South Dakota, 1998

Blizzard in South Dakota, February 24 to 28, 1998

February 24 to 28, 1998 · NWS UNR · 10 events in 10 counties and zones

A powerful winter storm brought widespread blizzard conditions to northwest (and parts of west central) South Dakota between February 24 and 28. Snow accumulations between 10 and 20 inches were common along the northern foothills surrounding the Black Hills and on the plains to the north and east.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 10 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
10

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 UNR wrote it up.

A powerful winter storm brought widespread blizzard conditions to northwest (and parts of west central) South Dakota between February 24 and 28. Snow accumulations between 10 and 20 inches were common along the northern foothills surrounding the Black Hills and on the plains to the north and east. In the Black Hills, National Weather Service cooperative observes recorded the following snow accumulations between February 24 and 28: 63 inches at Galena, 48 inches at Lead. Unofficial observations included a 72 inch accumulation south of Lead, and a 90 inch accumulation at Icebox Canyon southwest of Lead. Widespread blowing and drifting snow halted air and land traffic throughout west central South Dakota as numerous highways and and the Rapid City Regional Airport were closed at various times between the 24 and 28. Snow drifts up to 12 feet were observed in the Black Hills, with drift heights up to 7 feet observed 40 miles to the east of the Black Hills on the plains.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Butte / Except X Sw Butte

When
February 24, 12:00 PM MST to February 28, 11:59 PM MST
Where
Butte / Except X Sw Butte forecast zone
Coordinates
44.906, -103.508 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Central Black Hills / W Pennington / Pennington

When
February 24, 12:00 PM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where
Central Black Hills / W Pennington / Pennington forecast zone
Coordinates
43.841, -103.137 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Central Foot Hills / C Pennington / Part of E Custer

When
February 24, 12:00 PM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where
Central Foot Hills / C Pennington / Part of E Custer forecast zone
Coordinates
44.004, -102.824 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Custer Plains / X E Custer

When
February 24, 12:00 PM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where
Custer Plains / X E Custer forecast zone
Coordinates
43.678, -103.451 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Harding

When
February 24, 12:00 PM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where
Harding forecast zone
Coordinates
45.580, -103.496 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Meade Co. Plains / Except X Sw Meade

When
February 24, 12:00 PM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where
Meade Co. Plains / Except X Sw Meade forecast zone
Coordinates
44.567, -102.717 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Northern Black Hills / Lawrence Except N / Lawrence Except Sw Meade

When
February 24, 12:00 PM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where
Northern Black Hills / Lawrence Except N / Lawrence Except Sw Meade forecast zone
Coordinates
44.310, -103.111 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Northern Foot Hills / N Lawrence / X Sw Butte / Part of Sw Meade

When
February 24, 12:00 PM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where
Northern Foot Hills / N Lawrence / X Sw Butte / Part of Sw Meade forecast zone
Coordinates
44.359, -103.792 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Perkins

When
February 24, 12:00 PM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where
Perkins forecast zone
Coordinates
45.491, -102.476 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Pennington Plains / E Pennington

When
February 24, 12:00 PM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where
Pennington Plains / E Pennington forecast zone
Coordinates
44.004, -102.824 (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 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, February 1998

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5634688, 5635083, 5635084, 5635085, 5635086, 5635087, 5635088, 5635089, 5635090, 5635091.