Weather Service confirms tornado made direct hit on South Dakota town; no injuries reported

WESSINGTON SPRINGS, S.D. – The National Weather Service says a confirmed tornado has hit a small town in central South Dakota.

Warning co-ordination meteorologist Todd Heitkamp says law enforcement in Wessington Springs reported the tornado went right “through the heart of town.” It hit just before 8 p.m.

Heitkamp says homes and businesses have been damaged but no injuries have been reported. He says law enforcement officials are doing house-to-house checks in the town.

Confirmed tornadoes also touched down nearby, outside the towns of Woonsocket and Alpena. Heitkamp says the extent of damages there was not immediately known.

Wessington Springs is about 125 miles northwest of Sioux Falls and has a population of about 1,000.

Heitkamp says the chance tornadoes will continue in east, central and southeast South Dakota through 10 or 11 p.m.

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