Power Outage in Groton, SD

A strong low pressure system developed across the western Great Plains and strengthened as it tracked northeast into Iowa on the afternoon of April 4th and into northeastern Minnesota by noon on April 5th. This system produced accumulating snow as well as a wintry mix across central and northeastern South Dakota on April 4th, and then strong west-northwest wind gusts between 30 and 45 mph on April 5th. The result was significantly reduced visibilities at times. Ditches were full of snow from this and previous snowfall events, which allowed for significant drifts to develop on roadways as well.||Many US and state highways were either impassable, closed or under no travel advised statements from the South Dakota Department of Transportation. Interstate 29 closed from Watertown to the North Dakota boarder from 2pm April 4th through 7am April 6th. Business and school closures were widespread as a result. Additionally, there were several reports of power outages, and ranchers were adversely impacted due to the storm's overlap with the calving season. Following this storm, many locations had observed a top-10 winter season for total snowfall. All the snow and much below average temperatures to start April set the stage for significant spring flooding.

April 05, 2023

Just 4 days after a major winter storm at the end of March, a strong low pressure system developed across the western Great Plains and strengthened as it tracked northeast into Iowa on the afternoon of April 4th and into northeastern Minnesota by noon on April 5th. This system produced heavy snow from late in the evening on April 3rd through early in the morning on April 5th across central and northeastern South Dakota, along with northeast winds of 15-30mph. The initial snow over east central South Dakota transitioned to a freezing rain or wintry mix for a period of time during the late afternoon and evening hours before switching back to snow. Visibilities were frequently reduced to between a mile and a quarter mile in heavy snow, with localized blizzard conditions at times. Winds shifted to the west-northwest on April 5th and gusted to between 30 and 45 mph, which led to continued significantly reduced visibilities at times through the day despite the lack of new falling snow. Ditches were full of snow from this and previous snowfall events, which allowed for significant drifts to develop on roadways. Some of the highest snowfall totals included 18 inches 7 miles east of Hayes, 16 inches 8 miles south-southwest of Seneca, 15.6 inches a mile west of Roscoe, 15 inches 9 miles east of Grey Goose, 4 miles northwest of Onida and 11 miles northeast of Pierre, and 14 inches in Bowdle, 5 miles northwest of Mission Ridge and 3 miles northwest of Westport.||Many US and state highways were either impassable, closed or under no travel advised statements from the South Dakota Department of Transportation. Interstate 29 closed from Watertown to the North Dakota boarder from 2pm April 4th through 7am April 6th. Business and school closures were widespread as a result. Governor Kristi Noem ordered the closure of state government executive branch offices from April 4th through 5th for numerous counties. Additionally, there were several reports of power outages, and ranchers were severely impacted due to the storm's overlap with the calving season. Finally, the roof of a downtown Aberdeen building, Dacotah Bank, began to collapse on the evening of April 6th due to the weight of the heavy snow. Following this storm, many locations had observed a top-10 winter season for total snowfall. April snow depth records were shattered at Aberdeen and Sisseton as well. All the snow and much below average temperatures to start April set the stage for significant spring flooding.

April 04, 2023

A strong low pressure system developed east of the Rockies in Colorado and then moved through the Great Plains and into the Upper Mississippi Valley from the evening of March 30th through the evening of March 31st. This system produced heavy snow across parts of central and northeastern South Dakota, along with wind gusts of 40 to 55 mph. Some of the heaviest amounts include 18 inches 5 miles north-northwest of Miranda, 16 inches 7 miles east of Hayes, 15 inches 8 miles south-southwest of Highmore, and 14 inches at Wilmot, Faulkton and a mile northwest of Pierre. The result was blizzard conditions over much of central and northeastern South Dakota during the day and evening on March 31st. In addition, this system produced thunderstorms with small hail, sleet, and thundersnow across the area, as well as ice accumulations of over a quarter of an inch across portions of northeastern South Dakota. ||Impacts were significant, including widespread school closures, the cancellation of the YMCA Interstate Basketball tournament, widespread impassable or closed roads including I-90 from Wall to Chamberlain beginning at noon on the 31st and I-29 from 2pm on March 31st to noon on April 1st from Watertown to the North Dakota border, a great many stranded vehicles and vehicle accidents, power outages that lasted overnight for many customers, and cattle and ranchers during peak calving season were adversely affected. Finally, the heavy snowfall in Aberdeen was found to have caused the collapse of two-thirds of the Van Slyke building in downtown. A fire also started, but was contained soon thereafter. No injuries were reported. This heavy snow event further set the stage for significant spring flooding.

March 31, 2023

A strong low pressure system produced snow and heavy snow prior to the onset of strong northwesterly winds and periods of additional snow, which resulted in blizzard or ground blizzard conditions across much of central and northeastern South Dakota for extended periods of time from the morning of December 14th through the afternoon of December 16th. Heavy snow of at least 6 inches in 12 hours was recorded from December 15th into the 16th in conjunction with the blizzard conditions across Marshall, Day, Codington, Grant and Roberts Counties. Winds gusted generally between 45 and 60 mph, with the highest recorded gusts including 63 mph at Pierre, 61 mph 10 miles SW of the Chantler Creek Rec Area, 59 mph 3 miles N of Gann Valley, and 58 mph 3 miles SE of Reliance. ||The South Dakota Department of Transportation placed nearly the entire state under No Travel Advised or had road closures by Thursday, as numerous roads had become impassable. I90 closed from Chamberlain to Rapid City from 10am CST on Tue Dec 13th through mid-day Sat Dec 17th (from Kadoka to Chamberlain), and I29 closed from Watertown to the ND border from 7pm Wed Dec 14th through 9am Sat Dec 17th. Several dozens of semi drivers were stranded for consecutive days and nights at the Coffee Cup Fuel Stop in Vivian, and numerous other vehicle accidents and rescues occurred as well. Additionally, power outages were reported across the area, and school was cancelled at numerous locations for multiple consecutive days. ||The blizzard was just one component of a highly impactful, major winter storm. This storm was severe, widespread and prolonged in nature, and produced freezing rain, heavy snow and/or blizzard conditions from December 12th through 16th across the region. A Major Disaster Declaration was declared on February 27th by Governor Noem for several counties across central and northeastern South Dakota for winter weather from December 12-25th.

December 15, 2022

A low pressure system tracked from Colorado through southeast South Dakota. Initially, a period of freezing drizzle resulted in hazardous travel conditions and at least one request for No Travel Advised early on the morning of the 9th between the Missouri and James River Valleys. Temperatures briefly moderated during the day for a few locations, but then fell back to near or below freezing during the course of the afternoon and evening on the 9th. The main push of moisture, which involved a mix of steady freezing rain and occasional sleet, developed during the evening of the 9th and moved north through the overnight hours. Thunder was noted in several areas, including the cities of Pierre, Aberdeen, and Miller. Widespread accumulations of freezing drizzle and freezing rain totaled at between a quarter inch and one half inch of ice, with an estimated one inch of total ice accumulation in Gettysburg. Winds were also gusty behind the system, with peak winds of 56 mph in Altamont, 50 mph at Brandt, and 49 mph at Summit.|The combination of ice and strong winds that followed resulted in widespread tree damage and power interruptions between the Missouri and James River Valleys. According to the Brown County Emergency Manager, approximately 1,000 customers were without power in just Brown County at one time, and around 80 remained without power on the morning of the 12th. Well below average temperatures moved in behind this system, which only prolonged impacts as temperatures remained below 32�� F for many days, preventing a natural thaw of the ice and snow. |The surface observing system at the Aberdeen regional airport lost power on the 10th at 14:00 CST and remained inoperable through the afternoon of the 11th of November. The city forester in Aberdeen estimates 1000 manhours devoted to storm damage cleanup, with about 35 percent of trees damaged from the storm. |Additionally, freezing drizzle changed over to heavy snow in far north central South Dakota, with 13 inches of total snow reported 6 miles southeast of McIntosh, and 6 inches in Pollock.

November 09, 2022