South Dakota, 2008

Blizzard in South Dakota, April 10 to 11, 2008

April 10 to 11, 2008 · NWS ABR · 14 events in 14 counties and zones

An intense area of low pressure moving northeast across the Central Plains brought widespread heavy snow and strong winds to parts of central and northeast South Dakota. Snowfall amounts from 3 to 16 inches combined with north winds of 30 to 45 mph brought widespread blowing and drifting snow with blizzard conditions and heavy drifting affecting much of the area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 14 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
14

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.

An intense area of low pressure moving northeast across the Central Plains brought widespread heavy snow and strong winds to parts of central and northeast South Dakota. Snowfall amounts from 3 to 16 inches combined with north winds of 30 to 45 mph brought widespread blowing and drifting snow with blizzard conditions and heavy drifting affecting much of the area. A few thunderstorms also occurred bringing rapid snowfall rates to some areas. Many vehicles went into the ditch with many other accidents occurring. Most roads became nearly impassable with no travel advised for parts of central and much of northeast South Dakota. There were many people stranded to wait out the storm. Also, many schools and businesses were closed on Friday the 11th. Snowfall amounts included, 6 inches at Faulkton, Ree Heights, Kidder, and Hayti, 7 inches at Garden City, Castlewood, Miller, Britton, and near Stephan, 9 inches at Waubay, Bryant, and Roy Lake, 10 inches at Big Stone City and Milbank, 11 inches at Wilmot, Watertown, and Victor, 15 inches at Summit, and 16 inches at Clear Lake.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Aberdeen, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 10, 10:15 AM CST, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 10, 10:15 AM CST, 1 hour 45 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 10, 3:28 AM CST, 8 hours 32 minutes before
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

14 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Grant

When
April 10, 12:00 PM CST to April 11, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Grant forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
45.172, -96.768 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Hamlin

When
April 10, 12:00 PM CST to April 11, 4:00 PM CST
Where
Hamlin forecast zone
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
44.674, -97.188 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Deuel

When
April 10, 12:00 PM CST to April 11, 4:00 PM CST
Where
Deuel forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
44.760, -96.668 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Roberts

When
April 10, 1:00 PM CST to April 11, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Roberts forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
45.630, -96.946 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Codington

When
April 10, 1:00 PM CST to April 11, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Codington forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
44.978, -97.189 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Clark

When
April 10, 2:00 PM CST to April 11, 2:00 PM CST
Where
Clark forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
44.858, -97.729 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Day

When
April 10, 3:00 PM CST to April 11, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Day forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
45.367, -97.607 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Marshall

When
April 10, 4:00 PM CST to April 11, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Marshall forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
45.759, -97.598 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Jones

When
April 10, 6:00 PM CST to April 11, 6:00 AM CST
Where
Jones forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
43.961, -100.690 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Lyman

When
April 10, 7:00 PM CST to April 11, 11:00 AM CST
Where
Lyman forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
43.896, -99.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Hand

When
April 10, 7:00 PM CST to April 11, 11:00 AM CST
Where
Hand forecast zone
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
44.548, -99.005 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Buffalo

When
April 10, 7:00 PM CST to April 11, 11:00 AM CST
Where
Buffalo forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
44.076, -99.205 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Hyde

When
April 10, 8:00 PM CST to April 11, 11:00 AM CST
Where
Hyde forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
44.547, -99.487 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Spink

When
April 10, 8:00 PM CST to April 11, 2:00 PM CST
Where
Spink forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
44.938, -98.346 (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 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, April 2008

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: 96297, 96303, 96305, 96296, 96299, 96295, 96294, 96290, 96276, 96277, 96280, 96281, 96278, 96285.