Our active weather pattern continues today as another system gets ready to roll out of the Rocky Mountains and onto the plains. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for much of the region later today through tomorrow for a widespread 2 to 5 inches of snow that will be followed by strong northwesterly wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph that will create blowing snow and potentially near blizzard conditions late tonight and tomorrow.

Snow has already developed across parts of Western and Central South Dakota this morning and will continue to develop and move east throughout the day. Snow will move into Aberdeen this morning and develop in Sioux Falls sometime this afternoon. Snow will continue late this afternoon, tonight and tomorrow with overall accumulation of about 2 to 5 inches. Northwest wind gusts will increase to between 30 and 40 mph late tonight and continue through much of tomorrow. This will create blowing snow that will reduce visibility significantly at times. It is possible that blizzard conditions will develop in places late tonight and tomorrow. While a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect, the National Weather Service could certainly upgrade to a Blizzard Warning at some point if conditions warrant. Bottom line: Snow and blowing snow will make travel difficult and dangerous late tonight through most of the day tomorrow. Conditions should gradually improve tomorrow night into Friday morning.

After the snow, another bitterly cold Arctic blast will settle in. Temperatures will drop into the single digits late tonight and continue to fall to between 15 and 25 degrees below zero by Friday morning. Friday will be sunny but most places will not get above zero.

Temperatures will warm back above zero this weekend. There will be a little sun on Saturday but another system will bring more light snow on Sunday. Even more light snow is possible Monday into Tuesday of next week.