Partly cloudy in the evening...then mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. South winds 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast after midnight.
Sunday
Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch 568 remains in effect until 200 am CDT
SD . South Dakota counties included are
Bon Homme Clay Hanson Hutchinson Lincoln McCook Minnehaha Turner Union Yankton
Flash Flood Watch
Statement as of 6:14 PM CDT on July 09, 2009
... Flash Flood Watch now in effect from 10 PM CDT this evening through Friday morning...
The Flash Flood Watch is now in effect for
* portions of southwest Minnesota and southeast South Dakota... including the following areas... in southwest Minnesota... Jackson... Nobles and rock. In southeast South Dakota... Bon Homme... Hutchinson... McCook... Minnehaha and Turner.
* From 10 PM CDT this evening through Friday morning
* locally heavy rainfall of 1 to 2 inches is possible later tonight. Rainfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour are also possible... dropping an inch of rain or more in 15 to 30 minutes.
* Areas that have received heavy rains in the past 3 to 10 days could see flash flooding on creeks and streams with these additional rains... and any urbanized areas that receive the heaviest rainfall rates could see widespread flooding of streets and underpasses.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...
A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.
You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should flash flood warnings be issued.
Public Information Statement
Statement as of 7:06 PM CDT on July 9, 2009
... Severe Thunderstorm Watch safety rules...
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means that conditions are favorable for the development of severe weather in the designated area. During a watch there is no cause for immediate concern. You should go about your normal business... but be on the lookout and keep up to date on the latest weather developments. Public safety officials should activate prearranged plans.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning... on the other hand... means that a severe thunderstorm has been sighted or indicated by radar. People in the path of the storm should take immediate action to safeguard themselves and their family.
Technically speaking... a severe thunderstorm is defined as having wind gusts which exceed 58 mph and/or hail at least 3/4 inch in diameter. However... as these storms develop... they can be accompanied by tornadoes. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or other local media to learn if a warning has been issued for your area. Also... keep a close watch on the thunderstorms as tornadoes can form quickly. If you see a tornado... move quickly into a basement. If none is available... seek shelter in a small interior room on the lowest floor and stay away from outside walls... doors and windows. In schools... factories or other institutional type buildings... stay out of auditoriums and gymnasiums.