A Pacific storm is bringing areas of low elevation rain, moderate to heavy mountain snow, and high winds to the Northwest. Strong Santa Ana winds and very dry conditions are producing elevated to critical fire weather conditions in southern California. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible through early Wednesday morning across parts of northeast Texas into western Tennessee. Read More >
Overview
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An arctic front and an intensifying storm system brought a dangerous combination of cold temperatures, high winds, and snowfall to the region prior to the Christmas holiday. As temperatures plummeted from the 50s on the 22nd of December to the teens on the 23rd, winds also intensified. The strongest reported wind gusts were observed between 60 and 70 mph. Snowfall totals between 2 and 6" were common through the region. The light and fluffy variety of snow made it easy for driving winds to reduce visibilities. Multiple hours of blizzard conditions were reported in the region, with blizzard warnings extending from Northern Minnesota through portions of the Dakotas, Iowa and Nebraska. |
 Radar Loop of the Blizzard |
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| Regional Snowfall Map | Regional Snow Cover After The Storm | Loop of Blizzard Winds |
Snow
Here is a map and listing of snowfall reports from this pre-Christmas Blizzard
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PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
1058 AM CST THU DEC 24 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM SNOW CANTON 43.30N 96.58W
12/24/2020 M5.8 INCH LINCOLN SD CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW SHELDON 43.18N 95.84W
12/24/2020 M5.0 INCH O'BRIEN IA CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW 2 SE YANKTON 42.87N 97.36W
12/24/2020 M5.0 INCH YANKTON SD CO-OP OBSERVER
0410 PM SNOW HULL 43.19N 96.13W
12/23/2020 M4.5 INCH SIOUX IA PUBLIC
STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL. NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY
AT TIME OF MEASUREMENT. REPORTED VIA SOCIAL
MEDIA.
0415 PM SNOW TYNDALL 42.99N 97.86W
12/23/2020 M4.5 INCH BON HOMME SD CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL.
0700 AM SNOW 2 ENE CLAYTON 43.46N 97.62W
12/24/2020 M4.5 INCH HUTCHINSON SD COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 1 NE WALL LAKE 43.54N 96.94W
12/24/2020 M4.5 INCH MINNEHAHA SD COCORAHS
0800 AM SNOW 2 NE BROOKINGS 44.33N 96.76W
12/24/2020 M4.5 INCH BROOKINGS SD CO-OP OBSERVER
0800 AM SNOW SPIRIT LAKE 43.42N 95.11W
12/24/2020 M4.3 INCH DICKINSON IA CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW 3 NNW WAHPETON 43.42N 95.19W
12/24/2020 M4.2 INCH DICKINSON IA CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW 7 S AVON 42.90N 98.04W
12/24/2020 M4.0 INCH BON HOMME SD COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW MONTROSE 43.70N 97.18W
12/24/2020 M4.0 INCH MCCOOK SD CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW 2 NNE WORTHINGTON 43.65N 95.58W
12/24/2020 M4.0 INCH NOBLES MN CO-OP OBSERVER
0800 AM SNOW CHEROKEE 42.75N 95.55W
12/24/2020 M4.0 INCH CHEROKEE IA CO-OP OBSERVER
0800 AM SNOW WINDOM 43.87N 95.12W
12/24/2020 M4.0 INCH COTTONWOOD MN CO-OP OBSERVER
0500 PM SNOW CONCORD 42.38N 96.99W
12/23/2020 M3.5 INCH DIXON NE CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL.
0700 AM SNOW 3 WNW EVERLY 43.18N 95.38W
12/24/2020 M3.5 INCH CLAY IA CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW LAKE WILSON 43.99N 95.95W
12/24/2020 M3.5 INCH MURRAY MN CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW 4 S WORTHINGTON 43.57N 95.60W
12/24/2020 M3.3 INCH NOBLES MN COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 6 NNE ELK POINT 42.76N 96.64W
12/24/2020 M3.2 INCH UNION SD COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 5 W BRUCE 44.44N 96.99W
12/24/2020 M3.0 INCH BROOKINGS SD COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW LAKE PARK 43.45N 95.32W
12/24/2020 M3.0 INCH DICKINSON IA COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 6 NW MONTROSE 43.76N 97.27W
12/24/2020 M3.0 INCH MCCOOK SD COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 10 E NUNDA 44.14N 96.82W
12/24/2020 M3.0 INCH MOODY SD COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW ORANGE CITY 43.00N 96.06W
12/24/2020 M3.0 INCH SIOUX IA CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW 2 W SERGEANT BLUFF 42.40N 96.39W
12/24/2020 M3.0 INCH WOODBURY IA OFFICIAL NWS OBS
0700 AM SNOW 1 N SPENCER 43.16N 95.15W
12/24/2020 M3.0 INCH CLAY IA CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW STORM LAKE 42.65N 95.20W
12/24/2020 M3.0 INCH BUENA VISTA IA CO-OP OBSERVER
0800 AM SNOW SIOUX RAPIDS 42.89N 95.15W
12/24/2020 M3.0 INCH BUENA VISTA IA CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW REMSEN 42.81N 95.97W
12/24/2020 M2.8 INCH PLYMOUTH IA CO-OP OBSERVER
0800 AM SNOW 2 SE MADISON 43.99N 97.08W
12/24/2020 M2.8 INCH LAKE SD CO-OP OBSERVER
1200 PM SNOW HURON 44.36N 98.22W
12/23/2020 M2.5 INCH BEADLE SD OFFICIAL NWS OBS
0700 AM SNOW EDGERTON 43.87N 96.13W
12/24/2020 M2.5 INCH PIPESTONE MN COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW HILLS 43.53N 96.36W
12/24/2020 M2.5 INCH ROCK MN PUBLIC
0315 PM SNOW VERMILLION 42.78N 96.93W
12/23/2020 M2.4 INCH CLAY SD CO-OP OBSERVER
CORRECTS PREVIOUS SNOW REPORT FROM
VERMILLION. STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL.
0320 PM SNOW MITCHELL 43.73N 98.03W
12/23/2020 M2.2 INCH DAVISON SD CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL. OFFICIAL OBSERVER
REPORT FOR MITCHELL.
0200 PM SNOW 3 NNW SIOUX FALLS 43.58N 96.75W
12/23/2020 M2.1 INCH MINNEHAHA SD OFFICIAL NWS OBS
0700 AM SNOW DE SMET 44.39N 97.55W
12/24/2020 M2.0 INCH KINGSBURY SD COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 6 SSW HERRICK 43.04N 99.21W
12/24/2020 M2.0 INCH GREGORY SD COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 4 SW IVANHOE 44.43N 96.31W
12/24/2020 M2.0 INCH LINCOLN MN COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW LE MARS 42.79N 96.17W
12/24/2020 M2.0 INCH PLYMOUTH IA CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW WHITE 44.43N 96.65W
12/24/2020 M2.0 INCH BROOKINGS SD COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW PIPESTONE 44.00N 96.31W
12/24/2020 M1.8 INCH PIPESTONE MN PUBLIC
CORRECTS PREVIOUS SNOW REPORT FROM
PIPESTONE.
0700 AM SNOW 2 N LAKE ANDES 43.18N 98.53W
12/24/2020 M1.5 INCH CHARLES MIX SD COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 8 SSW CHAMBERLAIN 43.70N 99.38W
12/24/2020 M1.0 INCH BRULE SD COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 9 S DALLAS 43.11N 99.52W
12/24/2020 M1.0 INCH GREGORY SD COCORAHS
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Strong Winds
This late December storm brought significant winds to much of the region. Winds in some locations gusted over 60 mph and in a few spots over 70 mph. The images below show the peak winds observed across the region
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Listing of Peak Wind Gusts (MPH) from Wednesday December 23rd. |
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Location Speed Time/Date SD RWIS Gayville 70 MPH 0114 PM 12/23 Lake Benton US-14 Mile Post 70 MPH 1051 AM 12/23 SD RWIS Platte-Winner Bridge 69 MPH 1028 AM 12/23 SD RWIS Alexandria 69 MPH 1149 AM 12/23 SD RWIS Ward 68 MPH 1130 AM 12/23 SD RWIS Freeman 67 MPH 1233 PM 12/23 SD RWIS Montrose 67 MPH 1234 PM 12/23 Sioux Gateway Airport 67 MPH 1252 PM 12/23 SD RWIS Kimball 66 MPH 1049 AM 12/23 SD RWIS Dixon Junction of SD 66 MPH 1134 AM 12/23 SD RWIS Howard Junction of S 66 MPH 1144 AM 12/23 Huron Regional Airport 66 MPH 1055 AM 12/23 Mitchell Municipal Airport 66 MPH 1253 PM 12/23 Lake Andes RAWS 66 MPH 1141 AM 12/23 Dovray MN-30 Mile Post 49 65 MPH 1205 PM 12/23 SD RWIS Beresford 64 MPH 0134 PM 12/23 Madison Airport 64 MPH 1215 PM 12/23 SD RWIS Dell Rapids 63 MPH 1254 PM 12/23 SD RWIS Davis 63 MPH 0215 PM 12/23 Ivanhoe 63 MPH 1210 PM 12/23 Hendricks MN-19 Mile Post 2 63 MPH 1135 AM 12/23 SD RWIS Wolsey 62 MPH 1045 AM 12/23 Sioux Falls Airport 62 MPH 1156 AM 12/23 SD RWIS Forestburg 61 MPH 1135 AM 12/23 SD RWIS Tyndall 60 MPH 1144 AM 12/23 SD RWIS Cavour 60 MPH 1030 AM 12/23 Gregory 60 MPH 0955 AM 12/23 Sheldon Airport 60 MPH 0355 PM 12/23 I-90 Mile Post 35 60 MPH 0300 PM 12/23 Platte 59 MPH 1055 AM 12/23 Wagner 59 MPH 1155 AM 12/23 Slayton Municipal Airport 59 MPH 0353 PM 12/23 Jackson Airport 59 MPH 0355 PM 12/23 Marshall Municipal Airport 59 MPH 1056 AM 12/23 Beaver Creek I-90 Mile Post 59 MPH 1140 AM 12/23 Tracy Airport 58 MPH 0235 PM 12/23 Yankton Municipal Airport 58 MPH 0855 AM 12/23 MN-71 Mile Post 43 58 MPH 0310 PM 12/23 |
Location Speed Time/Date SD RWIS Arlington 57 MPH 0235 PM 12/23 SD RWIS North Sioux City 57 MPH 0114 PM 12/23 Sioux City 56 MPH 0906 AM 12/23 Butte 8NNW 56 MPH 1131 AM 12/23 Canova 56 MPH 1150 AM 12/23 Brookings Municipal Airport 56 MPH 1256 PM 12/23 Spencer Municipal Airport 56 MPH 0253 PM 12/23 Windom Municipal Airport 55 MPH 0341 PM 12/23 Worthington Airport 55 MPH 0136 PM 12/23 FLANDREAU 54 MPH 1045 AM 12/23 Luverne 54 MPH 0231 PM 12/23 PARKSTON 54 MPH 1210 PM 12/23 Platte 53 MPH 1105 AM 12/23 Chamberlain Municipal Airpor 53 MPH 0915 AM 12/23 Alton (IA10) 53 MPH 0210 PM 12/23 WHITE LAKE 53 MPH 1120 AM 12/23 BROOKINGS 52 MPH 0110 PM 12/23 COLTON 52 MPH 1210 PM 12/23 Wessington Springs 52 MPH 1155 AM 12/23 Le Mars Airport 52 MPH 0335 PM 12/23 Concord 2E 52 MPH 0325 PM 12/23 OAK LAKE 52 MPH 0945 AM 12/23 SF LANDFLL 52 MPH 0120 PM 12/23 VOLGA 52 MPH 1230 PM 12/23 Storm Lake Airport 51 MPH 1115 AM 12/23 Redstone RAWS 50 MPH 1221 PM 12/23 Sioux City (I-29) 50 MPH 0350 PM 12/23 Lake Park 49 MPH 0245 PM 12/23 BERESFORD 49 MPH 0225 PM 12/23 Lakefield 49 MPH 0321 PM 12/23 Luverne Airport 49 MPH 0155 PM 12/23 Platte 48 MPH 1046 AM 12/23 BALTIC 47 MPH 0300 PM 12/23 South Sioux City 47 MPH 0345 PM 12/23 3 NNW De Smet 46 MPH 1055 AM 12/23 Tea 46 MPH 0155 PM 12/23 Sioux Center 45 MPH 0218 PM 12/23 Canton 45 MPH 0155 PM 12/23 |
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Photos & Video
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| Vehicle In Ditch (Dickinson County EM) |
Blown Over Semi (Dickinson County EM) |
Damage to Siding |
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