A volatile environment featured a warm front from parts of east central South Dakota into western Minnesota, with a dryline extending to the southwest into Nebraska.  With a very strong wave moving northeast through Nebraska into a highly unstable and highly sheared environment, scattered storms initiated and quickly grew upscale to a broad linear structure with damaging winds.  With crop development well behind schedule and many fields yet to be planted, there was ample dirt available to be lofted into the leading edge of the storms, which took on the characteristics of a haboob reducing visibility to near zero at the onset of high winds.
A broad swath of winds from 70 to 100 mph devastated much of southeast South Dakota, and portions of southwest Minnesota, northeast Nebraska and northwest Iowa, causing extensive tree and structural damage and scores of injuries. The highest observed wind gust was 107 mph near Tripp, SD. In addition, vehicles and high profile vehicles were blown off several roads, shutting down traffic on Interstates 29 and 90. Two (direct) fatalities occurred in vehicles impacted by debris as the storms moved into the Sioux Falls area. Power was disrupted in a widespread area, with estimates of over 45,000 customers impacted at one time. Many schools were closed due to damage and power issues. The South Dakota Governor requested and was granted a Presidential Disaster Declaration for damage to public infrastructure at an estimated cost of 6.7 million dollars across 20 counties and two reservations. Private losses were a much higher toll, and just one of the impacted counties (McCook) estimated at least 150 to 175 million dollars in damage. Presidential Disaster Declarations were also granted in Dixon County, Nebraska and Lincoln County, Minnesota.
Following the afternoon line of storms, a secondary band of storms developed near the core of the upper level jet across eastern Nebraska in the early evening hours.  These storms also quickly become severe, with a mix of large hail, damaging wind, and even an isolated tornado near Sioux City. This cluster of storms moved through far southeast South Dakota, northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota during the evening.

Thunderstorm Wind in ROCK, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 16:19:00 to 12-MAY-22 16:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEAVER CREEK
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Crop damage: 2.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

A thunderstorm wind gust of 72 mph was measured by Minnesota Road Weather Information System site MN005 1 mile west-southwest Beaver Creek. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Thunderstorm Wind in PIPESTONE, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 16:31:00 to 12-MAY-22 16:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: TROSKY
Magnitude: 70.00 MG
Crop damage: 3.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

A thunderstorm wind gust of 80 mph was measured by the Minnesota Road Weather Information System site near Trosky. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Thunderstorm Wind in LINCOLN, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 16:35:00 to 12-MAY-22 16:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAKE BENTON
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Reported by: Department of Highways

A thunderstorm wind gust of 68 mph was measured by Minnesota Road Weather Information System site MN027 1 mile west-northwest of Lake Benton.

Thunderstorm Wind in ROCK, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 16:25:00 to 12-MAY-22 16:29:00 (CST-6)
Location: LUVERNE ARPT
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

A thunderstorm wind gust of  70 mph was measured by mesonet site FW5856 3 miles west-southwest of Luverne.

Thunderstorm Wind in ROCK, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 19:14:00 to 12-MAY-22 19:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAGNOLIA
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Reported by: Department of Highways

A thunderstorm wind gust of 58 mph was measured by a Minnesota Road Weather Information System site 1 mile south of Magnolia.

Thunderstorm Wind in MURRAY, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 19:40:00 to 12-MAY-22 19:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: SLAYTON
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Reported by: AWOS

A thunderstorm wind gust of 61 mph was measured by Automated Weather Observing System site KDVP 1 mile west-southwest of Slayton.

Thunderstorm Wind in PIPESTONE, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 19:27:00 to 12-MAY-22 19:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: TROSKY
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Reported by: Department of Highways

A thunderstorm wind gust of 63 mph was measured by the Minnesota Road Weather Information System site at Trosky.

Thunderstorm Wind in LYON, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 16:43:00 to 12-MAY-22 16:46:00 (CST-6)
Location: FLORENCE
Magnitude: 70.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

A thunderstorm wind gust of 80 mph was measured by Minnesota Road Weather Information System site at Florence.

Thunderstorm Wind in LINCOLN, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 19:43:00 to 12-MAY-22 19:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAKE BENTON
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Reported by: Department of Highways

A thunderstorm wind gust of 62 mph was measured by Minnesota Road Weather Information System site MN027 1 mile west-northwest of Lake Benton.

Thunderstorm Wind in LYON, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 16:54:00 to 12-MAY-22 16:58:00 (CST-6)
Location: TAUNTON
Magnitude: 70.00 MG
Reported by: Department of Highways

A thunderstorm wind gust of 81 mph was measured by Minnesota Road Weather Information System site near Taunton.

Thunderstorm Wind in ROCK, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 16:30:00 to 12-MAY-22 16:34:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAGNOLIA
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Reported by: Department of Highways

A thunderstorm wind gust of 70 mph was measured by a Minnesota Road Weather Information System site 1 mile west-southwest of Magnolia.

Thunderstorm Wind in ROCK, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 19:02:00 to 12-MAY-22 19:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEAVER CREEK
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Reported by: Department of Highways

A thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph was measured by Minnesota Road Weather Information System site 1 mile west-southwest of Beaver Creek.

Thunderstorm Wind in LYON, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 19:41:00 to 12-MAY-22 19:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: FLORENCE
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Reported by: Department of Highways

A thunderstorm wind gust of 59 mph was measured by the Minnesota Road Weather Information System site near Florence.

Thunderstorm Wind in LYON, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 16:53:00 to 12-MAY-22 16:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: LYND
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A second floor balcony of a historic hotel building was removed by a large tree limb displaced by thunderstorm wind gusts.

Thunderstorm Wind in MURRAY, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 16:53:00 to 12-MAY-22 16:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAKE WILSON
Magnitude: 78.00 EG
Reported by: Broadcast Media

The roof was partially removed from a house in Lake Wilson.

Thunderstorm Wind in LYON, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 16:54:00 to 12-MAY-22 16:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: MINNEOTA
Magnitude: 78.00 EG
Reported by: Broadcast Media

High winds downed numerous trees and damaged several buildings in Minneota. The roof was torn off the Auto Center.  One direct injury resulted to a driver when his semi-truck was blown into the ditch and rolled 3 miles east of Minneota. A second direct injury occurred when a person was blown down by the wind.

Thunderstorm Wind in LINCOLN, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 16:34:00 to 12-MAY-22 16:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAKE BENTON
Magnitude: 78.00 EG
Reported by: Public

Large sections of the roof on a single-family home were blown off by thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind in COTTONWOOD, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 17:28:00 to 12-MAY-22 17:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: JEFFERS
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Reported by: Department of Highways

A thunderstorm wind gust of 62 mph was measured by Minnesota Road Weather Information System site MN070 4 miles east-northeast of Jeffers.

Thunderstorm Wind in COTTONWOOD, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 20:01:00 to 12-MAY-22 20:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: JEFFERS
Magnitude: 64.00 MG
Reported by: Department of Highways

A thunderstorm wind gust of 74 mph was measured by Minnesota Road Weather Information System site MN070 4 miles east-northeast of Jeffers.

Thunderstorm Wind in ROCK, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 16:23:00 to 12-MAY-22 16:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: LUVERNE ARPT
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Reported by: AWOS

A thunderstorm wind gust of 68 mph was measured by Automated Weather Observing System site KLYV 3 miles south of Luverne.

Thunderstorm Wind in NOBLES, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 17:14:00 to 12-MAY-22 17:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROUND LAKE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Reported by: Public

Several 3 inch diameter branches were downed by thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind in LYON, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 16:58:00 to 12-MAY-22 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: (MML)RYAN FLD MARSHA
Magnitude: 68.00 MG
Reported by: AWOS

A thunderstorm wind gust of 78 mph was measured by Automated Weather Observing System site KMML 1 mile west of Marshall.

Thunderstorm Wind in COTTONWOOD, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 17:18:00 to 12-MAY-22 17:19:00 (CST-6)
Location: STORDEN
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A brief gustnado developed along the storm outflow, but no damage was noted.

Thunderstorm Wind in LYON, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 20:01:00 to 12-MAY-22 20:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: (MML)RYAN FLD MARSHA
Magnitude: 69.00 MG
Reported by: AWOS

A thunderstorm wind gust of 79 mph was measured by Automated Weather Observing System site KMML 1 mile west of Marshall.

Thunderstorm Wind in LYON, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 17:00:00 to 12-MAY-22 17:04:00 (CST-6)
Location: GHENT
Magnitude: 74.00 EG
Reported by: Public

The walls collapsed on a farm outbuilding.

Thunderstorm Wind in MURRAY, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 17:08:00 to 12-MAY-22 17:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: DOVRAY
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Reported by: Department of Highways

A thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph was measured by Minnesota Road Weather Information System site MN038 2 miles west of Dovray.

Thunderstorm Wind in MURRAY, MINNESOTA
From 12-MAY-22 19:48:00 to 12-MAY-22 19:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: DOVRAY
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Reported by: Department of Highways

A thunderstorm wind gust of 63 mph was measured by Minnesota Road Weather Information System site MN038 2 miles west of Dovray.