This Day in Weather History: December 12th

On This Day In

                   Weather History

December 12th

Local and Regional Events:

December 12, 1968:

An intense blizzard visited most of South Dakota and Minnesota on the 12th and 13th of December. The storm began in the western part of South Dakota on the morning of the 12th then spread into the eastern part of the state and west central Minnesota by that afternoon, where it continued into the morning of the 13th. Freezing rain preceded snow, and in west central Minnesota, with thunder and lightning as well. Winds of over 50 mph caused blowing and drifting snow, which occasionally reduced visibilities to near zero. Gusts reached 70 mph in many places. Temperatures were falling to near zero during the day also resulted in dangerously low wind chills, particularly in Minnesota. The eastern half of South Dakota into west central Minnesota experienced the most severe blizzard conditions. Many schools were closed, and most other activities were greatly curtailed.

Automobile accidents were numerous across the area. Multiple utility lines were downed, and power and telephone outages were numerous due to the high winds. Power outages from less than an hour up to 12 hours were common across Minnesota. Snowfall ranged from around one inch in western South Dakota, to five inches in eastern South Dakota, to five to ten inches in west central Minnesota. One death in South Dakota was attributed to the storm when a man died of exposure to the cold near Allen in southwest South Dakota. In Minnesota, one man was found frozen to death near his car after it had run into the ditch several miles northwest of Boyd in Lac Qui Parle County. Another man was killed by a train when his vehicle became stalled on a railroad crossing at Hancock. 5 inches of snow fell at Watertown, Sisseton, and Webster with 6 inches at Clear Lake.

U.S.A and Global Events for December 12th:

December 12, 1967:

From December 12th through the 20^th, Flagstaff, Arizona, a series of snowstorms buries Flagstaff with nearly 85 inches of snow. Click HERE for images.

A meteorologist from the Pulliam Airport station of the National Weather Service stands outside the building after an 8-day storm in December 1967 dropped 84 inches of snow on Flagstaff. (Photo courtesy of the NAU, Cline Library, Special Collections and Archives, Fronske Collection).

Click HERE for more This Day in Weather History from the Southeast Regional Climate Center.