Sioux Falls, SD (KICD)– The focus of the fourth day of Severe Weather Awareness Week turns to perhaps the most common cause of a thunderstorm being deemed severe: hail and wind.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Peter Rogers says while strong winds and hail can be dangerous at lesser magnitudes, there are specific qualifications that make a storm severe.

Rogers says more attention is also being put on some of the stronger storms producing wind and hail that can almost be worse than tornadoes.

Although severe thunderstorms can occur at any time of the year, the most prevalent months in our region tend to be April through July.