For the first time in a little more than a week, we were not within an area forecasted for active severe weather. The main focus was towards the ArkLaMiss area (Arkansas, Louisianna, & Mississippi) as a large and persistent MCS developed from the previous day’s severe weather was heading southeast towards that area and away from us.
But the next day was forecasted to have severe weather along the Missouri River in Western Iowa, Eastern South Dakota, Southwestern Minnesota, Eastern Nebraska, and some portions of Kansas and Missouri. My forecast team was up for the day, and we wanted to set up for this severe weather for the next day. We also wanted to make the day more than just a travel day, so we decided to drive to the Badlands National Park.
Dare I say the Badlands are beautiful! We got to see these beautiful natural rock formations that have historical value as well!
We even got to see some prairie dogs!
And we took a picture in front of a giant prairie dog!
After viewing the Badlands (and some prairie dogs), we continued to our target for the night, Sioux Falls. This would put us in a good location for the next day’s severe weather.
Other than encountering a large swarm of bugs on the road (which sounded like a hailstorm driving through), it was quiet for the rest of the drive. We eventually arrived at our hotel in Sioux Falls, but not before going on a Weird Al Yankovich listening spree for an hour (long story short, Dr. Decker requested a Weird Al Yankovich song and it all went downhill from there). We checked in a little later this time around because of the long drive, so we quickly went to bed to get enough sleep for the next day’s active weather.
Meteorologist Kyle David 
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