Severe weather Wednesday night struck parts of western South Dakota, and a number of people reported seeing a tornado that apparently touched down near Kyle on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

According to a report on the National Weather Service Web site, there were "numerous reports of tornado on ground south of Kyle."

The Web site said there were reports of downed power lines on American Horse Road and that the tornado touched down about 3:10 p.m. about 9 miles southwest of Kyle, then lifted about 3:35 p.m. about 6 miles southeast of the town.

Bennett County dispatcher Cecelia Cottier said that the tornado reportedly touched down between Kyle and Allen at Noflesh and struck a house and a trailer. Nobody was in either building at the time, she said.

Cottier said she wasn't aware of any injuries.

She said she could see the tornado from her location in downtown Martin, calling the funnel cloud "scary."

Jackson County Sheriff Bruce Madsen said he could see funnel clouds that appeared to be in the Kyle area from his Kadoka location.

"I was quite a ways from them, but there was no doubt in my mind they were funnel clouds," Madsen said.

He said there were about 50 storm chasers at the junction of S.D. Highway 73 and S.D. Highway 248 in Kadoka, apparently getting ready to chase the tornado. Madsen said winds in Kadoka reached 50 mph to 55 mph, and he had heard reports of a funnel cloud near Belvidere that hadn't been confirmed.

Tornado watches were in effect in several counties Wednesday, including Jackson, Haakon and Bennett, and severe weather was also reported in other counties.

A member of the National Weather Service in Rapid City said NWS employees were too busy to be interviewed about the storm.

Contact Ryan Woodard at 394-8412 or ryan.woodard@rapidcityjournal.com