GALLERY: Box Elder residents deal with flash flooding

BOX ELDER, S.D. — A line of strong thunderstorms passed through the Black Hills Friday afternoon, bringing lightning, heavy rain, wind, and small hail. Box Elder was hit particularly hard with torrents of rain and small hail.

60 mile-per-hour winds were recorded at Ellsworth Air Force Base, along with several inches of rain in less than an hour for portions of Box Elder.

Prairie Ridge Golf Course was mostly underwater, which was draining underneath North Ellsworth Road and causing major flooding at the Valley Village Mobile Home Park.

Residents in Valley Village Mobile Home Park watch the floodwaters pour past their homes following a severe thunderstorm on Friday, July 1, 2022. (photo by Darsha Nelson, NewsCenter1)

Further up North Ellsworth Road, residents in Raider Pointe were out of power, as water came across the road, flooding backyards and basements. Water was up to the roadway on the base-side North Ellsworth Road, and was coming across the driveway at the Box Elder Post Office.

Some residents in Raider Pointe had waist-high water in their backyards, and were without power for a time Friday afternoon, July 1, 2022. (photo by Darsha Nelson, NewsCenter1)

Ellsworth Air Force Base, Antelope Ridge, and many other parts of Box Elder flooded, too.

Here’s a look at Liberty Boulevard during the storm, courtesy of Jauhn Maurie:

Liberty Boulevard in Box Elder experienced severe flooding during Friday’s storm. (photo courtesy: Jauhn Maurie)

It’s just a reminder of how fast and strong storms can be in Western South Dakota. No injuries were reported at the time of writing.

Saturday and Sunday are expected to bring more chances of strong thunderstorms for the Black Hills, with heavy rain being one of the potential impacts.

When storms are in the forecast, make sure you have a way to receive warnings and updated information.

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