November 29-30 Blizzard and Winter Storm

Overview

A strong storm system moved out of the central Rockies into the northern and central plains over the November 29-30, 2019 Thanksgiving weekend. The storm brought a large amount of moisture in the form of ice and snow, and very strong winds. Freezing drizzle on Thanksgiving and Black Friday transitioned to snow, which became heavy Friday night (November 29) and Saturday (November 30). Strong winds, with gusts of 45 to 60 mph, developed across northeastern Wyoming and western South Dakota Saturday morning. The winds, combined with snowfall amounts of 8 to 18 inches on the plains, created blizzard conditions. In the northern Black Hills, over two feet of snow was reported. Due to the wind direction, areas around and south of Custer, South Dakota only received 3 to 6 inches of snow.

The amounts of snowfall and moisture with this system were impressive for this time of year. In fact, several new records were set in Rapid City at the NWS Office for precipitation and snowfall due to this event:

14.5" of snow for November 30 set a new daily and monthly snowfall record. The previous monthly 1-day snowfall total was 10.6" on November 6, 1998.
15.9" of snowfall was reported in 2 days (November 29-30). This was the greatest 2-day November total. The previous record for November was 12.5" November 21-22, 2003
2019 November Snowfall was 26.0". This is the highest amount of snowfall ever reported in November. The previous record was 22.4". However, there wasn't any records kept in 1985, when the Rapid City Airport received 33.6" of snow for the month.

Snowfall Totals
Radar
Photos

Snowfall Totals


Preliminary Storm Total (click to enlarge) Note: These amounts will change as we get more reports!

Snowfall Totals from November 29-30, 2019
Snow reports listed by amount INCHES LOCATION ST COUNTY TIME ------ ----------------------- -- -------------- ------- 30.00 LEAD SD LAWRENCE 0122 AM 3 TO 5 FT DRIFTS 30.00 2 N CENTRAL CITY SD LAWRENCE 0345 PM 25.00 2 SSE TERRY PEAK SD LAWRENCE 0700 AM STORM TOTAL 23.00 DWTN SPEARFISH SD LAWRENCE 0600 PM 22.00 2 NW DWTN SPEARFISH SD LAWRENCE 0600 PM 21.00 BLACK HAWK SD MEADE 0120 AM 20.00 2 NNW SAINT ONGE SD LAWRENCE 0946 AM 19.50 1 SSE DWTN SPEARFISH SD LAWRENCE 0800 AM STORM TOTAL 19.00 3 N TILFORD SD MEADE 0128 AM STORM TOTAL 18 TO 20 INCHES 19.00 12 WSW HEREFORD SD MEADE 0956 PM WINDS STILL BLOWING, SNOW HAS STOPPED. 19.00 1 NNW PIEDMONT SD MEADE 0900 PM STORM TOTAL 18.00 3 SSE NEMO SD LAWRENCE 1000 AM 18.00 STURGIS SD MEADE 1139 PM STORM TOTAL BEST GUESS 18.00 7 NNE ELLSWORTH AFB SD MEADE 0957 PM DRIFTS 5 TO 6 FEET TALL. 17.50 4 WNW RAPID CITY ARPT SD PENNINGTON 0140 AM 17.50 2 SW DWTN RAPID CITY SD PENNINGTON 0745 PM 17 TO 18 INCHES OF SNOW 17.10 JOHNSON SIDING SD PENNINGTON 0934 PM 16.00 SUMMERSET SD MEADE 1130 PM STORM TOTAL 16.00 4 W DWTN RAPID CITY SD PENNINGTON 1128 PM STORM TOTAL 15.70 1 E DWTN RAPID CITY SD PENNINGTON 0141 AM STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL 15.00 2 WNW DWTN SPEARFISH SD LAWRENCE 0700 AM STORM TOTAL 15.00 3 NW RAPID CITY ARPT SD PENNINGTON 0113 AM 14.50 3 SW DWTN RAPID CITY SD PENNINGTON 0420 PM STORM TOTAL 14.00 2 W OPAL SD MEADE 0900 AM STORM TOTAL, WINDS SUSTAINED AT 33 MPH AROUND 3 PM 14.00 2 SW NORRIS SD MELLETTE 0700 AM STORM TOTAL 14.00 2 S DWTN RAPID CITY SD PENNINGTON 0700 AM STORM TOTAL 14.00 3 SSE DWTN RAPID CITY SD PENNINGTON 0119 AM 3 TO 4 FOOT DRIFTS 14.00 SAINT ONGE SD LAWRENCE 1245 PM 13.50 3 S BEULAH WY CROOK 0430 PM 13.00 8 WNW USTA SD PERKINS 0700 AM LOTS OF DRIFTING, WINDS STILL 20 TO 30 MPH FROM THE NORTHWEST 13.00 8 WNW USTA SD PERKINS 0700 AM STORM TOTAL 13.00 4 NE HULETT WY CROOK 0641 AM STORM TOTAL 13.00 4 NE ROCKERVILLE SD PENNINGTON 0550 PM 13.00 5 ESE ELM SPRINGS SD MEADE 0500 PM STILL SNOWING 12.80 3 SE SAINT ONGE SD LAWRENCE 0700 AM STORM TOTAL 12.70 1 NNE SUNDANCE WY CROOK 0826 AM STORM TOTAL 12.00 5 S ALVA WY CROOK 0830 AM 12.00 4 SE VALE SD MEADE 0740 AM STORM TOTAL, 3 TO 4 FT DRIFTS 12.00 BELLE FOURCHE SD BUTTE 0739 AM 12.00 4 NNE SUMMERSET SD MEADE 0700 AM STORM TOTAL 12.00 1 S BELLE FOURCHE SD BUTTE 0700 AM STORM TOTAL 12.00 NEWELL SD BUTTE 0700 AM 12.00 2 ENE WESTON WY CAMPBELL 0700 PM 24-HOUR SNOWFALL. 12.00 9 WSW RED ELM SD ZIEBACH 0652 PM BEST GUESS, LOTS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING 12.00 2 E STURGIS SD MEADE 0600 PM 24-HOUR SNOWFALL. 12.00 1 W DWTN RAPID CITY SD PENNINGTON 1200 PM 12.00 BEULAH WY CROOK 1200 PM 11.80 5 NE ROCKERVILLE SD PENNINGTON 0700 AM STORM TOTAL 11.00 VALE SD BUTTE 1135 PM STORM TOTAL 10 TO 12 INCHES 11.00 5 NE MILESVILLE SD HAAKON 0600 PM 24-HOUR SNOWFALL. 11.00 1 N HISEGA SD PENNINGTON 0300 PM STILL SNOWING 11.00 NISLAND SD BUTTE 1230 PM 11.00 1 SW DWTN SPEARFISH SD LAWRENCE 1200 PM 3.5 INCHES OF ADDITIONAL SNOW SINCE 9 AM. 11.00 5 ESE NORRIS SD MELLETTE 1130 AM 10.50 8 SE INTERIOR SD JACKSON 0400 PM 10.40 3 NE HISEGA SD PENNINGTON 0700 AM STORM TOTAL 10.00 DUPREE SD ZIEBACH 0430 PM 24-HOUR SNOWFALL. 10.00 MEADOW SD PERKINS 1130 AM 0.7 INCHES OF ICE UNDER THE 10 INCHES OF SNOW. 10.00 4 ESE DWTN RAPID CITY SD PENNINGTON 0957 AM LOTS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY. 9.50 8 SE MUD BUTTE SD MEADE 0700 AM STORM TOTAL 9.40 10 N ZEONA SD PERKINS 0700 AM 9.00 8 E MARTIN SD BENNETT 0700 AM STROM TOTAL 9.00 SUNDANCE WY CROOK 0600 AM STORM TOTAL 9.00 RED OWL SD MEADE 0700 PM 24-HOUR SNOWFALL. 9.00 4 S DEVILS TOWER WY CROOK 0600 PM STORM TOTAL 9.00 3 NE WHITEWOOD SD LAWRENCE 1130 AM 0.69" OF LIQUID. WINDS GUSTS OF 30 TO 35 MPH. 9.00 2 W BOX ELDER SD PENNINGTON 0943 AM 9.00 4 W DWTN RAPID CITY SD PENNINGTON 0930 AM VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE, STILL SNOWING 8.90 7 N WOOD SD MELLETTE 0600 AM STORM TOTAL 8.00 1 W HOT SPRINGS SD FALL RIVER 0700 AM 8.00 4 SE DWTN GILLETTE WY CAMPBELL 0400 PM 24-HOUR SNOWFALL. 8.00 3 SW WHITEWOOD SD LAWRENCE 0955 AM 7.70 1 NNE UPTON WY WESTON 0826 AM STORM TOTAL 7.00 DWTN GILLETTE WY CAMPBELL 0620 AM STORM TOTAL 6.00 8 WSW LODGEPOLE SD PERKINS 0800 AM STORM TOTAL 6.00 3 SSE HARDING SD HARDING 0800 AM STORM TOTAL 6.00 3 E NEWCASTLE WY WESTON 0700 AM STORM TOTAL 6.00 4 NNW CAMP CROOK SD HARDING 0230 PM 6.00 2 SSW DWTN GILLETTE WY CAMPBELL 0949 AM VISIBILITY LESS THAN A QUARTER MILE 6.00 3 SE NEWCASTLE WY WESTON 0911 AM WINDS ARE NOW BLOWING THE SNOW AROUND, NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY 5.00 6 N FAIRBURN SD CUSTER 0924 AM 5.00 1 NNE EDGEMONT SD FALL RIVER 0600 AM STORM TOTAL 5.00 EDGEMONT SD FALL RIVER 0800 PM STORM TOTAL 4.50 2 W CUSTER SD CUSTER 1142 PM STORM TOTAL 4.30 HILL CITY SD PENNINGTON 0700 AM STORM TOTAL 4.00 MOUNT RUSHMORE SD PENNINGTON 1200 AM 24-HOUR SNOWFALL. STORM TOTAL 2.50 15 S BUFFALO SD HARDING 1200 PM 2-3 INCHES OF SNOW, NOT MUCH DRIFTING. 2.00 12 SW CUSTER SD CUSTER 0659 PM STORM TOTAL - IN DOWNSLOPE HOLE Wind gust reports listed by speed (mph) SPEED LOCATION ST COUNTY TIME ------ ----------------------- -- -------------- ------- 59.00 1 E DWTN RAPID CITY SD PENNINGTON 0141 AM 53.00 ELLSWORTH AFB SD MEADE 0455 PM 53.00 10 W EDGEMONT SD FALL RIVER 0257 PM 51.00 3 NNW SCENIC SD PENNINGTON 0611 PM 51.00 13 SSW REVA SD HARDING 0331 PM

Radar

Radar imagery through Saturday, November 30th, showing the development and evolution of heavy snow across portions of western South Dakota, the Black Hills, and the Bear Lodge Mountains.

Photos

Meadow, SD - Ice Before the Snow


Black Hills Electric Co-op: Lines Slapping in the Wind

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November 29-30 Blizzard and Winter Storm

Snowfall Totals from November 29-30, 2019