A powerful winter storm system will bring whiteout blizzard conditions and dangerously cold temperatures to much of the region today and tonight making travel extremely dangerous and at times nearly impossible. A Blizzard Warning is in effect for today and tonight and includes Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, Pierre and much of Northeastern and Eastern South Dakota, Southwestern Minnesota and Northwestern Iowa.

While most places will only get an additional inch or two of snow, the several inches of light, fluffy snow already on the ground will combine with strong northwesterly wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph to create whiteout blizzard conditions today and tonight. Temperatures are already below zero this morning and will continue to fall through the day. In addition to creating blowing snow, the wind will drop the wind chill factor to between -30° and -40° later today and tonight. A Wind Chill Advisory is also in effect for much of the region from late tonight through tomorrow morning. The wind will gradually decrease after midnight tonight and travel conditions will improve late tonight into Friday morning.

We will break for some sunshine on Friday and Saturday and then jump back into our active weather pattern with another chance of light snow on Sunday. Yet another system will bring a chance of accumulating snow next Monday into Tuesday. Stay tuned for updates.