High Wind Warning Issued for Southwest Minnesota and South Dakota; Gusts Up to 60 MPH Expected

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, SD, has issued a High Wind Warning for portions of southwest Minnesota and central, east central, south central, and southeast South Dakota. This alert indicates that severe wind conditions are likely to occur within the designated timeframe.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad geographic region including the following counties:

• Minnesota: Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Cottonwood, Nobles, Jackson, Pipestone, and Rock.
• South Dakota: Beadle, Kingsbury, Brookings, Gregory, Jerauld, Sanborn, Miner, Lake, Moody, Brule, Aurora, Davison, Hanson, McCook, Minnehaha, Charles Mix, Douglas, and Hutchinson.

Expected Conditions

Residents should prepare for sustained northwest winds ranging from 25 to 35 mph. Peak wind gusts are expected to reach up to 60 mph. These conditions are likely to cause damaging winds that can blow down tree branches and lead to scattered power outages.

Timeline

The High Wind Warning is scheduled to take effect at 7:00 PM CDT on Thursday, March 12, and is expected to expire at 7:00 AM CDT on Friday, March 13.

What You Should Do

The NWS advises that winds this strong will make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles. Motorists are urged to use extra caution when traveling. Residents should also be prepared for potential power interruptions and the possibility of debris from downed tree limbs.