South Dakota

Badlands, South Dakota

Badlands Storm 1
Badlands Storm 1
Badlands, South Dakota

A spring storm rolling across the Badlands of South Dakota. The storms this day produced quarter-inch hail and 50mph winds. This area used to be under a body of water called the Western Interior Seaway until about 60 million years ago. As volcanic ash settled to the bottom of the ocean it hardened and created these vast landscapes.
Badlands Storm 2
Badlands Storm 2
Badlands, South Dakota

I didn't plan on it, but I ended up storm chasing in the Badlands of South Dakota this day. I knew there wouldn't be any tornadoes there but I was pleasantly surprised by the number of hail producing storms. This storm, along with many other storms, produced pea sized hail. This picture was taken just outside of the park boundary. I drove on a dirt road for a bit to get closer to the storm until I couldn't easily drive towards it anymore.
Badlands, South Dakota
Badlands, South Dakota
Badlands, South Dakota

Badlands National Park, South Dakota
About 45 minutes after this picture quarter inch hail was falling on this area along with 50 mph sustained winds. Just to the right (off screen) is a huge thunderstorm approaching. This area used to be under a body of water called the Western Interior Seaway until about 60 million years ago. As volcanic ash settled to the bottom of the ocean it hardened and created these vast landscapes.
Mt. Rushmore Storm
Mt. Rushmore Storm
South Dakota

Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota. This was taken right after a hail storm on the mountain with the sun setting right behind Washington and Jefferson. The resulting water runoff makes it look as though they are crying, which I know I would cry if my image was carved into a sacred Lakota land.