Entries in Blizzards (20)

April 30

It seems winter never wants to leave South Dakota. On this date, April 30, 1967, a major blizzard hit West River, one of the latest on record.  So, maybe no more blizzards as a TBDISDH for a while.

Source: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/?n=fsdtrivia04

April 30th, and May 1st, 1967 a late season blizzard swept across the northern plains. One of the latest major storms on record for the state began late on the April 30th and continue into the first day of May. Snowfall across western South Dakota was generally in the 5 to 12 inch range with 16" at Lemmon and 30" in the northern Black Hills. Winds of 40 to 50 mph reduced visibilities to near zero and piled the snow into 4 to 5 foot drifts. Livestock losses were estimated at around 5% from the storm.

Eastern South Dakota, Southwest Minnesota, and Northwest Iowa only received light snow.

Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 by Registered CommenterTodd Epp in , | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

April 27

Winter just likes to stick around in South Dakota.  On this date, April 28, 1994, heavy snows hit southeast S.D. and the Minnesota-Iowa-S.D. corner with blowing snow after days in the 80s. 

Source: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/?n=fsdtrivia04

On April 28th, 1994 winter returned to eastern South Dakota western Minnesota and western Iowa just three days after temperatures in the 80s and severe thunderstorms ripped across the region. A strong area of low pressure moved across the plains states and heavy snow developed across the tri-state area. Snow accumulated in the 5 to 12 inch range across eastern South Dakota with 5 to 10 inches in southwest Minnesota and northwest Iowa. Heavy snow fell to the crashes of thunder at Sioux Falls where 4 inches accumulated in one hour. The 10.5 inches that piled up in Sioux Falls was the most ever recorded for so late in the season.

Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 by Registered CommenterTodd Epp in , | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

April 25

On this date, April 25, 1984, a major winter storm that killed nearly 30,000 livestock and also spawned thunderstorms and golf ball sized hailstones, began and lasted until April 29, 1984. 

Source: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/?n=fsdtrivia04

A major Spring storm affected the Northern Plains from April 25th through the 29th, 1984. The storm brought heavy snow and strong winds to western South Dakota paralyzing a third of the state for over three days. Snow amounts were heaviest in the northern Black Hills where 67 inches fell at Lead and 44 inches fell at Deadwood. The storm resulted in the loss of large numbers of livestock with, at least, 13,000 cattle and 15,000 sheep falling victim to the storm. The heavy wet snow wreaked havoc with the electricity as 10,000 people were without power at one time or another....some areas north of Rapid City to the North Dakota border were without power for up to 1 and a half days. After the heavy snow...strong winds produced a major blizzard. The storm resulted in several million dollars worth of damage and losses across western South Dakota.

As heavy snow pounded western SD on the 26th thunderstorms ripped across the eastern portion of the state and into northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota. Two separate lines of storms moved east across the area producing golf ball size hail and winds in excess of 60 mph in some areas. Funnel clouds were sighted near Worthington, MN, but only straight-line wind damage was reported in the area. By April 29th, 1984 the thunderstorms gave way to snow across the tri-state area as 3 to 7 inches blanketed the region.

Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 by Registered CommenterTodd Epp in , | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

April 21

On this date, April 21, 1992, a major snow storm and freezing rain socked eastern South Dakota.

Source: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/?n=fsdtrivia04

A slow moving area of low pressure which had brought heavy snow to western South Dakota affected eastern South Dakota on April 21st and 22nd, 1992. As the large storm moved east across the state it brought heavy snow and ice accumulations with it. Freezing rain or sleet preceded the snow across much of the east laying down a slick glaze of ice. On top of the icy roadways 6 inches to a foot of wet snow piled up making traveling very hazardous. The slick roads resulted in many accidents across eastern South Dakota as well as northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota. Winds gusting to around 50 mph only made travel more difficult. Many towns in southwest Minnesota lost power due to the heavy icing...some areas were without electricity for over 5 hours. Some snowfall amounts across the east included 10 to 12 inches in the Marion and Elk Point areas in Southeast SD and around 9 inches near Vermillion.

Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 by Registered CommenterTodd Epp in , | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

April 20

On this date, April 20, 1992, a major blizzard that hit the Black Hills, dumping nearly three feet of snow in some areas and packing 60+ mph winds ended. 

Source: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/?n=fsdtrivia04

A blizzard beginning on April 18th, 1992 lasted into the 20th across the Black Hills of South Dakota. Heavy wet snow and strong winds created blizzard conditions in the northern Black Hills that led to a major power outage. About 2000 households were without power for over 4 hours in some areas around Lead/Deadwood. Snow amounts of 2 feet were common with 30 inches falling at Lead causing major traffic problems. Northwest winds gusted to over 65 miles an hour at Rapid City and to around 50 mph in the Hills .

Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 by Registered CommenterTodd Epp in , , | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

April 13

On this date, April 13, 1986, one of the worst spring blizzards in history hit nearly the entire state.

Source: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/?n=fsdtrivia04

April 13th and 14th, 1986 heavy snow and strong winds produced blizzard conditions over nearly all of South Dakota as well as portions of northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota. A foot or more of new snow was common across north central South Dakota, with 15" reported at Gettysburg and Eureka. Over most of the remainder of the state 3 to 8" of snow was reported. To make matters worse winds of 30 to 45 mph with gusts of 90 mph reported at Mitchell and Yankton caused areas of blowing snow. Sections of northwest Iowa were also affected by the storm with 1 to 3 inches of new snow and strong winds. The high winds blew the roofs off of several buildings in Sioux City and the surrounding area.

Drifts as high as 15 feet were common across central sections of South Dakota forcing the closure of much of Interstate 90. The storm also took down over 100 power poles in the west and resulted in the loss of livestock in central SD. Livestock losses of up to 35% in some herds was reported with a price tag of several million dollars. Many people in central South Dakota thought it was the worst blizzard that they had ever experienced.

Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 by Registered CommenterTodd Epp in , | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

April 12

On this date, April 12, 1970, a springtime winter storm hit the western 2/3 of South Dakota, dumping piles of snow in the west and nasty freezing rain in the east.

Source: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/?n=fsdtrivia04

On the morning of April 12th, 1970 a strong winter storm was affecting the northern and western 2/3rds of South Dakota. Heavy snow fell throughout the morning hours dumping over a foot of snow over a large area of the state. Winds whipped the snow into 2 to 4 foot drifts across much of northern South Dakota. The Aberdeen area was the hardest hit with around 17 inches reported.

While southeast South Dakota, southwest Minnesota, and northwest Iowa did not feel the effects of the storm, east central South Dakota was not as fortunate. Freezing drizzle and freezing rain resulted in heavy icing in east central South Dakota causing extensive damage. The ice storm caused power outages to 20 to 80% of the rural electric service in the area.

Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 by Registered CommenterTodd Epp in , | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

April 2

On this date, April 2, 1982, an early spring storm brougth hail, strong winds, and snow to the Iowa/Minnesota/South Dakota tri-corrner, after starting out in the 70s that afternoon then temperatures dropping into the 30s in the evening.  Blizzard conditions hit the western portion of the state.  

Source:http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/?n=fsdtrivia04An early Spring storm brought hail and damaging winds to the tri-state area on the afternoon of April 2nd, 1982 . That evening temperatures plunged rapidly with the passage of a strong cold front leading to a snowstorm across much of South Dakota . During the afternoon severe thunderstorms produced hail up to 1 inch in diameter at Harrisburg in Lincoln county and portions of northwest Iowa . Strong sustained winds at 50 mph moved across south Dakota and into southwest Minnesota and northwest Iowa , with a peak wind of 72 mph at Yankton.

After reaching afternoon highs in the 70's temperatures plunged into the 30's during the evening. The rapid drop in temperature turned areas of rain into areas of freezing rain and snow. Heavy ice accumulations snapped power poles in McCook county in southeast South Dakota leading to extensive power outages. 2 to 4" of snow fell in western and southern South Dakota although amounts were light in NW Iowa and SW Minnesota . Winds at 20 to 40 mph caused drifts to 4 feet deep and blizzard conditions in rural areas.

Posted on Saturday, April 1, 2006 by Registered CommenterTodd Epp in , , , | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

March 24

On this date, March 24, 1975, an early spring thunderstorm turned into a blizzard, dumping snow across the state.

Source:   http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/?n=fsdtrivia03

March 23rd and 24th, 1975 the first of two strong, early Spring blizzards hit the state (the second would arrive just 3 days later). On the evening of the 23rd the storm started off as light rain across northern sections of the state. On the morning of the 24th thunderstorms developed across the west with the rain quickly changing to snow. The storms were accompanied by strong winds which made for blizzard conditions in the west. The winter storm moved quickly east that afternoon and by evening blizzard conditions were occurring across the entire state. In most areas winds gusted to over 60 miles an hour. Snow amounts varied from 3 to 4" in the southeast to 12 to 18" in the central part of the state. The northern Black Hills picked up an additional 2 to 3 feet of snow from the storm.

Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 by Registered CommenterTodd Epp in , | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

March 20

On this date, March 20, 1982, a late winter storm hit the northern 2/3 of S.D., resulting in a pheasant kill in the northeast. 

Source: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/?n=fsdtrivia03

Widespread heavy, wet snow fell across the northern 2/3rds of South Dakota on March 19th and 20th, 1982. Snow depths were generally 10 to 20" with 40 MPH winds making traveling conditions quite poor. Numerous traffic accidents resulted from the poor weather. Up to 5% of the pheasant population was killed in certain areas in the northeast. The weight of the snow led to the collapse of a canopy in Mclaughlin (in Corson County) tearing out the brick front of the building and breaking windows.

Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 by Registered CommenterTodd Epp in , , | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint
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