As reported by Wireless Estimator,

The guyed tower, constructed in 1973 and owned by SBA Communications, supported antennas for major carriers including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Its collapse late Monday night effectively severed wireless connectivity across parts of the rural county. Photos released by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office show the tower crumpled to the ground like a twisted metal skeleton.

Local officials likened the storm to a derecho, with straight-line winds strong enough to rival weaker tornadoes. The damage wasn’t limited to the tower—barns were flattened, trees uprooted, and roofs ripped from homes and businesses. Yet, despite the severe destruction, no fatalities or serious injuries were reported.

The now-fallen tower had been built under the ANSI/EIA RS-222-C standard, which used an 115 mph “fastest-mile” wind speed model common in the early '70s. While nearby weather stations clocked wind gusts in the 65–70 mph range, emergency responders believe that localized wind bursts far exceeded those readings, causing the structural failures seen across the region.

A temporary cell site has been deployed as cleanup begins and assessments continue. For many in rural South Dakota, the incident underscores the importance—and vulnerability—of telecommunications infrastructure in the face of increasingly volatile weather.

What’s Next?

As severe weather events grow more frequent and intense, there may be renewed scrutiny on aging towers, particularly those constructed under older design standards. The South Dakota incident could serve as a case study for how wind load calculations and structural reinforcements must evolve in the age of climate-driven extremes.