Daily Weather Discussion

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.

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.

I hope you had a chance to get out and enjoy the mild temperatures over the weekend, because the warm air is long gone and it won’t be back for quite a while. The week ahead will be bitterly cold with several chances of light snow.

First and most importantly be very careful on your way to work and school this morning. Freezing rain overnight has covered roads and surfaces with a layer of ice. It is extremely slippery this morning, especially on untreated surfaces.

Today will be partly cloudy, breezy and much colder. High temps will only reach the single digits either side of zero with the wind chill factor hovering in the 15 to 30 below range. A Wind Chill Advisory is in effect for much of the region today into tonight.

An active weather pattern will bring several chances of light snow this week. Light snow will develop late tonight and continue through most of the day tomorrow. About 1 or 2 inches of accumulation will be possible. Another system will bring more light snow on Wednesday and yet another system will bring more light snow on Thursday.

In addition to the light snow, each of these systems will also bring down more cold, Arctic air. By Thursday and Friday, low temperatures will drop back in the 15 to 25 below zero range with highs hovering in the single digits either side of zero.

Temperatures will warm slightly by the weekend with another chance of light snow by Sunday into Monday.