A powerful winter/spring storm will impact much of our region over the next several days. Across most of South Dakota and large portions of Minnesota and Nebraska heavy snowfall amounts of 12 to 20 or more inches will combine with wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph to create whiteout blizzard conditions. In Sioux Falls and locations south and east of Sioux Falls, there will be heavy rain today, tonight and tomorrow with lesser amounts of snow and blowing snow late tomorrow, tomorrow night into Friday.

Snow has already started across much of central and northern South Dakota. Snow will continue today with wind increasing throughout the day. Heavy snow with strong wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph will be likely later today, tonight and tomorrow into Friday morning. Travel conditions will deteriorate very quickly across much of central and northern South Dakota throughout the day. A Blizzard Warning is in effect for much of central South Dakota from this morning through Friday morning. Further east, along and east of the James River, a Blizzard Warning will go into effect early this evening and continue through Friday morning.

For Sioux Falls and points to the south and east, today will be mostly rain with intermittent periods of freezing rain, sleet and snow. Rain will continue tonight with periods of freezing rain, sleet and snow toward morning. Tomorrow will start with a mix of rain, freezing rain and snow. Precipitation will change to all snow tomorrow afternoon with snow continuing tomorrow night into Friday. Sioux Falls could get 2 to 4 inches of wet, slushy snow by late tomorrow afternoon with additional snow accumulation Thursday night into Friday.

This is an extremely dangerous winter storm, especially for locations north and west of Sioux Falls that will get heavy snow and strong wind. Heavy snow and whiteout blizzard conditions will make travel impossible from later today, through tomorrow into Friday. Stay tuned for the very latest updates.