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Heat Wave Expands to the East Coast; Flash Flooding Likely in the Central Plains into the Midwest; Severe Thunderstorms in the Northeast

Dangerous, prolonged heat is ongoing in the Mid-South to Mid-Mississippi Valley and heat expands into the Northeast for a brief period today. Widely scattered instances of flash flooding due to heavy rains are forecast from northeast Kansas to much of Indiana. Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across parts of New England, northern Mid-Atlantic, and North Dakota. Read More >

Overview

A complex, slow-moving upper-level disturbance brought several rounds of snowfall to eastern Wyoming and western South Dakota from early on February 15th through the day on February 17th. The most significant accumulations during the event occurred within a band of heavy snow over the northwest South Dakota plains on the 16th, which brought localized snowfall rates of over two inches per hour at times. Snowfall totals over the three days exceeded a foot in many locations over northwestern South Dakota, with a general decrease in amounts towards the southwest. Highest amounts were measured in Perkins County, where over 20" of snowfall occurred.

The amounts of snowfall and moisture with this system were impressive for this time of year. In fact, several locations broke records for daily or monthly precipitation and/or snowfall amounts during this event:

  • Rapid City Regional Airport: 0.35" liquid/5.2" snow (2/15)
  • Downtown Rapid City: 0.28" liquid/4.4" snow (2/15)
  • Buffalo, SD ASOS: 0.66" liquid (2/16, record for February)
  • Faith, SD ASOS: 0.63" liquid (2/16, record for February)

 

Photo

Meadow, SD
Courtesy of Shane Y.

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