Thunderstorm rattles rally

[TexasRed]

That was pretty damn serious! :shock:

Lightning strike injures people at Glenco CampResort; concert canceled

An apparent lightning strike shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday injured two to three people at a motorcycle concert camp east of Sturgis.

Meanwhile, hurricane-strength winds near 70 mph blew down a support bracket that struck a biker riding into a convenience store parking lot in the same area along S.D. Highway 34.

Meade County chief deputy sheriff Tom Wilts said at 10 p.m. that he did not have names or conditions of those injured at the Glencoe CampResort. He said initial reports indicated that the man struck by the banner pole at the Kick Start Travel Center was not seriously injured. All those injured were taken to Sturgis Regional Hospital.

Glencoe ticket booth workers said campground owner Gary Lippold was not available Tuesday night. The storm and other circumstances wiped out one of Glencoe's big rally concerts. Comedian Larry the Cable Guy canceled his appearance earlier in the day; singer John Fogerty got in a sound check shortly before Glencoe officials canceled the performance because of the storm.

The National Weather Service in Rapid City warned that wind-driven rain and hail would hit Sturgis after 6 p.m. The hail did not hit downtown, and despite the hard winds and rain, Wilts said damage was minor and credited rally vendors with setting up better built and anchored tents.

"I really do think we dodged a bullet. It could have been a lot worse, especially if we had gotten the kind of weather they said we would get," Wilts said.

In Sturgis, power was out briefly about 7:30 p.m., and the packed streets emptied as people ducked into downtown businesses or faced the rain by leaving on motorcycles.

The weather service reported 1-inch hail hit east of Piedmont, causing minimal damage. Elsewhere, 1.5-inch hail was reported at Lead and 1-1/4-inch hail mounded in spots up to two feet deep west of Spearfish. Three-quarter-inch hail was reported at Deadwood and Custer as the storm spread throughout the Hills.

The harshest winds were at Rapid City Regional Airport and Box Elder, pegging at 70 mph after 8 p.m.

[TexasRed]

Ominous storm clouds gather Tuesday night over Crow Peak west of Sturgis shortly before bringing high winds, ping-pong ball size hail and heavy rains to areas of the Northern Hills.

[MLC]

hail, somebody mentioned hail? oh fucking no thank you!

that picture brought back memories and made me shudder, that does look like it got real serious.

[speed]

Hail isn't all that bad is it MLC?

SM

[TexasRed]

Hail yeah!

Didnt mean to spook ya MLC :bellylaugh:

[FATboy05]

Originally Posted by MLC

hail, somebody mentioned hail? oh fucking no thank you!

that picture brought back memories and made me shudder, that does look like it got real serious.

DAMMITT that was Hilarious MLC :bellylaugh:

[mrpiff]

For a minute there it made me think MLC was in Sturgis :lol:

[FATboy05]

TFB, and Trish are :shock: