Lake effect snow will continue into the weekend as two more quick moving systems will bring widespread snow to the Upper Great Lakes. High winds are expected across portions of Montana through the weekend. Below normal temperatures will remain in place across much of the southern and eastern U.S., while the western U.S. will experience above normal temperatures. Read More >
A complex and intense spring storm system tracked across the northern plains on March 31st, 2014. The storm system was about 6-12 hours slower to arrive than originally anticipated - but managed to pack a powerful punch! Snow developed across west-central South Dakota during the morning hours on Monday, with a light wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet, and snow occurring across eastern South Dakota. As winds increased out of the north-northwest, the combination of moderate to heavy snow and wind speeds in excess of 50 mph quickly led to widespread blizzard conditions west of the Missouri River by noon. The snow and wind gradually spread eastward, resulting in the onset of blizzard conditions from early afternoon to early evening across eastern South Dakota and west-central Minnesota. Visibility was reduced below one quarter mile in most areas, with complete white-out conditions at times. Storm total snowfall amounts were significant, ranging from 6 to 10 inches near the North Dakota border, to 1 to 4 inches along and south of Interstate 90.
In addition to the snow, a few thunderstorms developed over far eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota. Several reports of dime to nickel sized hail were reported, along with funnel clouds and even a confirmed tornado touchdown. What was even more amazing - is that this tornado occurred in an area that received blizzard conditions just a few hours later! This just exemplifies the intense and energetic nature of this storm system.
Below is a tabular and graphic display of the storm total snowfall reported across the area, along with a listing of highest wind speeds.
Storm Total Snowfall thru 7am on 1 April 2014:
...LATEST STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL REPORTS...
LOCATION AMOUNT TIME/DATE LAT/LON
SISSETON AIRPORT 10.0 IN 0656 AM 04/01 45.67N/97.00W
PIERRE CAPITOL 6.0 IN 0811 AM 04/01 44.36N/100.33W
HAYES 6E 5.0 IN 0800 AM 04/01 44.37N/100.89W
4 W SISSETON 4.6 IN 0700 AM 04/01 45.66N/97.12W
SISSETON 3W 4.6 IN 0700 AM 04/01 45.66N/97.12W
EUREKA-15MI.SE 4.5 IN 0900 AM 04/01 45.57N/99.48W
ROSCOE 4.0 IN 0700 AM 04/01 45.45N/99.35W
WHEATON 3.5 IN 0700 AM 04/01 45.80N/96.48W
1 NE ABERDEEN 3.4 IN 0700 AM 04/01 45.48N/98.47W
ABERDEEN 3E 3.3 IN 0700 AM 04/01 45.46N/98.41W
ABERDEEN REGIONAL AIRPORT 3.3 IN 0653 AM 04/01 45.46N/98.41W
WESTPORT 2 NW 3.0 IN 0700 AM 04/01 45.68N/98.53W
SISSETON-32MI.SW 3.0 IN 1200 AM 04/01 45.33N/97.53W
4 SE HAZEL 3.0 IN 0830 AM 04/01 44.70N/97.33W
1 SSW ABERDEEN 3.0 IN 0700 AM 04/01 45.45N/98.49W
2 SSE CLAREMONT 2.8 IN 0700 AM 04/01 45.64N/98.00W
PIERRE-38MI.SW 2.5 IN 0900 AM 04/01 43.88N/100.72W
2 ENE SANDY SHORE STATE PARK 2.4 IN 0700 AM 04/01 44.91N/97.21W
DAM 2.0 IN 0800 AM 04/01 45.87N/96.57W
MILBANK 2.0 IN 0730 AM 04/01 45.22N/96.63W
9 NW GANN VALLEY 2.0 IN 0800 AM 04/01 44.08N/99.15W
7 SW CEDAR CREEK REC AREA 2.0 IN 0700 AM 04/01 44.07N/100.01W
2 SSW WESTOVER 2.0 IN 0900 AM 04/01 43.72N/100.68W
8 WNW GANN VALLEY 1.8 IN 0700 AM 04/01 44.08N/99.13W
8 W AMES 1.7 IN 0700 AM 04/01 44.30N/99.26W
HAYTI 1W 1.6 IN 0800 AM 04/01 44.66N/97.23W
CASTLEWOOD NO. 2 1.5 IN 0800 AM 04/01 44.73N/97.03W
2 NW SPOTTSWOOD 1.5 IN 0800 AM 04/01 44.68N/98.53W
12 N HIGHMORE 1.5 IN 0700 AM 04/01 44.70N/99.41W
PRESHO 1.5 IN 0700 AM 04/01 43.90N/100.06W
ROSCOE 1.1 IN 0700 AM 04/01 45.45N/99.34W
TURTON 1.0 IN 0700 AM 04/01 45.05N/98.10W
18 N HOLABIRD 1.0 IN 0700 AM 04/01 44.78N/99.57W
LEOLA (SDSU) 0.9 IN 0700 AM 04/01 45.72N/98.93W
WATERTOWN 2 S 0.7 IN 0800 AM 04/01 44.87N/97.12W
3 E WATERTOWN 0.5 IN 0700 AM 04/01 44.91N/97.11W
GANN VALLEY 0.5 IN 0800 AM 04/01 44.03N/98.99W
DOLAND 0.4 IN 0800 AM 04/01 44.87N/98.10W
OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING
EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURE. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.
Peak Wind Gusts from 31 March 2014:
LOCATION SPEED TIME/DATE LAT/LON EUREKA 13 NE (SAND LAKE RAWS) 62 MPH 0515 PM 03/31 45.88N/99.41W 6 W HENRY 62 MPH 0730 PM 03/31 44.88N/97.58W CRAVEN CORNER 60 MPH 1220 PM 03/31 45.45N/98.93W SISSETON AIRPORT 59 MPH 1157 PM 03/31 45.67N/97.00W 1 S GETTYSBURG 58 MPH 0655 PM 03/31 44.99N/99.95W 1 WNW MELLETTE 58 MPH 0720 PM 03/31 45.16N/98.51W 4 S RICHMOND LAKE REC AREA 58 MPH 0504 PM 03/31 45.47N/98.62W HILLHEAD 3 WSW 57 MPH 0959 PM 03/31 45.80N/97.45W 1 WSW SUMMIT 57 MPH 0740 PM 03/31 45.30N/97.06W 12 N VIVIAN 57 MPH 0459 PM 03/31 44.12N/100.30W HAYTI 56 MPH 0924 PM 03/31 44.66N/97.20W 3 SE RELIANCE 56 MPH 0350 PM 03/31 43.85N/99.56W FAULKTON 55 MPH 0555 PM 03/31 45.03N/99.11W WATERTOWN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT 55 MPH 0718 PM 03/31 44.91N/97.15W 3 SSW WHITLOCKS BAY REC AREA 54 MPH 0330 PM 03/31 45.01N/100.29W ABERDEEN REGIONAL AIRPORT 53 MPH 0214 PM 03/31 45.46N/98.41W 6 SSW PEEVER 53 MPH 0540 PM 03/31 45.46N/96.99W 2W OACOMA 53 MPH 1230 PM 03/31 43.80N/99.42W 5E ORIENT 53 MPH 0540 PM 03/31 44.90N/98.98W 4 W TRAIL CITY 53 MPH 1210 PM 03/31 45.47N/100.81W 11 S BULLHEAD 52 MPH 0306 PM 03/31 45.61N/101.06W 7 N FREDERICK 52 MPH 0540 PM 03/31 45.93N/98.51W 1 SW BOWDLE 51 MPH 0531 PM 03/31 45.44N/99.68W 1 E HARROLD 51 MPH 0550 PM 03/31 44.52N/99.72W 3 S WEBSTER 51 MPH 0855 PM 03/31 45.29N/97.51W 5 E DANFORTH 51 MPH 0441 PM 03/31 44.24N/98.77W ANDOVER 50 MPH 0520 PM 03/31 45.41N/97.91W 2 N HERREID 50 MPH 0230 PM 03/31 45.87N/100.07W MOBRIDGE MUNI AP 49 MPH 0202 PM 03/31 45.55N/100.41W 7 ENE DEMPSTER 48 MPH 1230 AM 04/01 44.66N/98.82W LEOLA 48 MPH 0137 PM 03/31 45.72N/98.93W 2 SSE MAHTO 48 MPH 0925 AM 03/31 45.74N/100.66W 13 NNW SANSARC 48 MPH 1040 AM 03/31 44.67N/101.14W 1 WNW SAINT LAWRENCE 47 MPH 0855 PM 03/31 44.53N/98.96W PIERRE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT 47 MPH 1220 PM 03/31 44.38N/100.29W 4 SSE CANNING 46 MPH 0430 PM 03/31 44.35N/100.00W 4 SW WALLACE 46 MPH 0745 PM 03/31 45.04N/97.55W 7 S CLAREMONT 45 MPH 0630 PM 03/31 45.57N/98.03W 1 NW HIGHMORE 45 MPH 0518 PM 03/31 44.53N/99.45W MCINTOSH 45 MPH 0724 AM 03/31 45.92N/101.35W OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURE. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.