Last week was really nice… And uneventful. Not what you would typically expect on the plains in January. This week will look and feel a bit more like it’s supposed to this time of year. We will start mild, but it won’t take long for temperatures to go on a bit of a roller coaster ride. By the end of the week the color of the landscape could change from brown to white.

A Dense Fog Advisory is in effect for much of Central and Northern South Dakota through noon today. Visibility has dropped to less than 1/4 mile across the advisory area. With temperatures well below freezing, the fog is also frosting the roads making them very slippery. Give yourself plenty of extra time to get where you’re going this morning, keep headlights on low beam and be sure to look twice, even three times at intersections. Visibility will gradually improve later this morning or early this afternoon.

Today will be mostly cloudy but mild. High temps will range from the low to mid 30s in the South to the mid 20s in the North. Clouds will decrease tonight. Tomorrow will be mostly sunny with warmer high temps in the mid to upper 30s. Parts of Central South Dakota will reach the low 40s tomorrow afternoon.

A cold front will blast across the plains late tomorrow and tomorrow night. While I don’t expect much precipitation with the front, it will bring in enough cold air to drop temperatures below average for the first time in about a week. Highs on Wednesday will only reach the low 20s.

We are closely monitoring a system that could bring snow to much of the region Friday into Saturday. It’s too early to get specific with amounts, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see several inches of snow in some places. In addition to the snow, strong wind could create areas of blowing snow. Stay tuned for updates. As we get closer, we’ll get a better grasp on where this thing will track and that will allow us to get more specific with forecast snow amounts. For now, just be aware that snow and blowing snow will likely impact travel across parts of our region Friday and Saturday.

One more thing… After the snow, it’s REALLY going to feel like January. By Saturday and Sunday high temperatures will only reach the single digits to low teens with lows dropping well below zero.