National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Unsettled Weather in the West; Wintry Mix and Ice Accumulation Possible in Iowa and Vicinity

Significant low elevation rain and higher elevation snow is expected across central California and the Pacific Northwest into the Rockies through the weekend. A wintry mix and some ice accumulation will impact portions of the Central Plains through the Upper Midwest through Saturday. Widespread rain is forecast across the Southern Plains into the Mid-Mississippi and Ohio valleys this weekend. Read More >

Overview

A powerful storm system impacted central and eastern South Dakota as well as western Minnesota from Sunday, March 4th through Tuesday, March 6th. This system brought a wide range of precipitation types, including rain, hail, sleet, ice pellets and snow! Thundersnow was reported late Sunday/early Monday morning across parts of northeast South Dakota. Many locations reported over 10 inches of snow when it was all said and done. For central South Dakota strong winds with gusts in excess of 50 mph combined with falling snow to create blizzard conditions. I-90 was closed from Murdo to Sioux Falls and I-29 was closed from the North Dakota border to the Iowa border on March 5th, and didn't re-open until the morning of the 6th. Travel was difficult or impossible on other state and county roads as well. Many schools cancelled class on both the 5th and 6th.

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Blizzard Conditions on Highway 83 outside of Fort Pierre, SD.

Photos courtesy of Zach Nelson, River Front Broadcasting

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