A strong atmospheric river will bring heavy rainfall to California through the holiday week. The heaviest rainfall is expected on Wednesday in the Los Angeles Basin. Flash and urban flooding is possible. A prolonged heavy snowfall is expected in the Sierra Nevada from the atmospheric river, raising concerns for major snow‐load impacts. Travel may be difficult to impossible over the passes. Read More >
Overview
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A strong winter storm created numerous impacts across eastern South Dakota and west central Minnesota on December 28-29, 2019. The heaviest precipitation came in two waves, with the first arriving on during the late evening of December 27th and continuing into December 28th. Behind the first wave of precipitation, there was a period of light snow, drizzle, and freezing drizzle on Saturday for areas of east central South Dakota and west central Minnesota. The second wave of precipitation arrived on the evening of December 28th and continued into December 29th. This second wave of precipitation fell as snow, and when combined with the first wave of snowfall, led to many locations experiencing over 10 inches of snow. In addition to the snow, strong winds developed on December 29th as an intensifying area of low pressure moved into the southern half of Minnesota. This led to wind gusts up to 62 mph in central South Dakota and blizzard conditions between the Missouri River and the western edge of the Prairie Coteau. The combination of the snow and blowing snow severely impacted road conditions and travel across the region, with "No Travel Advised" designated for many state and county roads and even the closure of I-90 and I-29 in parts of South Dakota. |
 Storm total snowfall amounts from late on December 27th through the morning of December 31st, 2019. Amounts based off observations and local storm reports through 10 AM 12/31/2019. |
Photos & Video
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| US-12 West of Groton, SD on December 29, 2019 (SD Highway Patrol) |
Poor travel conditions near Ipswich, SD on the morning of December 28, 2019 (SD Highway Patrol) |
Semi stuck on a closed I-90 on December 29, 2019 (Lyman County Sheriff's Office) |
Road conditions across SD around midnight on December 29, 2019. Roads in red were either closed or "No Travel Advised". (SD DOT) |
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| Brown County, SD - No Travel Advised starting at 4:56 PM on Dec 28, 2019 (Brown County SD EM) |
Webcam looking north on US-281 at Mellette, SD during the day on Dec 29, 2019 and highlighting blizzard conditions. (SD DOT) |
Webcam looking west on US-12 towards Bowdle, SD on December 29, 2019. Blizzard conditions develop around noon as a stronger band of snow moves in. (SD DOT) |
Deep snow in Gettysburg, SD. (Photo courtesy of Pamela Warner) |
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| Snow built up against a door in Ipswich, SD on the morning of December 29th. (Photo courtesy of Tracy Fries Loken) |
Deep snow in N. Eagle Butte, SD. (Photo courtesy of Mj Lamb) |
Front end loader moving snow 9N of Hoven, SD. (Photo courtesy of Angela Bieber) |
Deep snow drifts 9N of Hoven, SD. (Photo courtesy of Angela Bieber) |
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| Snow in Watertown after the storm.. (Photo courtesy of Abby Byer) |
Deep snow 9N of Hoven, SD. (Photo courtesy of Angela Bieber) |
Snow packed up against a door in Blunt, SD. (Photo courtesy of Dannale Norris) |
Radar and Observations
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| Loop of the Surface Pressure from December 28-30th, 2019 | Radar loop during the event. Precipitation type is estimated and doesn't represent the exact precipitation type. | Peak wind gusts on December 29, 2019. |
Storm Reports
...SNOWFALL REPORTS... Location Amount Time/Date Lat/Lon Webster 18.0 in 1100 PM 12/29 45.34N/97.52W Herreid 3 ESE 18.0 in 0700 AM 12/30 45.82N/100.01W Roscoe 16.5 in 0700 AM 12/30 45.45N/99.33W 1 SSE Roy Lake State Park 15.0 in 1251 PM 12/30 45.69N/97.42W 7 NE Roscoe 15.0 in 1200 PM 12/30 45.52N/99.23W Hayes 14.0 in 0700 AM 12/29 44.37N/101.02W Gettysburg 14.0 in 0750 PM 12/29 45.01N/99.95W 4 SE Highmore 14.0 in 1030 PM 12/29 44.48N/99.38W Loyalton 14.0 in 1050 PM 12/29 45.29N/99.28W Eureka 11 WSW 13.6 in 0700 AM 12/30 45.66N/99.80W 6 ESE Sutton Bay Rec Area 13.0 in 0856 PM 12/29 44.84N/100.26W Andover 12.2 in 1200 PM 12/30 45.41N/97.91W Clark 12.2 in 0600 AM 12/30 44.88N/97.74W Hoven 12.0 in 0815 PM 12/29 45.24N/99.78W 7 ESE Long Lake 12.0 in 0400 PM 12/28 45.81N/99.07W Britton 12.0 in 0700 AM 12/30 45.78N/97.75W Onaka 12.0 in 1045 PM 12/29 45.19N/99.46W 4 N Cresbard 12.0 in 0805 PM 12/29 45.23N/98.95W 4 S Garden City 12.0 in 0310 PM 12/30 44.90N/97.58W LaBolt 11.8 in 0700 AM 12/30 45.05N/96.68W Browns Valley 6 N 11.5 in 0700 AM 12/30 45.69N/96.83W Milbank 11.3 in 0730 AM 12/30 45.22N/96.63W 4 SE Indian Creek Rec Area 11.0 in 0815 PM 12/29 45.48N/100.32W 2 W Doland 11.0 in 0800 PM 12/29 44.89N/98.14W Cresbard 11.0 in 0800 PM 12/29 45.17N/98.95W Roscoe 11.0 in 0700 AM 12/29 45.45N/99.34W Watertown 2 E 11.0 in 1000 AM 12/30 44.91N/97.11W Clark 11.0 in 0815 PM 12/29 44.88N/97.73W Aberdeen 1 SSW 10.9 in 0700 AM 12/30 45.45N/98.49W Claremont 2 SSE 10.7 in 0700 AM 12/30 45.64N/98.00W Selby 10.5 in 0700 AM 12/30 45.50N/100.03W Sisseton 3 W 10.1 in 0700 AM 12/30 45.66N/97.12W Eureka 11 WSW 10.1 in 0700 AM 12/29 45.66N/99.80W 3 ESE Aberdeen 10.1 in 1200 PM 12/30 45.46N/98.41W 6 SSW Lowry 10.0 in 0800 PM 12/29 45.24N/100.04W 6 NNW Plainview Colony 10.0 in 1020 PM 12/28 45.66N/99.04W 2.7 E Watertown 10.0 in 0900 AM 12/30 44.90N/97.11W 1 SE Crocker 10.0 in 0830 PM 12/29 45.09N/97.76W Herreid 10.0 in 0850 PM 12/29 45.84N/100.08W Herreid 3 ESE 10.0 in 0700 AM 12/29 45.82N/100.01W Browns Valley 10.0 in 0630 AM 12/30 45.62N/96.83W Aberdeen 3 E 9.8 in 0600 AM 12/30 45.46N/98.41W Watertown 2.3 E 9.6 in 0700 AM 12/30 44.92N/97.12W 3 ESE Aberdeen 9.6 in 1218 AM 12/30 45.46N/98.41W Redfield 9.5 in 0854 PM 12/29 44.87N/98.52W Westport 2 NW 9.5 in 0712 AM 12/29 45.68N/98.53W 4 NW Onida 9.0 in 0510 PM 12/28 44.75N/100.12W 2 E Conde 9.0 in 0530 PM 12/29 45.16N/98.05W Andover 9.0 in 1200 PM 12/29 45.41N/97.91W 3 NW Henry 9.0 in 0835 PM 12/29 44.91N/97.51W 3 NW Henry 9.0 in 0830 PM 12/29 44.91N/97.51W Pollock 9.0 in 0940 PM 12/30 45.90N/100.29W Doland 2 S 8.8 in 0800 AM 12/30 44.87N/98.10W Castlewood 8.6 in 0600 AM 12/30 44.73N/97.03W Selby 8.5 in 0700 AM 12/29 45.50N/100.03W 2 W Milbank 8.5 in 0645 PM 12/29 45.22N/96.68W 2 S Clear Lake 8.5 in 0900 AM 12/29 44.74N/96.68W 8 S Vayland 8.3 in 0530 AM 12/30 44.38N/98.80W Sisseton 8.0 in 0500 PM 12/29 45.66N/97.05W Wallace 8.0 in 0500 PM 12/29 45.09N/97.48W Watertown 8.0 in 0230 PM 12/29 44.91N/97.17W Watertown 2 E 8.0 in 1030 AM 12/29 44.91N/97.11W Aberdeen 3 E 8.0 in 1200 PM 12/29 45.46N/98.41W Ortonville 8.0 in 0153 PM 12/29 45.30N/96.44W Willow Lake 7.8 in 0745 PM 12/29 44.63N/97.64W Clear Lake 7 ESE 7.6 in 0800 AM 12/29 44.73N/96.54W Hayti 1 W 7.4 in 0800 AM 12/30 44.66N/97.23W 11 SW Eureka 7.1 in 0700 AM 12/29 45.66N/99.79W 7 E Okobojo Creek Rec Area 7.0 in 0830 PM 12/29 44.60N/100.32W Britton 7.0 in 0700 AM 12/29 45.78N/97.75W Highmore 7.0 in 1200 PM 12/29 44.52N/99.44W Saint Lawrence 7.0 in 0925 PM 12/29 44.52N/98.94W 3 ESE Aberdeen 7.0 in 0554 AM 12/29 45.46N/98.41W 2 ESE Artichoke 7.0 in 0700 PM 12/29 45.39N/96.12W Aberdeen 1 SSW 6.9 in 0700 AM 12/29 45.45N/98.49W Timber Lake 6.8 in 0600 PM 12/28 45.43N/101.07W Claremont 2 SSE 6.7 in 0700 AM 12/29 45.64N/98.00W Watertown 7.5 NNE 6.5 in 1130 AM 12/29 45.00N/97.09W Castlewood 6.1 in 0900 AM 12/29 44.73N/97.03W 2.7 E Watertown 6.1 in 0900 AM 12/29 44.90N/97.11W Gann Valley 3 NNE 6.1 in 0715 AM 12/30 44.08N/98.97W Browns Valley 6 N 6.0 in 0700 AM 12/29 45.69N/96.83W 2 W Milbank 6.0 in 1200 PM 12/29 45.22N/96.68W Pollock 6.0 in 0700 PM 12/28 45.90N/100.29W Sisseton 3 W 5.7 in 0700 AM 12/29 45.66N/97.12W Milbank 5.3 in 0730 AM 12/29 45.22N/96.63W Kennebec 5.0 in 0600 PM 12/29 43.90N/99.86W Mina 5.0 in 0330 PM 12/28 45.44N/98.76W Presho 0.3 SSW 4.9 in 0700 AM 12/30 43.90N/100.06W Pierre 1 S 4.7 in 0700 AM 12/30 44.35N/100.32W Little Eagle 4.5 in 0700 PM 12/28 45.68N/100.80W Watertown 2.3 E 4.5 in 0700 AM 12/29 44.92N/97.12W Wheaton 4.4 in 0800 AM 12/29 45.80N/96.48W Browns Valley 4.2 in 0645 AM 12/29 45.62N/96.83W Fort Pierre 0.5 SE 4.0 in 0700 AM 12/30 44.36N/100.37W Vivian 7 NNE 4.0 in 0700 AM 12/30 44.04N/100.27W Mclaughlin 4.0 in 0445 PM 12/28 45.81N/100.81W 3 ESE Aberdeen 3.9 in 0600 PM 12/28 45.45N/98.43W Faulkton 3.5 in 0400 PM 12/28 45.03N/99.13W Pierre 1 S 3.2 in 0700 AM 12/29 44.35N/100.32W Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.
Blizzard Reports
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1245 PM Blizzard 4 ESE Akaska 45.31N 100.06W
12/29/2019 Walworth SD Mesonet
FROM LOWRY SD DOT RWIS AND WEBCAM. BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS STARTED AT 1245 PM AND CONTINUED
UNTIL 6 PM. GUSTS UP TO 48 MPH DURING THAT
TIME.
0100 PM Blizzard 2 S Gorman 44.90N 100.08W
12/29/2019 Sully SD Mesonet
FROM AGAR SD DOT RWIS AND WEBCAM. BLIZZARD
STARTED AT 1 PM AND CONTINUED UNTIL 6 PM.
GUSTS OF 50 to 60 MPH DURING THAT TIME.
0900 AM Blizzard 1 WNW Mellette 45.16N 98.51W
12/29/2019 Spink SD Mesonet
FROM MELLETTE SD DOT RWIS AND WEBCAM.
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS STARTED AT 9 AM AND
CONTINUED UNTIL 9 PM. GUSTS OF 40 to 56 MPH
DURING THAT TIME.
1245 PM Blizzard Tolstoy 45.20N 99.61W
12/29/2019 Potter SD Mesonet
FROM TOLSTOY SD DOT RWIS and Webcam. Blizzard
started at 1245 PM and continued until 11PM.
Gusts of 40-50 mph during that time.
1000 AM Blizzard 10 SW Long Lake 45.77N 99.37W
12/29/2019 McPherson SD Mesonet
FROM EUREKA 13E SD DOT RWIS AND WEBCAM.
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS STARTED AT 10 AM AND
CONTINUED UNTIL 11 PM. GUSTS OF 40 to 56 MPH
DURING THAT TIME.
1230 PM Blizzard Roy Lake State Park 45.71N 97.44W
12/29/2019 Marshall SD CO-OP Observer
COOP Observer reported visibilities below a
quarter of a mile between 12:30 PM and 5 PM.
1200 PM Blizzard 17 W Polo 44.78N 99.45W
12/29/2019 Hyde SD Mesonet
FROM JCT SD47 AND SD26 SD DOT RWIS AND
WEBCAM. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS STARTED AT 12 PM
AND CONTINUED UNTIL 11 PM. GUSTS OF 40-55
MPH DURING THAT TIME.
1230 PM Blizzard 5 E Orient 44.90N 98.98W
12/29/2019 Hand SD Mesonet
FROM MIRANDA 5S SD DOT RWIS AND WEBCAM.
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS STARTED AT 1230 PM AND
CONTINUED UNTIL 10 PM. GUSTS OF 35 to 45 MPH
DURING THAT TIME.
1200 PM Blizzard 8 S Vayland 44.38N 98.80W
12/29/2019 Hand SD Trained Spotter
Visibility between 1/4 mile and 200 yards
between Noon and 9 PM.
1230 PM Blizzard Faulkton 45.04N 99.13W
12/29/2019 Faulk SD Mesonet
Blizzard conditions across the county from
1230 PM to 1030 PM. Winds gusted up to 50
mph on weather stations across the county.
1230 PM Blizzard 1 ESE Bowdle 45.45N 99.64W
12/29/2019 Edmunds SD Mesonet
FROM Bowdle SD DOT RWIS AND WEBCAM. BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS STARTED AT 1230 PM AND CONTINUED
UNTIL 1130 PM. GUSTS OF 40 to 53 MPH DURING
THAT TIME.
0100 PM Blizzard Andover 45.42N 97.90W
12/29/2019 Day SD Mesonet
FROM Andover SD DOT RWIS AND WEBCAM.
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS STARTED AT 1 PM AND
CONTINUED UNTIL 6 PM. GUSTS OF 35 to 47 MPH
DURING THAT TIME.
1200 PM Blizzard Clark 44.88N 97.74W
12/29/2019 Clark SD CO-OP Observer
COOP Observer reported visibilities below a
quarter of a mile between 12 PM and 3 PM.
Wind gusts were around 35 mph based off the
Clark RWIS.
0130 PM Blizzard 2 N Herreid 45.87N 100.07W
12/29/2019 Campbell SD Mesonet
FROM Herreid SD DOT RWIS AND WEBCAM.
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS STARTED AT 130 PM AND
CONTINUED UNTIL 6 PM. GUSTS up to 46 MPH
DURING THAT TIME.
1030 AM Blizzard 3 ESE Aberdeen 45.45N 98.42W
12/29/2019 Brown SD ASOS
FROM ASOS station KABR Aberdeen Rgnl AP.
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS STARTED AT 1030 AM AND
CONTINUED UNTIL 445 PM. GUSTS OF 40 to 52
MPH DURING THAT TIME.
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