Damage assessments underway as severe storms pass through Sioux Falls. Tornado watch still on until 6 p.m.
Update 3:31: A severe thunderstorm has passed through Sioux Falls. The storm has continued to move northeast, triggering warnings in southwestern Minnesota and Northwestern Iowa.
Crews are currently assessing damage in Minnehaha County, with multiple reports of downed trees and powerline
Update 3:07 p.m.: A severe thunderstorm warning including Garretson, Valley Spring and Luverne Minnesota, will be in place until 3:30 p.m. The storm will contain wind gusts up to 70 mph.
Update 2:45 p.m.: A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Sioux Falls, Brandon and Harrisburg until 3:15 p.m. A large supercell moving into Sioux Falls will result in torrential downpours and potential water problems in low lying areas and intersections, according to the NWS.
Update 2:15 p.m.: The NWS has issued a tornado warning for Dell Rapids, Baltic and Flandreau
Update: Tornado Warning including Madison, Lake Madison and Canistota until 2:15 p.m.
Update: As of 11:50 a.m. Sioux Falls along with most of southeastern South Dakota and parts of Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska have been placed in a tornado watch until 6 p.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
While some people woke up overnight with weather alerts, others didn't realize the impact of severe weather that hit Sioux Falls until Monday morning.
Damaging winds, hail and rain hit the city as storms moved through the area in the early hours of Monday.
A tornado warning was issued by the National Weather Service at around 2 a.m. but not everybody in Sioux Falls got the notification on their phones. The tornado sirens also rang out alerting residents to seek shelter.
Reports of downed power lines and trees led to a "system overload" reported over the scanner as police and other emergency first responders were flooded with calls due to storm damage.
The worst damage appeared to be in the central Sioux Falls neighborhood that was hit by a tornado in 2019. Andy Ziegler, with Carland Landscaping, was out cleaning trees for his customers. He said multiple streets between 41st and 33rd streets and Western and Kiwanis avenues were blocked by downed trees.
"It was a good storm. I know that," Ziegler said.
Karen May was cleaning up her yard from downed branches. She counted herself lucky. Other blocks in her area near 33rd Street had been hit hard in the 2019 tornado, as well as from the major storm earlier this month.
More: Phone alert didn't go off? How to prepare for severe weather, tornadoes in South Dakota
"We've been so lucky these past couple of storms," she said.
She prepared for the storm by brining potted plants and birdhouse indoors.
"We were careful about it, that's for sure," she said. "They tell you to pick up anything that can fly."
Nearly 5,000 Xcel customers without power
As of 9 a.m. Monday, Xcel Energy was reporting more than 4,700 customers in Minnehaha County were without power. Other counties had no more than a few hundred customers reporting power outages.
Xcel did not have an estimate on when power would be restored completely but they've made progress after nearly 10,000 customers were reportedly without power in the early hours of Monday when severe weather was hitting the area.
Previously: 6,000 without power in Sioux Falls after overnight severe storms. More are on the way.
More severe weather possible Monday
The NWS in Sioux Falls said Monday's early morning storms won't be the last we see of severe weather.
Storms are currently ongoing Monday morning, mainly east of Interstate 29, according to the NWS. An expansion of storms is possible by as early as mid morning into the evening, with the most likely risks being: Large hail, strong wind gusts and a few tornadoes.
Sioux Falls and surrounding areas are under an enhanced risk for severe weather while Brookings is in a higher, moderate outlook, according to the NWS.
Damaging winds continue to be the biggest and most possible threat followed by hail up to 2 inches in diameter.
Sioux Falls weather: See rolling storm damage reports in South Dakota
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls severe weather, storm forecast as tornado watch issued
