Winter Storm in South Dakota, April 9 to 11, 2013

Name: Winter Storm in South Dakota, April 9 to 11, 2013
Start: 2013-04-09T00:00
End: 2013-04-11T04:00
Location: South Dakota

April 9 to 11, 2013 · NWS FSD · 24 events in 24 counties and zones

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: $80 million
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.

Heavy precipitation with rapid cooling produced a combination of freezing rain, sleet, and snow over all of southeast South Dakota from the early morning hours of April 9th, to the morning of April 11th. Moderate to heavy ice accumulations were reported near Interstate 90. These were followed by moderate to heavy snow and sleet accumulations, mainly near and north of Interstate 90. The ice accumulations, greater than a half inch in some areas, caused major tree and power line damage in the ice storm area. Fallen branches and limbs were numerous, trees were destroyed, roads were blocked, and some vehicles and homes suffered damages from the falling trees, limbs, and branches. There were also major power outages because of the power line and power pole damage. Strong winds with and following the storm, not strong enough to cause significant damage under dry conditions, contributed greatly to the tree and power line damage. The snow and sleet accumulations made travel difficult, especially in areas where downed trees and power lines were already causing road blockages.

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 Apr 8, 9:32 PM CST, 2 hours 28 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 8, 9:32 PM CST, 2 hours 28 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 8, 4:12 PM CST, 7 hours 48 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
512 PM CDT MON APR 08 2013

SDZ038>040-050-052>071-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097-098-
IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-NEZ013-014-091200-
AURORA-BEADLE-BON HOMME-BROOKINGS-BRULE-BUENA VISTA IA-
CHARLES MIX-CHEROKEE IA-CLAY-CLAY IA-COTTONWOOD MN-DAKOTA NE-
DAVISON-DICKINSON IA-DIXON NE-DOUGLAS-GREGORY-HANSON-HUTCHINSON-
IDA IA-JACKSON MN-JERAULD-KINGSBURY-LAKE-LINCOLN-LINCOLN MN-
LYON IA-LYON MN-MCCOOK-MINER-MINNEHAHA-MOODY-MURRAY MN-NOBLES MN-
OBRIEN IA-OSCEOLA IA-PIPESTONE MN-PLYMOUTH IA-ROCK MN-SANBORN-
SIOUX IA-TURNER-UNION-WOODBURY IA-YANKTON-
512 PM CDT MON APR 08 2013

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA...
SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...NORTHWEST IOWA...AND NORTHEAST NEBRASKA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

WINTER WEATHER...
A WINTRY MIX OF RAIN OR FREEZING RAIN WILL DEVELOP WEST OF A
YANKTON...TO SIOUX FALLS TO MARSHALL MINNESOTA DURING THE
NIGHT...CHANGING TO SNOW WEST OF PICKSTOWN TO BROOKINGS LINE LATE
TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...VERY STRONG LOW PRESSURE WILL BRING A
WINTRY MIX OF RAIN...FREEZING RAIN AND SNOW TO THE AREA.
SIGNIFICANT SNOW IS EXPECTED FROM EAST CENTRAL TO SOUTH CENTRAL
SOUTH DAKOTA...WITH AMOUNTS OVER 8 INCHES QUITE LIKELY IN THOSE
AREAS. FURTHER EAST...ICING IS A THREAT ALONG AN AXIS FROM
YANKTON...TO SIOUX FALLS...TO BROOKINGS AND INTO THE NORTHERN
SECTIONS OF SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA. SOME OF THESE AREAS COULD
RECEIVE A QUARTER INCH OF ICE FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY
EVENING. EVENTUALLY...SOME SNOW WILL LIKELY OCCUR IN NORTHWEST
IOWA AND ADJACENT AREAS WITH LIGHT AMOUNTS EXPECTED LATE TUESDAY
NIGHT OR WEDNESDAY. WINDS WILL BE STRONG...AVERAGING 25 TO 35 MPH
FROM THE NORTH WHICH WILL CREATE BLOWING SNOW IN AREAS WHERE SNOW
IS EXPECTED. IN ADDITION...IF SIGNIFICANT ICING DEVELOPS...WINDS
OF THIS MAGNITUDE CAN CREATE STRESS ON POWER LINES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT.

&&

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SIOUXFALLS. THIS INCLUDES THE GRAPHICAL HAZARDOUS
WEATHER OUTLOOK.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

24 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Jerauld

When: April 9, 12:00 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Jerauld forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.066, -98.630 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain and freezing drizzle producing light ice accumulations, then changing to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching over 13 inches at Wessington Springs. The winter precipitation made travel very difficult, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Brule

When: April 9, 12:00 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Brule forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.718, -99.081 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain and freezing drizzle producing light ice accumulations, then changing to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching 10 inches near Chamberlain. The winter precipitation made travel very difficult, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Aurora

When: April 9, 12:00 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Aurora forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.718, -98.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain and freezing drizzle producing light to moderate ice accumulations, then changing to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching 12 inches at White Lake. Several branches and power lines were downed by the weight of ice and accompanying wind. The winter precipitation made travel very difficult to impossible, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Gregory

When: April 9, 12:00 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Gregory forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.192, -99.186 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain and freezing drizzle producing light ice accumulations, then changing to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching 10.5 inches at Burke. The winter precipitation made travel very difficult, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Charles Mix

When: April 9, 12:00 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Charles Mix forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.208, -98.588 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain and freezing drizzle producing light ice accumulations, then changing to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching 9.5 inches at Platte. The winter precipitation made travel very difficult, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Beadle

When: April 9, 2:00 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Beadle forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 44.415, -98.278 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain and freezing drizzle producing light ice accumulations, then changing to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching 11.5 inches near in the eastern part of the county southeast of Cavour. The winter precipitation made travel very difficult, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Kingsbury

When: April 9, 2:00 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Kingsbury forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 44.370, -97.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain and freezing drizzle producing light ice accumulations, then changing to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching over 9 inches at De Smet. The winter precipitation made travel very difficult, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Sanborn

When: April 9, 2:00 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Sanborn forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.023, -98.091 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain and freezing drizzle producing light ice accumulations, then changing to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching 9.5 inches near Forestburg. The winter precipitation made travel very difficult, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Davison

When: April 9, 2:00 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Davison forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 43.675, -98.146 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain and freezing drizzle producing light to moderate ice accumulations, then changing to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching 10 inches near Mitchell. Several branches and power lines were downed by the weight of ice and accompanying wind. The winter precipitation made travel very difficult to impossible, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Brookings

When: April 9, 3:00 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Brookings forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 44.370, -96.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain and freezing drizzle producing light ice accumulations, then changing to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching 12 inches at White. The winter precipitation made travel very difficult, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Miner

When: April 9, 3:00 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Miner forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 44.022, -97.610 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain and freezing drizzle producing light ice accumulations, then changing to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching the 5 to 10 inch range. The winter precipitation made travel very difficult, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Lake

When: April 9, 3:00 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Lake forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 44.022, -97.129 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain and freezing drizzle producing light ice accumulations, then changing to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching 10.5 inches near Winfred. The winter precipitation made travel very difficult, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Moody

When: April 9, 3:00 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Moody forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 44.022, -96.671 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain and freezing drizzle producing light ice accumulations, then changing to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching over 8 inches Chester. The winter precipitation made travel very difficult, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Hanson

When: April 9, 3:00 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Hanson forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.675, -97.787 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain and freezing drizzle producing light to moderate ice accumulations, then changing to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching the 5 to 8 inch range. Several branches and power lines were downed by the weight of ice and accompanying wind. The winter precipitation made travel very difficult to impossible, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Douglas

When: April 9, 3:00 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Douglas forecast zone
Property damage: $10 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 43.387, -98.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain quickly producing moderate to heavy ice accumulations, ranging up to more than a quarter of an inch. The precipitation then changed to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching 8.5 inches near Armour. Numerous branches and power lines were downed by the weight of ice and accompanying wind, with much of the power line damage affecting rural electric cooperatives. Trees and tree debris blocked roads, and damaged some vehicles and homes. Several power outages were reported. The winter precipitation made travel impossible in many areas, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Hutchinson

When: April 9, 3:00 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Hutchinson forecast zone
Property damage: $10 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 43.335, -97.754 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain quickly producing moderate to heavy ice accumulations, ranging up to more than a quarter of an inch. The precipitation then changed to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching the 5 to 8 inch range. Numerous branches and power lines were downed by the weight of ice and accompanying wind, with much of the power line damage affecting rural electric cooperatives. Trees and tree debris blocked roads, and damaged some vehicles and homes. Several power outages were reported. The winter precipitation made travel impossible in many areas, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Bon Homme

When: April 9, 3:00 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Bon Homme forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.988, -97.885 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain and freezing drizzle producing light ice accumulations, then changing to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching 5.5 inches at Tyndall. The winter precipitation made travel very difficult, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, McCook

When: April 9, 4:00 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: McCook forecast zone
Property damage: $10 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 43.674, -97.368 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain quickly producing moderate to heavy ice accumulations, ranging up to more than a quarter of an inch. The precipitation then changed to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching the 5 to 8 inch range. Numerous branches and power lines were downed by the weight of ice and accompanying wind, with much of the power line damage affecting rural electric cooperatives. Trees and tree debris blocked roads, and damaged some vehicles and homes. Several power outages were reported. The winter precipitation made travel impossible in many areas, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Minnehaha

When: April 9, 4:45 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Minnehaha forecast zone
Property damage: $20 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 43.674, -96.791 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain quickly producing heavy ice accumulations, ranging up to more than a half inch in Sioux Falls. The precipitation then changed to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching 10 inches near Wall Lake. Very many branches, limbs, whole trees, and power lines were downed by the weight of ice and accompanying wind. Both the Sioux Falls area and other urban areas and rural electric cooperatives suffered major power line damage.|Trees and tree debris blocked many roads, and damaged several vehicles and homes. Major power outages were reported, affecting tens of thousands of people. The winter precipitation made travel impossible in many areas, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Lincoln

When: April 9, 4:45 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Lincoln forecast zone
Property damage: $15 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 43.279, -96.722 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain quickly producing heavy ice accumulations, especially in the northern part of the county, with more than a half inch in southern Sioux Falls. The precipitation then changed to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching 9 inches in southern Sioux Falls. Many branches, limbs, whole trees, and power lines were downed by the weight of ice and accompanying wind. Both urban areas and rural electric cooperatives suffered major power line damage. Trees and tree debris blocked many roads, and damaged several vehicles and homes. Major power outages were reported, affecting thousands of people. The winter precipitation made travel impossible in many areas, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Turner

When: April 9, 4:45 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Turner forecast zone
Property damage: $15 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 43.311, -97.149 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain quickly producing heavy ice accumulations, with a quarter to a half inch in the northern part of the county. The precipitation then changed to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching 9 inches in Marion. Many branches, limbs, whole trees, and power lines were downed by the weight of ice and accompanying wind. Both urban areas and rural electric cooperatives suffered major power line damage. Trees and tree debris blocked many roads, and damaged several vehicles and homes. Major power outages were reported, affecting thousands of people. The winter precipitation made travel impossible in many areas, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Yankton

When: April 9, 11:00 AM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Yankton forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 43.009, -97.395 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with rain changing to freezing rain and freezing drizzle, producing light ice accumulations. The precipitation then changed to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching 5.6 inches near Yankton. The winter precipitation made travel very difficult, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Clay

When: April 9, 5:00 PM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 42.915, -96.976 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with rain changing to freezing rain and freezing drizzle, producing light ice accumulations. The precipitation then changed to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations of up to 5 inches. The winter precipitation made travel very difficult, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Winter Storm, Union

When: April 9, 5:00 PM CST to April 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Union forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.833, -96.656 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An extended period of precipitation began with rain changing to freezing rain and freezing drizzle, producing light ice accumulations mostly in the northern part of the county. The precipitation then changed to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations of up to 5 inches. The winter precipitation made travel very difficult, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in South Dakota in 2013 Every state in 2013 This day in weather history Warnings in South Dakota, April 2013

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: 448197, 448205, 448206, 448226, 448227, 448194, 448195, 448198, 448211, 448196, 448200, 448201, 448202, 448213, 448223, 448224, 448228, 448215, 448218, 448219, 448220, 448229, 448230, 448231.