Snowfall of 6 to 10 inches and winds gusting to over 40 mph produced widespread blizzard conditions on New Years Eve in southeast South Dakota near and west of a Pickstown to Mitchell to De Smet line. Roads were closed and many businesses were forced to close as travel became difficult to impossible.
Every event with a place to put it; 20 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS FSD wrote it up.
Snowfall of 6 to 10 inches and winds gusting to over 40 mph produced widespread blizzard conditions on New Years Eve in southeast South Dakota near and west of a Pickstown to Mitchell to De Smet line. Roads were closed and many businesses were forced to close as travel became difficult to impossible. Lesser snow amounts with strong winds produced winter storm conditions east of the blizzard area, with very low visibilities not as widespread. The storm continued to midnight, or the end of the year 2010, in most areas.
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 Sioux Falls, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 31, 3:28 AM CST, 2 hours 32 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR SOUTHEAST SD/SOUTHWEST MN/NORTHWEST IA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
328 AM CST FRI DEC 31 2010
.DISCUSSION...
ENDING 2010 WITH A BANG AS A LARGE SCALE NEGATIVELY TILTED TROUGH
SPINS INTO THE CENTRAL UNITED STATES TODAY. WATER VAPOR LOOP THROUGH
7Z SHOWS STRONG JET MAX SCREAMING INTO FAR WEST TEXAS AND JUST
BEGINNING TO MAKE THE NORTHWARD TURN ROUNDING THE BASE OF THE
TROUGH. THIS WILL SPREAD AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF LIFT INTO THE AREA
EARLY THIS MORNING...LUCKILY SPREADING NORTH AND WEST OF MUCH OF
THE CWA BY LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS EVENING. AS THIS WAVE OF
LIFT BLOWS THROUGH...PRECIPITATION RATES COULD BE SIGNIFICANT...IN
FACT SOME LOCATIONS COULD SEE SNOWFALL RATES APPROACHING 2 INCHES
PER HOUR. LUCKILY...AS LEAST AS IT IS SEEN NOW...THOSE LOCATIONS
WOULD LIKELY ONLY RECEIVE THIS HEAVIER PRECIPITATION FOR 2 TO 4
HOURS. THE BEST CHANCE FOR SOME OF THESE ENHANCED PRECIPITATION
RATES WILL BE ALONG AND EAST OF A YANKTON TO BROOKINGS LINE AND
ESPECIALLY FROM ABOUT 14Z THROUGH 21Z FROM SOUTH TO NORTH. ONE
FACTOR THAT WILL CUT DOWN ON SNOWFALL RATES A BIT IN THE FAR EAST
WILL BE THE LIKELIHOOD FOR SLEET. EXPECT MUCH OF NW IA AND PORTIONS
OF SW MN TO HAVE A PERIOD OF SLEET FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE
SWITCHING TO SNOW. ENSEMBLE SOUNDINGS STILL THE MOST CONSISTENT AND
AGGRESSIVE AT SHOWING THIS AND IN FACT THE HRRR REFLECTIVITY OUTPUT
REALLY HINTING AT THIS WITH MUCH MORE CELLULAR REFLECTIVITY EAST OF
I29 AND A SMOOTHER REFLECTIVITY ALONG AND WEST OF I29. THIS MATCHES
VERY WELL WITH MODEL SOUNDING OUTPUT AND PRECIPITATION TYPE
EXPECTATIONS. MODEL OUTPUT STILL HINTING AT A DECENT POTENTIAL FOR A
LITTLE THUNDER WITH ACTIVITY...ESPECIALLY IN THE EAST...SO WILL GO
AHEAD AND ADD A BRIEF PERIOD OF THAT AS WELL...MAINLY THIS MORNING
AND EARLY AFTERNOON. NAM 850MB LI'S NOW AS LOW AS -3 AND FARTHER
NORTHWEST THAN INDICATED YESTERDAY AND WITH SUCH A POTENT UPPER WAVE
SEEMS REASONABLE. THE WESTERN CWA WILL NOT BE AS LUCKY AS THE
EASTERN CWA IN TERMS OF A QUICK SHOT. EXPECT SNOWFALL TO MOVE IN
THIS MORNING AND LINGER THROUGH EVENING. ALTHOUGH SNOWFALL RATS WILL
BE A LITTLE LESS BUT STILL AROUND AN INCH AN HOUR AT TIMES...SO THE
EXPECTATIONS OF AN ADDITIONAL 6 TO 10 INCHES ON TOP OF YESTERDAYS
SNOWFALL STILL LOOKING ON TARGET. WILL HAVE TO WATCH THE LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS OVER EASTERN KS/NE OKLAHOMA. IF THIS LINE STARTS TO
RACE EASTWARD THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE FLOW COULD BE DIRECTED A LITTLE
FARTHER EAST...WHICH WOULD DECREASE CONVERGENCE A BIT AROUND HERE.
SO FAR NOT EXACTLY SCREAMING EASTWARD SO DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS
WILL DIMINISH OUR POTENTIAL.
WILL MAINTAIN THE ADVISORY IN THE EAST AS A LACK OF WINDS AND
SNOWFALL/SLEET ACCUMULATIONS NOT EXPECTED TO BE HIGH ENOUGH FOR
WARNING. STILL POTENTIALLY MESSY CONDITIONS HOWEVER...ESPECIALLY
LATE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON. WILL CHANGE THE START TIME FROM
I90 NORTH IN THE ADVISORY AND WARNING TO 15Z AS BAND OF
PRECIPITATION SHOULD HOLD OFF UNTIL ALMOST 18Z FOR BKX AND MML. WILL
MAINTAIN 9Z START TIME FOR WESTERN PORTION OF WARNING AS THINGS
SHOULD GO DOWNHILL PRETTY QUICKLY BETWEEN 9Z AND 15Z. HAVE UPGRADED
TO A BLIZZARD WARNING OVER CENTRAL SD WITH A MORE SUSTAINED
WIND...BECOMING STRONG TONIGHT AND MORE SNOW. DOES NOT SEEM LIKE IT
WILL BE DIFFICULT TO GET VISBYS OF A QUARTER MILE OR LESS. /08
&&
.AVIATION...
SFC LOW PRESSURE OVER THE PANHANDLE OF TX AT 06Z WILL SHIFT NE
TODAY...CENTERED OVER SW IA BY 18Z AND SE MN BY 00Z SAT. WIDESPREAD
SNOW WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA AS LOW PRESSURE
APPROACHES THIS MORNING. SNOW WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES THIS MORNING
AND AFTERNOON WITH SNOW RATES OF 1-2 INCHES PER HOUR LIKELY.
VISIBILITIES WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED WITH FALLING AND BLOWING
SNOW. SNOW WILL TAPER OFF TONIGHT BUT WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 25 TO
35 MPH OVER MUCH OF THE AREA...CONTINUING TO PRODUCE BLOWING SNOW
AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES. A FEW SNOW FLURRIES POSSIBLE INTO SAT BUT
SKIES WILL EVENTUALLY CLEAR OUT AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE NRN
PLAINS.
&&
.FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IA...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO NOON CST SATURDAY FOR
IAZ001-012.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO 6 AM CST SATURDAY
FOR IAZ002-003-013-014-020>022-031-032.
MN...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO NOON CST SATURDAY FOR
MNZ071-072-080-097-098.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO 6 AM CST SATURDAY
FOR MNZ081-089-090.
NE...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO NOON CST SATURDAY FOR
NEZ013.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO 6 AM CST SATURDAY
FOR NEZ014.
SD...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 3 AM FRIDAY TO NOON CST SATURDAY FOR
SDZ038-039-050-052>054-057>060-063>065-068.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO NOON CST SATURDAY FOR
SDZ040-055-056-061-062-066-067-069>071.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
11 blizzard, 9 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Snowfall of 6 to 9 inches and north to northwest winds gusting over 40 mph produced widespread blizzard conditions with near zero visibilities in many areas. Businesses and roads were closed by the storm with travel made difficult to impossible. The storm continued to midnight.
Snowfall of 6 to 10 inches and north to northwest winds gusting over 40 mph produced widespread blizzard conditions with near zero visibilities in many areas. The 10 inch accumulation was reported at De Smet. Businesses and roads were closed by the storm with travel made difficult to impossible. The storm continued to midnight.
Snowfall of 6 to 9 inches and north to northwest winds gusting over 40 mph produced widespread blizzard conditions with near zero visibilities in many areas. Businesses and roads were closed by the storm with travel made difficult to impossible. The storm continued to midnight.
Snowfall of 6 to 9 inches and north to northwest winds gusting over 40 mph produced widespread blizzard conditions with near zero visibilities in many areas. Businesses and roads were closed by the storm with travel made difficult to impossible. The storm continued to midnight.
Snowfall of 6 to 9 inches and north to northwest winds gusting over 40 mph produced widespread blizzard conditions with near zero visibilities in many areas. Businesses and roads were closed by the storm with travel made difficult to impossible. The storm continued to midnight.
Snowfall of 6 to 8 inches and north to northwest winds gusting over 40 mph produced widespread blizzard conditions with near zero visibilities in many areas. Businesses and roads, including Interstate 90, were closed by the storm with travel made difficult to impossible. The storm continued to midnight.
Snowfall of 6 to 9 inches and north to northwest winds gusting over 40 mph produced widespread blizzard conditions with near zero visibilities in many areas. Businesses and roads, including Interstate 90, were closed by the storm with travel made difficult to impossible. The storm continued to midnight.
Snowfall of 6 to 8 inches and north to northwest winds gusting over 40 mph produced widespread blizzard conditions with near zero visibilities in many areas. Businesses and roads, including Interstate 90, were closed by the storm with travel made difficult to impossible. The storm continued to midnight.
Snowfall of 6 to 9 inches and north to northwest winds gusting over 40 mph produced widespread blizzard conditions with near zero visibilities in many areas. Businesses and roads, including Interstate 90, were closed by the storm with travel made difficult to impossible. The storm continued to midnight.
Snowfall of 6 to 9 inches and north to northwest winds gusting over 40 mph produced widespread blizzard conditions with near zero visibilities in many areas. Businesses and roads, including Interstate 90, were closed by the storm with travel made difficult to impossible. The storm continued to midnight.
Snowfall of 6 to 9 inches and north to northwest winds gusting over 40 mph produced widespread blizzard conditions with near zero visibilities in many areas. Businesses and roads, including Interstate 90, were closed by the storm with travel made difficult to impossible. The storm continued to midnight.
Snowfall of 3 to 6 inches was accompanied by winds gusting to around 40 mph, producing widespread blowing snow with visibilities frequently below a half mile. Travel was made very difficult. Some businesses and roads were closed, including Interstate 29. The storm continued to midnight.
Snowfall of 3 to 6 inches was accompanied by winds gusting to around 40 mph, producing widespread blowing snow with visibilities frequently below a half mile. Travel was made very difficult. Some businesses and roads were closed. The storm continued to midnight.
Snowfall of 2 to 6 inches was accompanied by winds gusting to around 40 mph, producing widespread blowing snow with visibilities frequently below a half mile. Travel was made very difficult. Some businesses and roads were closed. The storm continued to midnight.
Snowfall of 2 to 6 inches was accompanied by winds gusting to around 40 mph, producing widespread blowing snow with visibilities frequently below a half mile. Travel was made very difficult. Some businesses and roads were closed. The storm continued to midnight.
Snowfall of 2 to 6 inches was accompanied by winds gusting to around 40 mph, producing widespread blowing snow with visibilities frequently below a half mile. Travel was made very difficult. Some businesses and roads were closed. The storm continued to midnight.
Snowfall of 2 to 5 inches was accompanied by winds gusting to around 40 mph, producing widespread blowing snow with visibilities frequently below a half mile. Travel was made very difficult. Some businesses and roads were closed, including Interstate 29.
Snowfall of 2 to 5 inches was accompanied by winds gusting to around 40 mph, producing widespread blowing snow with visibilities frequently below a half mile. Travel was made very difficult. Some businesses and roads were closed, including Interstate 29.
Snowfall of 2 to 5 inches was accompanied by winds gusting to around 40 mph, producing widespread blowing snow with visibilities frequently below a half mile. Travel was made very difficult. Some businesses and roads were closed.
Snowfall of 2 to 5 inches was accompanied by winds gusting to around 40 mph, producing widespread blowing snow with visibilities frequently below a half mile. Travel was made very difficult. Some businesses and roads were closed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Dakota in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, December 2010
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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 274859, 274861, 274862, 274863, 274864, 274865, 274867, 274868, 274870, 274871, 274872, 274874, 274875, 274876, 274877, 274878, 274879, 274881, 274882, 274883.