Blizzard Warning 1, NWS Sioux Falls, SD

527 
WWUS43 KFSD 212356
WSWFSD

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
556 PM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

IAZ002-003-014-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097-098-SDZ038>040-055-056-
220100-
/O.CAN.KFSD.BZ.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260122T0000Z/
Osceola-Dickinson-Clay-Lincoln-Lyon-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-
Jackson-Pipestone-Rock-Beadle-Kingsbury-Brookings-Lake-Moody-
Including the cities of Slayton, Madison, Huron, Brookings,
Milford, Mountain Lake, Marshall, Windom, Lakefield, Arnolds
Park, Luverne, Lake Preston, Fulda, Arlington, Tyler, Pipestone,
Spirit Lake, Jackson, Worthington, Orland, Spencer, Lake Benton,
Sibley, Hendricks, De Smet, Ivanhoe, and Flandreau
556 PM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED...

Winds have dropped below warning criteria and snow has ceased to 
fall. Therefore will let the Blizzard warning expire at 6pm.

$$

IAZ001-012-013-022-SDZ052>054-059>062-067-220100-
/O.EXP.KFSD.WW.Y.0004.000000T0000Z-260122T0000Z/
Lyon-Sioux-O'Brien-Buena Vista-Jerauld-Sanborn-Miner-Davison-
Hanson-McCook-Minnehaha-Lincoln-
Including the cities of Montrose, Woonsocket, Rock Rapids,
Bridgewater, Hull, Rock Valley, Orange City, Mitchell, Inwood,
George, Tea, Sheldon, Salem, Harrisburg, Storm Lake, Wessington
Springs, Lennox, Hawarden, Emery, Canistota, Canton, Hartley,
Alpena, Sanborn, Sioux Center, Larchwood, Sioux Falls,
Alexandria, and Howard
556 PM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 6 PM CST THIS EVENING...

Winds have dropped below advisory criteria and snow has ceased to 
fall. Therefore will let the Winter Weather Advisory expire at 6pm.

$$

AP

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
522 AM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Another shot of snow will move through the area today, with
  the better chances near and north of I-90. Following this snow
  will be wind gusts of 40 to 60 mph from mid-morning through
  the afternoon. Blowing snow will likely cause hazardous travel
  with brief near whiteout conditions throughout the day,
  especially near and north of I-90 and into parts of northwest
  IA.

- Life-threatening cold temperatures move in for the end of the
  week and start of the weekend. Wind chills as low as -30 to
  -45 are possible Friday morning. An extreme cold watch is in
  effect for Friday morning.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 300 AM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

A fast moving wave will dive southeast this morning. Initially this
will bring a shot of snow to the area with the better forcing near
and north of I-90. This fairly compact wave does show some hints of
weak instability so as the snow moves through this morning into the
early afternoon from west to east, some snowfall rates could be half
an inch to an inch per hour, albeit any one locations is not likely
to see much more than 3 or so hours of snow with this initial push.
The better chances for an inch or so of accumulation will be north
of I-90 and east of the James River. Now, as this lift shifts east
very strong northwest winds gusting to 40 to 60 mph will fill in.
This should produce quite a bit of blowing snow, along with some
indications of shallow instability in the mixed layer which lies
within the dgz, so some additional snow showers will be likely. Will
maintain the winter weather advisory with brief whiteout conditions
likely, especially with the initial burst of snow mid to late
morning, and again with the very strong winds late morning into the
early evening.

Winds will diminish this evening, but remain breezy into Thursday
night. Thursday into Thursday night will see some wind gusts of 25
to 35 mph as very cold air settles south. This is in response to a
large area of low pressure in central Canada, which will allow cold
northerly flow to remain in place into early parts of the weekend.
Wind chill values will average -25 to -40 Thursday night into Friday
night. Models are hinting at a wave diving south into the area
Saturday night into Sunday, but thermally we are so cold that
quality snow may be difficult to come by. One thing to watch out for
on Thursday will be the potential for more shallow instability snow
showers which could bring spotty reductions in visibility during the
morning into mid afternoon.

Flow aloft turns a bit more westerly early next week which should
allow temperatures to climb back to around normal. Models hinting at
a few weak waves in the flow during this time as well, so maybe some
spotty chances for snow early next week as well.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 519 AM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

Scattered MVFR ceilings are expected this morning with the
better chances east of I-29. Snow will move through the area
this morning into the early afternoon, bringing occasional MVFR
and IFR visibilities. Late morning through the afternoon
northwest winds will gust to 40 to 60 mph which will likely
produce brief periods of near whiteout conditions in patchy
light snow and blowing snow. By evening winds will diminish
enough that most of the blowing snow will come to an end and
mainly VFR conditions are expected after about 2-3z.

&&

.FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 6 PM CST
     this evening for SDZ056-062-067.
     Extreme Cold Watch from Thursday evening through Friday
     afternoon for SDZ038>040-052>056-058>062-065>067-069>071.
     Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 6 PM CST this evening
     for SDZ070-071.
     Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM CST this evening for
     SDZ038>040-052>055-059>061.
     Wind Advisory until 6 PM CST this evening for SDZ050-057-058-
     063>066-068-069.
     Extreme Cold Watch from Thursday evening through Friday
     afternoon for SDZ050-057-063-064-068.
MN...Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 6 PM CST
     this evening for MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097-098.
     Extreme Cold Watch from Thursday evening through Friday
     afternoon for MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097-098.
IA...Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 6 PM CST
     this evening for IAZ001>003-012>014-022.
     Extreme Cold Watch from Thursday evening through Friday
     afternoon for IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032.
     Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 6 PM CST this evening
     for IAZ020-021-031-032.
NE...Extreme Cold Watch from Thursday evening through Friday
     afternoon for NEZ013-014.
     Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 6 PM CST this evening
     for NEZ013-014.

&&

DISCUSSION...08
AVIATION...08

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
427 AM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097-
098-NEZ013-014-SDZ038>040-050-052>071-221030-
Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Sioux-O'Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee-
Buena Vista-Woodbury-Ida-Lincoln-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson-
Pipestone-Rock-Dixon-Dakota-Beadle-Kingsbury-Brookings-Gregory-
Jerauld-Sanborn-Miner-Lake-Moody-Brule-Aurora-Davison-Hanson-
McCook-Minnehaha-Charles Mix-Douglas-Hutchinson-Turner-Bon Homme-
Yankton-Union-
427 AM CST Wed Jan 21 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest Iowa,
west central Iowa, southwest Minnesota, northeast Nebraska,
central South Dakota, east central South Dakota, south central
South Dakota, and southeast South Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Snow will quickly move through the area this morning into the
early afternoon. Generally an inch or less is expected. The main
story however will be northwest winds that will gust to 40 to 60
mph late this morning into the afternoon. This will cause brief,
near whiteout conditions with the worst conditions near and north
of Interstate 90. Conditions will improve during the evening. Take
extra precautions if travel is necessary.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

An arctic blast dives south Thursday, increasing the risk for
blowing snow. Wind chills are expected drop to 25 below to 45
below zero Thursday night into Saturday. The coldest wind chills
will be Thursday night into Friday morning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.