Aberdeen, SD

Weather Forecast Office

March 13-14, 2019 Blizzard in Review

Overview

A low pressure system of rare intensity tracked across the Great Plains on Wednesday, March 13th and Thursday, March 14th 2019. Significant weather hazards began across South Dakota during the morning of the 13th as a broad arc of heavy precipitation moved from south to north. A rain/snow line was in place through much of the day, generally along the western side of the James Valley. Heavy rain of generally 1 to 2" as well as freezing rain (namely in and around Summit, which suffered tree damage) affected those to the east of this line, and heavy snow of generally 6 to 12" fell to the west of it. Strong and widespread north wind gusts of 45 to 70 mph developed during the evening of the 13th and lasted through much of the day on the 14th. Temperatures cooled during this time, and widespread blizzard conditions were observed across our forecast area. Severe snow drifts of up to 12 feet or higher were left in the storm's wake by the 15th across portions of central South Dakota. Impacts included minor flooding, countless vehicles in ditches, widespread road closures for extended periods (including portions of I-90), as well as power outages. This event capped off an incredibly snowy February and start to March, further setting the stage for potential springtime flooding.

Event review pages from other offices can be found here: NWS Pueblo, CO, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO, NWS Rapid City, SD, NWS Grand Forks, ND, NWS Omaha/Valley, NE, and the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources.

Observed snowfall amounts (Friday Night through Sunday Morning - 3/8-10/2019) across northeast South Dakota and west central Minnesota

WPC Surface Analysis from 7am on March 13th to 4pm on March 14th


This powerful storm system produced widespread hazardous weather across the country	SD DOT Road Conditions at 3 PM CDT on Thursday, March 14th, highlighting a large area of road closures.	SD DOT Road Conditions at 10 AM CDT on Friday, March 15th, highlighting the many roads that remained shut down.

Snow, Rain, Wind
Radar, Satellite, Pressure
Photos, Video

Snow, Rain, Wind


Estimated storm total snowfall	Some storm total snowfall reports	Estimated storm total precipitation/liquid equivalent	Some precipitation/liquid equivalent reports

An Areal Flood Warning was issued for Codington County at 522pm CDT March 13th due to heavy rain and melting snow	Some peak wind gust reports	Weather balloon flight path, launched from NWS Aberdeen at 5pm on Wednesday March 13th, 2019	Weather balloon flight path, launched from NWS Aberdeen at 5pm on Wednesday March 13th, 2019

Weather balloon flight path, launched from NWS Aberdeen at 5am on Thursday March 14th, 2019	Weather balloon flight path, launched from NWS Aberdeen at 5am on Thursday March 14th, 2019

Photos, Video


SD DOT Cam from 3 miles north of Agar, at 9am Mar 13, 4pm Mar 13, 12pm Mar 14, and then 6pm Mar 14	SD DOT Cam from Andover, at 9am Mar 13, 4pm Mar 13, 12pm Mar 14, and then 6pm Mar 14	SD DOT Cam from 4 miles west of Blunt, at 9am Mar 13, 4pm Mar 13, 12pm Mar 14, and then 6pm Mar 14	SD DOT Cam from Craven Corner, at 9am Mar 13, 4pm Mar 13, 12pm Mar 14, and then 6pm Mar 14

SD DOT Cam from 3 miles west of Murdo, at 9am Mar 13, 4pm Mar 13, 12pm Mar 14, and then 6pm Mar 14	SD DOT Cam from Tolstoy, at 9am Mar 13, 4pm Mar 13, 12pm Mar 14, and then 6pm Mar 14	SD DOT Cam from 9 miles NNW of Vivian, at 9am Mar 13, 4pm Mar 13, 12pm Mar 14, and then 6pm Mar 14	Blizzard conditions near Frederick at 9am on March 14th, courtesy of Mark Sumption

Minor flooding observed in Watertown on March 13th, courtesy of Alex Resel	Heavy snow measured 14 miles west of Leola at storm's end on March 14th, courtesy of Arlene Swenson	Snow making roads impassable in Corson County at 11am on March 14th, courtesy of the Corson County Sheriff	Semi in the ditch on March 14th, courtesy of the Hand County Sheriff

Semi blocking a portion of I-29 at 8pm on March 14th, courtesy of the SD Highway Patrol	Blizzard conditions on the 14th were widespread and severe on March 14th. Photo courtesy of the SD Highway Patrol	Snow drifts as high as the clothes line in Hosmer by March 15th. Photo courtesy of Elli Haerter	~7 foot drifts across the highway 25 miles southeast of Fort Pierre. Photo taken by Dean VanDeWiele, relayed via the SDDOT

Photo courtesy of the Potter County Sheriff on the early morning of March 14th	Blizzard conditions during the early morning of March 14th, courtesy of the Potter County Sheriff	Photo courtesy of the SD Highway Patrol	Photo courtesy of the SD Highway Patrol on Hwy 12 near Bath on March 14th

Hwy 14, east of Pierre, on March 14th. Photo courtesy of the SD Highway Patrol	Damage after freezing rain and strong winds in Summit. Photo courtesy of Morgan Lewandowski, relayed via Brent Nathaniel	Selby on March 13th, courtesy of the Walworth County Sheriff	Heavy snow/drifting observed by the Walworth County Sheriff

Westport, after the blizzard, courtesy of Julie Daggett-Brotzel	Westport, after the blizzard, courtesy of Julie Dagget-Brotzel	Damage after freezing rain and strong winds 1 mile west of Summit, courtesy of Diane Knutson	12 foot drift in southwest Edmunds County, courtesy of a NWS employee

Radar, Satellite, Pressure


Radar reflectivity with approximate precipitation type from 4am Wed, March 13th through 4pm Thu, March 14th	Approximate rain/snow line as of 3pm on March 13th	GOES-16 Infrared Satellite Imagery from 7am to 1pm CDT on March 13th, from the CIRA RAMMB - SLIDER	Comparison of two very intense, historic storm systems, courtesy of the WPC

A preliminary all-time Colorado state record low pressure was recorded in Lamar: 970.4 mb. Above image from the WPC shows all-time record low pressure values nationwide for comparison	Months in which nationwide all-time record low pressure values have been set, from the WPC

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