Winter Storm in South Dakota, November 30, 2015

Name: Winter Storm in South Dakota, November 30, 2015
Start: 2015-11-30T02:00
End: 2015-11-30T23:59
Location: South Dakota

November 30, 2015 · NWS FSD · 24 events in 24 counties and zones

Snowfall of 5 to 11 inches followed a period of freezing drizzle over southeast South Dakota. The freezing drizzle fell after midnight on November 30th, then the accumulating snow developed from east to west that morning and continued into the start of the afternoon of December 1st.

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.

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 Nov 29, 11:26 PM CST, 2 hours 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 29, 11:26 PM CST, 2 hours 34 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 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Brookings

When: November 30, 2:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Brookings forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 44.370, -96.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 5 to 8 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 7.0 inches at and near Brookings. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Moody

When: November 30, 2:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Moody forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 44.022, -96.671 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 5 to 8 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 7.0 inches at Flandreau. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Minnehaha

When: November 30, 2:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Minnehaha forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.674, -96.791 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 6 to 10 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 9.3 inches at Sioux Falls. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Lincoln

When: November 30, 2:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Lincoln forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.279, -96.722 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 6 to 9 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 9 inches near Sioux Falls. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Union

When: November 30, 2:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Union forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.833, -96.656 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 6 to 9 inches over a 24 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 8 inches south of Big Springs. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Lake

When: November 30, 2:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Lake forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 44.022, -97.129 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 6 to 11 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 10.4 inches near Madison. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, McCook

When: November 30, 3:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: McCook forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.674, -97.368 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 6 to 10 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 10.0 inches at Bridgewater. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Turner

When: November 30, 3:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Turner forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.311, -97.149 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 6 to 9 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 7.2 inches 6 miles southeast of Centerville. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Clay

When: November 30, 3:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.915, -96.976 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 6 to 9 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 8.0 inches at Vermillion. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Kingsbury

When: November 30, 3:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Kingsbury forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.370, -97.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 5 to 8 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 6.0 inches at De Smet. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Miner

When: November 30, 3:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Miner forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 44.022, -97.610 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 5 to 9 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 8.0 inches at Howard. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Beadle

When: November 30, 3:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Beadle forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 44.415, -98.278 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 5 to 9 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 8.0 inches near Huron. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Sanborn

When: November 30, 4:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Sanborn forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 44.023, -98.091 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 5 to 9 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 8.0 inches at Woonsocket. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Hanson

When: November 30, 4:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hanson forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.675, -97.787 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 6 to 9 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 7.0 inches near Alexandria. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Davison

When: November 30, 4:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Davison forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.675, -98.146 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 6 to 10 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 9.4 inches near Mitchell. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Hutchinson

When: November 30, 4:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hutchinson forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.335, -97.754 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 5 to 9 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 6.5 inches at Menno. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Yankton

When: November 30, 4:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Yankton forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.009, -97.395 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 5 to 7 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 6.0 inches near Yankton. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Bon Homme

When: November 30, 4:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Bon Homme forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.988, -97.885 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 5 to 7 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 5.0 inches at Tyndall. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Jerauld

When: November 30, 4:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Jerauld forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 44.066, -98.630 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 5 to 8 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 6.0 inches at Wessington Springs. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Aurora

When: November 30, 4:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Aurora forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.718, -98.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 6 to 9 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 8.0 inches at White Lake. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Douglas

When: November 30, 4:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Douglas forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.387, -98.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 6 to 9 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 7.6 inches east of Corsica. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Brule

When: November 30, 5:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Brule forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 43.718, -99.081 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 6 to 11 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 11.0 inches at Chamberlain. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Charles Mix

When: November 30, 5:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Charles Mix forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.208, -98.588 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 5 to 9 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 6.0 inches at Pickstown. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

Winter Storm, Gregory

When: November 30, 5:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Gregory forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 43.192, -99.186 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Freezing drizzle was quickly followed by snow. The snow accumulated 6 to 10 inches over a 24 to 30 hour period that continued into December 1st, including 10.0 inches at Gregory. The storm resulted in cancellations or cutbacks of school classes.

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 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history Warnings in South Dakota, November 2015

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: 608055, 608056, 608057, 608058, 608059, 608060, 608061, 608062, 608063, 608064, 608065, 608066, 608067, 608068, 608069, 608070, 608071, 608072, 608073, 608074, 608075, 608076, 608077, 608078.