Winter Storm and Blizzard Warning Issued for Central South Dakota Counties
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
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The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning and subsequent Blizzard Warning for central South Dakota, forecasting heavy snow and wind gusts up to 50 mph.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Winter Storm Warning
- Affected area
- Central South Dakota
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Aberdeen
Storm notices can cover different combinations of wind, hail, lightning, and rainfall. Use the original notice for the hazards and boundaries attached to this specific record.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Central South Dakota.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Aberdeen, SD, has issued a Winter Storm Warning followed by a Blizzard Warning. These alerts cover a significant weather event expected to impact the region starting Saturday evening and continuing through Sunday.
Affected Areas
The following counties in South Dakota are under these warnings:
- Hand County
- Hyde County
- Faulk County
- Clark County
- Spink County
Expected Conditions
Residents should prepare for hazardous winter weather conditions including:
- Snow Accumulation: Total event accumulations between 6 and 10 inches.
- Wind Speeds: Winds are expected to gust as high as 40 mph during the Winter Storm Warning and increase to 50 mph during the Blizzard Warning.
- Visibility: Widespread blowing snow and whiteout conditions are expected, which will make travel extremely dangerous or impossible.
- Other Hazards: Gusty winds may result in downed tree branches.
Timeline
The weather event is divided into two distinct phases:
- Winter Storm Warning: In effect from 7:00 PM Saturday to 1:00 AM CDT Sunday.
- Blizzard Warning: In effect from 1:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT Sunday.
- Expiration: The overall alert is set to expire at 1:00 AM CDT on Monday, March 15.
What You Should Do
Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, follow these safety protocols:
- Keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle.
- Carry a winter survival kit.
- If you become stranded, stay with your vehicle.
- Check the latest road conditions by calling 5 1 1.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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