person on your block.

Nobody ever said a Midwest summer was going to be easy, right?

One day you're grilling burgers and watching the sunset. The next day you're watching your favorite maple tree being hauled away to the landfill.

If you're dealing with piles of broken limbs and yard debris, the City of Sioux Falls is trying to make cleanup a little easier. The city has reopened its tree-branch drop-off sites following Saturday night's powerful storm, giving residents a convenient place to dispose of storm debris rather than letting it sit at the curb for weeks.

You can find details about branch drop-off locations and accepted materials here.

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Here's hoping that Mother Nature takes her foot off the severe storms gas pedal for a few days. The Sioux Empire has had more than enough excitement this past weekend.

Stay safe, and enjoy the cleanup!