Power Outage in Belle Fourche, SD

Some power outages were reported in Belle Fourche.

Winds blew down a granary, corral, large tree branches, and power lines at Hoover. A roof was blown off a barn.

A powerful winter storm moved slowly across the central and northern Plains to the upper Midwest; bringing heavy snow, some mixed precipitation, strong winds, and periods of blizzard or near blizzard conditions across the plains for a multi-day period. Snowfall was heaviest from northwestern to south central South Dakota and across the northern Black Hills. Precipitation started as a mix in the form of rain, freezing rain, and freezing drizzle across much of the plains, then changed to snow in most areas by the daytime hours on the 13th. Bands of snow were moderate to heavy at times in many areas, with a very prolonged period of upslope enhanced snowfall across the northern Black Hills. Amounts across the area ranged from one foot to over two feet across much of the plains, with the highest amounts generally from Oglala Lakota County into parts of south central South Dakota. Lesser amounts were noted over portions of southwestern South Dakota, from Rapid City and the central Black Hills to Fall River County, due to predominant downslope winds. The highest amounts were noted across the northern Black Hills area, where 18 to 36 inches were recorded in many areas, with favored locations across the higher elevations received three to four feet or more over several days. Wind gusts of 40 to over 60 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow, with drifts to ten feet noted on the plains. Interstate 90 was closed from the Wyoming/South Dakota state line to the Missouri River for more than three days, with travel on many secondary roads becoming very difficult to impossible on the plains and the northern Black Hills area. Six deaths reported in Todd and Mellette counties, mostly due to medical emergencies in which emergency services were unable to reach these people in time. However, two people died due to hypothermia from exposure to the cold.

A significant wind event occurred from the early morning through the late day. Strong west to southwest winds developed during the early morning hours across parts of the Black Hills and foothills, when gusts of 60 to over 70 mph were recorded. A strong cold front then moved through from northwest to southeast during the morning and early afternoon. Wind gusts of 60 to over 80 mph developed and persisted through the late day. The strong winds downed some trees and caused isolated power outages in the Black Hills. The winds also helped spread significant wildfires near Mount Rushmore and just west of Rapid City.

A strong winter storm impacted much of western and south central South Dakota, especially the Black Hills area and southwestern South Dakota. Snow lifted slowly north into southern South Dakota during the morning and midday hours, with the most impactful snow near and south of interstate 90. Snow tapered off during the late night and morning hours. Snowfall amounts of six to 12 inches were common across these areas, with one to two feet over parts of the southern Black Hills and far southwestern South Dakota. The heavy, wet snow, combined with wind gusts over 40 mph, produced blizzard or near blizzard conditions across parts of southwestern South Dakota, along with power outages.

An intense low pressure system slowly crossed the region, bringing a prolonged period of very strong northwesterly winds. A tight pressure gradient remained across the Northern Plains, with 36 hours of strong winds over much of the western South Dakota plains. Gusts of 60 to 80 mph were reported across much of the area, with a few higher gusts from Buffalo to the Rapid City area. Some minor damage resulted with isolated power outages and tractor trailers were tipped over on Interstate 90.

A very strong cold front moved through the region during the late afternoon and nighttime hours. The strongest winds occurred during the overnight hours when wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph were recorded across much of western and south central South Dakota, with a few gusts around 75 mph in the Rapid City area. Some tree limbs were downed and minor power outages reported.

A historic blizzard pounded western South Dakota with record-setting snowfall and strong winds for almost 48 hours from the evening of October 3 through the afternoon of October 5. One to two feet of snow was reported over the plains of western South Dakota, with three to five feet of snow falling over the northern and central Black Hills. Wind gusts to 70 mph across the plains produced significant blowing and drifting snow, with visibilities near zero for much of the day on October 4. The heavy wet snow and strong winds downed trees and power lines, causing prolonged outages and impassible highways. The roofs of several businesses, a middle school, and community center collapsed from the heavy snow. Thousands of livestock were killed from hypothermia, suffocation, or drowning. The South Dakota Animal Industry Board received reports of over 21,000 cattle; over 1300 sheep; 400 horses; and 40 bison deaths from the storm. Tree and debris removal costs were several million dollars.

A powerful winter storm brought heavy snow and gusty winds to the region. The first part of the storm produced heavy snow on Dec 30. The main system moved across the Central Plains with additional snow and strong northwest winds on the plains on Dec 31. Snowfall ranged from six to 12 inches, with higher amounts across the northern Black Hills and portions of southwest and south central South Dakota. Northwest winds gusting to 50 mph produced blizzard conditions with visibilities near zero at times across much of the western and south central South Dakota plains on Dec 31. Interstate 90 was closed for nearly 24 hours from Rapid City across South Dakota to Sioux Falls. With temperatures near zero, wind chill readings were 20 to 35 below zero.

A powerful winter storm moved across the Northern and Central Plains, bringing heavy snow and very strong winds. The worst part of the storm impacted the area from Christmas morning through the morning of December 26, when snow and wind gusts to 80 mph produced near zero visibilities. Six inches to over two feet of snow fell across the plains, with the heaviest amounts from northwestern South Dakota southward to the Pine Ridge. Drifts of five to ten feet were reported. Many roads were closed or impassable during the storm, incuding Interstate 90, which was closed across the state for over 48 hours. Some power outages were also reported.

A powerful spring storm brought rain, snow, and very strong winds to western South Dakota. Precipitation started as rain, then changed to snow, and blizzard conditions developed. The heaviest snow fell over the northern Black Hills, where 18 to 48 inches of snow was measured. Ten to 20 inches of snow fell across far northwestern South Dakota, with drifts as high as ten feet. Most other locations received at least six inches of snow. Sustained winds of 30 to 55 mph, with gusts over 80 mph, were reported. Interstate 90 and other highways were closed for more than 24 hours. Some power outages were reported, mainly across the northern Black Hills and northwestern South Dakota. Tens of thousands of livestock perished.

An intense fall storm produced blizzard conditions across the South Dakota plains for over 24 hours. Precipitation started as rain during the day and changed to heavy, wet snow during the evening of the 5th. Snow and blowing snow continued through much of the 6th with visibility near zero much of the time. Snowfall amounts were six to 18 inches with drifts 12 feet high. More than two thousand power poles were downed, causing widespread power outages that affected thousands of residents. Some locations did not have power for over a week, especially across the Pine Ridge Reservation. Most roads across the area, including Interstate 90, were closed for 24 hours or longer. Many livestock died from hypothermia. Officials estimated total damage around 5 million dollars.

A powerful storm system moved across the region, bringing significant precipitation to western South Dakota. A mix of rain, freezing rain, and snow changed to snow across far western South Dakota during the morning as colder air moved in. The heaviest snow accumulations occurred across the far western South Dakota plains and the Black Hills, where widespread amounts of five to 12 inches fell. Locally higher amounts fell across parts of the northern Black Hills. Strong northwest winds produced considerable blowing and drifting snow across the plains, occasionally reducing visibilities below a quarter of a mile.

A major spring storm moved across the Central and Northern Plains, bringing significant amounts of rain and snow and gusty winds to much of western South Dakota. Snowfall was heaviest across the northern and central Black Hills, as well as far northwest South Dakota, where 1 to 2 feet fell. Favored upslope areas of the northern Black Hills received 2 to 5 feet of snow. Strong northwest winds gusting to 60 mph, created blizzard conditions across Harding, Butte, and Lawrence counties. Drifts to 15 feet high were reported across Harding and Butte counties. Power poles and trees were downed by the combination of heavy wet snow and wind, which resulted in widespread and prolonged power outages across northwest South Dakota and the Black Hills. Interstate 90 was closed from Rapid City to the Wyoming border for more than 24 hours.

A strong upper level system moved across the Central Plains, bringing widespread precipitation to western South Dakota. Rain fell across southwest South Dakota, while a mix of precipitation developed across northwest South Dakota. Freezing rain fell during much of the afternoon and early evening across northwest South Dakota before precipitation changed to snow and ended overnight. The heaviest amounts of freezing rain were reported across portions of Perkins, northern Meade, and Ziebach Counties, where a quarter to one-half inch of ice accumulated. Grand Electric Cooperative reported the most damage along and north of U.S. Highway 212 in northern Meade and southern Perkins Counties, where 68 telephone poles were downed by the ice and 800 customers lost power, some for several days. Damage was estimated at approximately 100,000 dollars.

A strong low pressure system developed over the Central Rockies and moved through the Northern Plains, bringing heavy snow to much of the northern Black Hills and far northwest South Dakota. Precipitation started as rain during the day and changed over to snow during the late afternoon and early evening, mixed with freezing rain and sleet. Heavy snow fell during the night and ended in the morning. Snowfall amounts were generally in the 6 to 12 inch range, with locally heavier amounts across northern and western Harding County. The heavy, wet snow resulted in many downed trees, large branches, and power lines. This caused numerous power outages and some minor property damage. A few locations had some of the highest daily snowfall amounts ever recorded in October. Camp Crook received 12 inches of snow, which tied for the daily record for snow in October. Redig also tied its record for most snowfall in one day for October with 9 inches. Lemmon had its second highest daily total snowfall for October (6.5 inches). Bison received 6 inches, which was tied for the 3rd highest daily total in October. Spearfish tied for the 8th highest daily snow total for October with 7 inches.

A strong late spring storm developed across the Central Rockies and moved across the Northern Plains. The storm brought abundant amounts of precipitation to the area. Rain changed to sleet and then eventually to snow across far western South Dakota during the afternoon and early evening hours as colder air moved in. Snowfall amounts were highest across the higher elevations of northwest South Dakota, the Black Hills, and northern and eastern Foothills, where 6 to 12 inches accumulated. The heavy wet snow downed many tree limbs across the area and caused some power outages.

A powerful upper level storm system moved slowly across the Central Rockies and then through the Northern and Central Plains, bringing abundant precipitation and heavy snow to much of Western and South Central South Dakota. The storm began to affect the region on the 28th as rain and snow developed across far Western South Dakota late in the afternoon. Precipitation changed over to all snow during the evening hours and then continued through the overnight. Precipitation tapered off in the morning. Then as low pressure began to move south and east of the region, precipitation moved back northward across all of Western and South Central South Dakota on the afternoon of the 29th and continued into the morning hours of March 1st. Rain changed over to snow across Central South Dakota during the evening hours of the 29th. As low pressure moved away from the area, strong northwest winds developed late on the 29th and continued through the afternoon of March 1st. The winds caused significant blowing and drifting of the snow and created near blizzard conditions at times. Travel became nearly impossible across the area and Interstate 90 across Western South Dakota was closed to travel on the morning of March 1st. Snowfall totals of 6 to 12 inches were common across the Western South Dakota Plains. 10 to 20 inches fell across the Northern and Eastern Foothills, as well as much of the Black Hills. Snow drifts up to 6 feet high developed across parts of the Plains due to the strong winds.

An intense winter storm brought heavy, wet snowfall and very strong winds to portions of western South Dakota. In Butte and Harding counties, the snowfall was greatest on the western half of the county. Totals ranged from 4 to 6 inches. Six to 10 inches of snow was fell along Interstate 90 from Whitewood to the Wyoming state line. In the central and northern Black Hills, 12 to 24 inches of snow was reported. The higher peaks in the northern Black Hills reported 24 to 36 inches of snow, and Elk Mountain had 54 inches of snowfall. 30 power poles were broken by a combination of the weight of the snow and wind gust to 55 mph.