South Dakota, 1996

Blizzard in South Dakota, December 23, 1996

December 23, 1996 · NWS ABR · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

Blizzard conditions occurred across northeast South Dakota from the late afternoon through the early evening with visibilities frequently below one quarter of a mile. Also, two to five inches of snow fell across northeast South Dakota adding to the already significant snow depth.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS ABR wrote it up.

Blizzard conditions occurred across northeast South Dakota from the late afternoon through the early evening with visibilities frequently below one quarter of a mile. Also, two to five inches of snow fell across northeast South Dakota adding to the already significant snow depth. Widespread heavy drifting on roads along with the low visibilities made travel nearly impossible.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Marshall

When
December 23, 3:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Marshall forecast zone
Coordinates
45.759, -97.598 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Roberts

When
December 23, 3:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Roberts forecast zone
Coordinates
45.630, -96.946 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Day

When
December 23, 3:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Day forecast zone
Coordinates
45.367, -97.607 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Clark

When
December 23, 3:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Clark forecast zone
Coordinates
44.858, -97.729 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Codington

When
December 23, 3:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Codington forecast zone
Coordinates
44.978, -97.189 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Grant

When
December 23, 3:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Grant forecast zone
Coordinates
45.172, -96.768 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Hamlin

When
December 23, 3:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Hamlin forecast zone
Coordinates
44.674, -97.188 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Deuel

When
December 23, 3:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Deuel forecast zone
Coordinates
44.760, -96.668 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Blizzard
Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in South Dakota in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, December 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5577110, 5577111, 5577112, 5577113, 5577114, 5577115, 5577265, 5577266.