WATERTOWN, S.D.(KELO.com) —The National Weather Service has confirmed an Independence Day tornado northwest of Aberdeen.
The tornado touched down three miles northwest of Wetonka, in McPherson County at 7:35 p.m. Saturday, and stayed on the ground for more than 2 ½ miles, carving a path of destruction 150 yards wide.
The heaviest damage was sustained at the Grassland Hutterite Colony, where a large machine shop lost a roof and wall. An anchored grain bin was completely removed from its base, and an adjacent feed mill had extensive damage. Additionally, a 400 foot by 80-foot turkey barn was completely destroyed, along with a smaller outbuilding.
Debris was scattered in many directions.
The National Weather Service rated the tornado an EF-2 on the Fujita scale, meaning it had winds estimated between 111 and 135 miles per hour.
(Mike Tanner, KWAT, contributed this report.)
