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Record Heat for the Intermountain West and Northern Plains; Heavy Rainfall and Severe Weather Threats

Record setting heat is expected over the next several days from the Intermountain West through the northern Plains. Furthermore, fire weather concerns increase with dry and breezy conditions. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorm threats for the Ohio/Tennessee Valleys, central Appalachians and Southeast today. The threat shifts to central Gulf Coast and across central Texas this week. Read More >

Overview

A deep low pressure system tracked across the Northern Plains in the days following Thanksgiving, and produced widespread impacts as it went. Freezing drizzle began for some on Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday. Heavy, wet snow tracked from south to north across the area late Friday afternoon and persisted through the overnight and into Saturday. Meanwhile, wind gusts of 30-50 mph further reduced visibilities, greatly at times. Road conditions deteriorated quickly through the event, and despite many SDDOT "No Travel Advised" statements as well as the closure of I-90 from Chamberlain to the Wyoming border Friday night through Sunday morning, several accidents occurred. Additionally, a plane crashed in rural Brule County shortly after taking off from Chamberlain Saturday afternoon. 9 people were killed and 3 were seriously injured in the crash. By the time the storm let up Sunday morning, anywhere from 2-16 inches of snow and around 0.5-1.5" of liquid equivalent had fallen. Aberdeen's 16.6" storm total was the largest since February 20-21 of 2011 (17.7"), and 4.1" off the all-time 3-day record of 20.7" (Nov 23-25, 1993).  

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Surface weather map at 6 pm on Saturday, Nov 30th
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