Daily Weather Discussion

A dangerous – I’ll even call it historic – winter storm will sweep across the region today, tonight and tomorrow bringing over a foot of snow and wind gusts to between 40 and 50 mph. A Blizzard Warning is in effect for most of South Dakota and large portions of Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska through tomorrow and into tomorrow night. White-out blizzard conditions are likely across central, western and northern South Dakota today with snow developing in Sioux Falls and across eastern South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota and northwestern Iowa this evening.

For specifics on the watch, warning and advisory situation for your region, check out our weather app or our <a href=”http://www.ksfy.com/weather/alerts“>weather alerts page</a>. Here’s a breakdown by region:

<b><u>Sioux Falls</u></b>

<b><i>A Blizzard Warning is in effect from 7 PM this evening through 7 PM Saturday.</i></b>

Rain and scattered thunderstorms are likely today. Rain will change to snow this evening with heavy snow and strong wind likely through the night tonight. Heavy snow and strong wind gusts will continue through Saturday into Saturday night. Total snow accumulation 10 to 15 inches or more. 40 to 50 mph wind gusts will create blowing snow and white out blizzard conditions tonight through tomorrow into tomorrow night. Travel conditions will gradually improve on Sunday.


<b><u>Aberdeen</u></b>

<b><i>A Blizzard Warning is in effect from 7 AM this morning through 1 PM Saturday.</i></b>

Heavy snow is likely today. Strong north to northeasterly wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph will create blowing snow and white out blizzard conditions. Light snow will continue tonight, but strong wind gust will continue to create blowing snow tonight and into tomorrow afternoon. Travel conditions will slowly improve late Saturday into Saturday night. Total snow accumulation 4 to 7 inches.

<b><u>Watertown</u></b>

<b><i>A Blizzard Warning is in effect from 1 PM today through 7 PM Saturday.  </i></b>

Areas of rain freezing rain and snow are likely this morning with precip changing to all snow by early afternoon. Snow is likely through this afternoon, tonight and much of Saturday. Strong wind gusts to between 40 and 50 mph will create white out blizzard conditions this afternoon through Saturday and into Saturday night. Snow accumulation 10 to 15 inches or more.

<b><u>Pierre and central South Dakota</u></b>

<b><i>A Blizzard Warning is in effect through 7 AM Saturday</i></b>

Heavy snow with strong wind gusts to between 45 and 55 mph will be likely today and tonight into Saturday. The snow and wind combination will create white out blizzard conditions for most of that time. Snow accumulation 10 to 15 inches or more.

I think we’ve finally found where spring has been hiding. Warmer temperatures are on the way and this time the mild weather will stick around for more than just a day. Of course, the way things have been going this spring, you won’t be surprised when I tell you that we are watching another winter storm system that could impact much of the region this weekend.

Today will be mostly sunny with high temps ranging from around 50 degrees in Sioux Falls to the mid 40s in the north to the low 60s across south central South Dakota. Today’s high temperature will depend largely on how much snow you still have on the ground. The more snow you have, the cooler today’s high temperature will be.

The mild air will stick around through the rest of the week. Tomorrow and Thursday will be mostly cloudy, but high temps will still warm into the mid to upper 50s.

A powerful storm system will blast into the region on Friday and stick around into the weekend. Friday will still be mild, but there will be rain and scattered thunderstorms possible throughout the day. As colder air works its way into the system late Friday night, rain will change to snow. Heavy snow and strong wind will be possible Saturday and Saturday night. It’s too early to get specific with accumulation amounts, but most places will get some accumulation some places could get significant snow accumulation. In addition to rain and snow, there could also be some freezing rain.

This system is still several days away. We will get more specific with the storm track, precipitation type and amount as we get closer. In the meantime, expect that there will likely be weather related travel issues from late Friday through Saturday and into Sunday.

Make plans for some outdoor time today, because this is the last mild day we are going to have for quite a while. The sun will shine this morning, but a cold front will bring clouds and maybe even an isolated shower or two this afternoon. Despite the clouds and the possibility of a shower, high temps will still warm into the upper 40s to low 50s today.

After today, temperatures will drop well below average and stay there through the weekend and into next week. High temps will only reach the low to mid 40s tomorrow and Friday. On Saturday, high temps will drop into the upper 20s to low 30s. On Easter Sunday morning, you’ll wake up the temperatures in the single digits to low teens with highs only reaching the mid 30s on Easter afternoon.

In addition to the cold, we do have a couple chances of rain and/or snow as we head into the weekend. Areas of light snow will be possible tomorrow night and early Friday morning, with a chance of rain, freezing rain and snow late Friday night into Saturday morning. Easter Sunday will be mostly dry with a slight chance of an isolated rain or snow showers late Sunday into Sunday night.