On August 28, 1884, a tornado outbreak, including a family of at least five strong tornadoes, affected portions of the Dakota Territory within present-day South Dakota. Among them was one of the first known tornadoes to have been photographed, an estimated F4 on the Fujita scale, that occurred near Howard and exhibited multiple vortices. Another violent tornado also occurred near Alexandria, and three other tornadoes were also reported. A sixth tornado also occurred in present-day Davison County. In all, the tornadoes killed at least seven people and injured at least two others. Contemporary records and survivors' recollections indicate that the storms were F3 or F4 intensity on the Fujita scale, but cannot currently be officially verified, as official records begin in 1950.

Confirmed tornadoes

August 28 event + Confirmed tornadoes – August 28, 1884F#LocationCounty / ParishStateTime (UTC)Path length widthSummary F2Carthage to W of HowardMinerSD20:00–?This was the first of five tornadoes to form from a supercell that tracked across portions of five counties in present-day South Dakota. Tornado destroyed a farmhouse and a barn, killing up to 30 cattle nearby. One person may have died. F3E of HuronBeadle, SanbornSD21:15–?1 death – Tornado destroyed six or more barns and farmhouses. One person was injured. F4NNW of Forestburg to W of Howard to Long LakeSanborn, Miner, HansonSD22:00–?1 death – See article on this tornado F4Alexandria to S of BridgewaterHanson, HutchinsonSD22:30–?4 deaths – Tornado demolished one farm, located south of Bridgewater. All fatalities occurred there. One person was found away. F2W of Sioux FallsMinnehahaSD23:30–?1 death – Tornado affected three farmsteads, one of which it destroyed, along with barns on the other farmsteads. FUMitchellDavisonSDTornado reported.

Howard, South Dakota

This was one of the first tornadoes of which there is a photograph. The photographer was F. N. Robinson, who observed the tornado from a street in the town of Howard, about east of the storm track. Tornado obliterated a home near Forestburg and killed at least 30 cattle. One person was injured. Two or more tornadoes may have been involved., during the afternoon and evening hours of Thursday , August 28, 1884, an F4 tornado would hit the city of Howard, South Dakota. this tornado is notable for being one of the first tornadoes to have a photograph taken of it by F. N. Robinson. There was likely another photographer from Huron who took multiple photographs of the same tornado an hour prior. However, they were lost or destroyed during the engraving process. the tornado would kill one person and injure another over an approximate 30 mile path

it was estimated that the tornado was first spotted at about 5:00 PM CDT and was likely on the ground for at least 2 hours. it would also hit a house, completely obliterating it, killing 30 cattle in the process. See also List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks List of notable media in the field of meteorology

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