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

 

The winter of 1996-97 was a harsh and prolonged, once in a generation type winter across central and northeastern South Dakota and west central Minnesota, with repeated instances of heavy snow, icing, extreme cold, strong winds, low visibilities, and very large snowdrifts and snow depths. Daily life was severely disrupted, and those who lived through it often have stories to tell. It began on October 26th, when a strong low pressure area came up from the southwest and produced up to 6 inches of heavy snow and wind gusts up to 50 mph in Corson County, which downed over 100 power poles and left several hundred people without power. Meanwhile severe weather with large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes impacted northeast South Dakota and west central Minnesota. From November 1996 through April 1997, winter storm after winter storm affected central, north central and northeast South Dakota as well as west central Minnesota, which resulted in record snowfall and cold, blizzard conditions, massive snow drifts, and several bouts of icing from freezing rain. While there were many significant winter weather events through the course of the winter, as detailed further down the page, keep in mind there were also numerous additional instances of impactful lighter snow and blowing snow episodes along with persistent cold as well. By late March and early April, rapid snowmelt resulted in record flooding across many area rivers and record high water levels on area lakes. 

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Large snow drift at the back exit of the NWS Aberdeen, SD weather forecast office on January 24th, 1997
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