High Wind Warning Issued for Parts of Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota with 70 MPH Gusts Expected

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, SD, has issued a High Wind Warning (NWS code: HWW) for portions of the tri-state area. The alert was issued on March 11 at 8:48 PM CDT and remains in effect through Friday morning.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad geographic area across three states:

• Northwest and West Central Iowa: Lyon, Osceola, Dickinson, Sioux, O’Brien, Clay, Plymouth, Cherokee, Buena Vista, Woodbury, and Ida counties.
• Northeast Nebraska: Dixon and Dakota counties.
• Southeast South Dakota: Turner, Lincoln, Bon Homme, Yankton, Clay, and Union counties.

What You Should Do

Residents in the warning area are advised to take the following precautions:

• Exercise Caution While Driving: Winds of this magnitude will make driving difficult, particularly for high-profile vehicles.
• Prepare for Outages: Secure loose outdoor objects and be prepared for scattered power outages due to downed tree branches.
• Monitor Conditions: Stay tuned to local weather updates for any changes in the forecast.

Expected Conditions

Forecasters expect sustained northwest winds ranging from 30 to 40 mph. Peak wind gusts are anticipated to reach up to 70 mph. These damaging winds are expected to blow down tree branches and create significant challenges for travelers.

Timeline

The High Wind Warning is scheduled to go into effect at 9:00 PM Thursday and will continue until 7:00 AM CDT Friday, March 13.