A strong surface low pressure area moving across the northern part of the region along with a couple pushes of colder air brought high winds to central and northeast South Dakota on the 11th and 12th.  There were two periods of high winds with this system.  The first one occurred during the afternoon hours of the 11th with the second one occurring during the morning hours of the 12th. Most wind gusts recorded across the region were above 60 mph with several gusts over 70 mph.
In advance of the first cold front, much above normal temperatures occurred on the 11th with highs in the 90s for many locations which brought about several records.  Sisseton tied their all-time record high for October with 95 degrees. The extremely dry conditions, heat, low humidity, combined with the high winds brought extreme fire danger to the region on the 11th. Several fires occurred during the late afternoon and evening of the 11th. The first burst of high winds along a cold front on the 11th lofted a large amount of dust to over 5000 feet as it moved from west to east across the region. The visibility was reduced to a half mile at times in blowing dust across parts of central and northeast South Dakota. Some of the highest wind gusts include: 63 mph at Pierre, 69 mph near Long Lake, 70 mph near Summit, 72 mph north of Vivian, and 75 mph south of Bullhead in Corson county.

High Wind in STANLEY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 12-OCT-15 08:45:00 to 12-OCT-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in JONES, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 12-OCT-15 08:45:00 to 12-OCT-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

High Wind in LYMAN, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 11-OCT-15 14:59:00 to 12-OCT-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in HUGHES, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 11-OCT-15 14:35:00 to 12-OCT-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

High Wind in SULLY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 11-OCT-15 15:00:00 to 12-OCT-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

High Wind in POTTER, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 12-OCT-15 03:00:00 to 12-OCT-15 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in WALWORTH, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 12-OCT-15 02:00:00 to 12-OCT-15 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

High Wind in CAMPBELL, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 12-OCT-15 01:20:00 to 12-OCT-15 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in MCPHERSON, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 12-OCT-15 02:10:00 to 12-OCT-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 60.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in EDMUNDS, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 12-OCT-15 03:50:00 to 12-OCT-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in FAULK, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 12-OCT-15 04:00:00 to 12-OCT-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

High Wind in HYDE, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 12-OCT-15 08:30:00 to 12-OCT-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in HAND, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 12-OCT-15 03:20:00 to 12-OCT-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in BUFFALO, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 12-OCT-15 04:00:00 to 12-OCT-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

High Wind in BROWN, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 11-OCT-15 15:24:00 to 12-OCT-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

High Wind in SPINK, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 11-OCT-15 16:00:00 to 12-OCT-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

High Wind in MARSHALL, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 12-OCT-15 04:00:00 to 12-OCT-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in DAY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 12-OCT-15 04:50:00 to 12-OCT-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in CLARK, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 12-OCT-15 05:50:00 to 12-OCT-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in ROBERTS, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 12-OCT-15 04:40:00 to 12-OCT-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in GRANT, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 12-OCT-15 06:00:00 to 12-OCT-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in DEUEL, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 12-OCT-15 06:40:00 to 12-OCT-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in CODINGTON, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 12-OCT-15 06:30:00 to 12-OCT-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

High Wind in HAMLIN, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 12-OCT-15 07:00:00 to 12-OCT-15 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

High Wind in CORSON, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 11-OCT-15 16:06:00 to 12-OCT-15 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 65.00 MG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in DEWEY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 11-OCT-15 16:00:00 to 12-OCT-15 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public