Blizzard Warning Issued for Central South Dakota Counties Through Sunday Afternoon

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Aberdeen has issued a Blizzard Warning for portions of central South Dakota. This alert follows a preceding Winter Weather Advisory. The warning was issued by the NWS Aberdeen SD office and remains in effect through Sunday afternoon.

Affected Areas

The following geographic regions and counties are included in the warning area:

• Buffalo County
• Hughes County
• Jones County
• Lyman County
• Stanley County

Expected Conditions

Residents should prepare for hazardous winter weather. Total snow accumulations for the entire event are expected to range between 3 and 5 inches.

During the initial Winter Weather Advisory phase, snow and areas of blowing snow are expected with wind gusts reaching up to 40 mph. As the alert upgrades to a Blizzard Warning, wind gusts are expected to increase to as high as 50 mph. These winds, combined with falling snow, will create blizzard conditions and whiteout visibility, making travel extremely dangerous or impossible. Gusty winds may also bring down tree branches.

Timeline

• Winter Weather Advisory: Effective from 10:00 PM CDT (9:00 PM MDT) Saturday until 4:00 AM CDT (3:00 AM MDT) Sunday.
• Blizzard Warning: Effective from 4:00 AM CDT (3:00 AM MDT) Sunday until 4:00 PM CDT (3:00 PM MDT) Sunday.

What You Should Do

Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, you are urged to carry a winter survival kit in your vehicle. If you become stranded, stay with your vehicle to remain safe.

For those traveling during the advisory period, slow down and use extreme caution. Residents can obtain the latest road conditions by calling 5 1 1.