South Dakota, 2011

Extreme Cold in South Dakota, February 1 to 2, 2011

February 1 to 2, 2011 · NWS FSD · 24 events in 24 counties and zones

Falling temperatures and strong north to northwest winds produced dangerous wind chills throughout the first day of February and on the morning of February 2nd. The extreme cold came as a system which produced snow and blowing snow at the end of January moved east away from the area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 24 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
24

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 FSD wrote it up.

Falling temperatures and strong north to northwest winds produced dangerous wind chills throughout the first day of February and on the morning of February 2nd. The extreme cold came as a system which produced snow and blowing snow at the end of January moved east away from the area.

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 Sioux Falls, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 31, 3:28 PM CST, 8 hours 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 31, 3:28 PM CST, 8 hours 32 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 31, 4:52 AM CST, 19 hours 8 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

24 extreme cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Beadle

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Beadle forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
44.415, -98.278 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills reached the 35 to 40 below zero range at times despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Kingsbury

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Kingsbury forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
44.370, -97.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills reached the 35 to 40 below zero range at times despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Brookings

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Brookings forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
44.370, -96.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills reached the 35 to 40 below zero range at times despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Jerauld

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Jerauld forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
44.066, -98.630 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills reached the 35 to 40 below zero range at times despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Sanborn

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Sanborn forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
44.023, -98.091 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills reached the 35 to 40 below zero range at times despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Miner

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Miner forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
44.022, -97.610 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills reached the 35 to 40 below zero range at times despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Lake

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Lake forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
44.022, -97.129 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills reached the 35 to 40 below zero range at times despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Moody

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Moody forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
44.022, -96.671 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills reached the 35 to 40 below zero range at times despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Brule

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Brule forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
43.718, -99.081 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills reached the 35 to 40 below zero range at times despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Aurora

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Aurora forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
43.718, -98.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills reached the 35 to 40 below zero range at times despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Davison

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Davison forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
43.675, -98.146 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills continued in this very cold range despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Hanson

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Hanson forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
43.675, -97.787 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills continued in this very cold range despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, McCook

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
McCook forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
43.674, -97.368 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills continued in this very cold range despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Minnehaha

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Minnehaha forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
43.674, -96.791 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills continued in this very cold range despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Gregory

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Gregory forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
43.192, -99.186 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills continued in this very cold range despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Charles Mix

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Charles Mix forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
43.208, -98.588 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills continued in this very cold range despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Douglas

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Douglas forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
43.387, -98.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills continued in this very cold range despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Hutchinson

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Hutchinson forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
43.335, -97.754 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills continued in this very cold range despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Turner

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Turner forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
43.311, -97.149 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills continued in this very cold range despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Lincoln

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Lincoln forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
43.279, -96.722 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills continued in this very cold range despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Bon Homme

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Bon Homme forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
42.988, -97.885 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills continued in this very cold range despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Yankton

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Yankton forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
43.009, -97.395 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills continued in this very cold range despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Clay

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Clay forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
42.915, -96.976 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills continued in this very cold range despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Union

When
February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Union forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
42.833, -96.656 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North to northwest winds averaging 15 to 30 mph combined with temperatures dropping below zero to produce wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero on February 1st. On the night of February 1st and the early morning of February 2nd, wind chills continued in this very cold range despite slowly decreasing winds, as temperatures fell further below zero.

What these are

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Temperatures or wind chills at or below the local warning criteria, or cold that caused deaths.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in South Dakota in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, February 2011

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: 284569, 284570, 284571, 284572, 284573, 284574, 284575, 284576, 284577, 284578, 284579, 284581, 284582, 284583, 284584, 284586, 284587, 284588, 284589, 284590, 284591, 284592, 284594, 284595.