Freezing drizzle and areas of freezing rain caused icy surfaces, resulting in several vehicle accidents, at least one of which was fatal. the icing occurred during Christmas Eve night and into the daylight hours of Christmas morning.
Every event with a place to put it; 8 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.
Freezing drizzle and areas of freezing rain caused icy surfaces, resulting in several vehicle accidents, at least one of which was fatal. the icing occurred during Christmas Eve night and into the daylight hours of Christmas morning. Warming temperatures alleviated the icing later on Christmas 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 Dec 24, 8:29 PM CST, 31 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
829 PM CST Sat Dec 24 2016
.UPDATE...
Issued at 823 PM CST Sat Dec 24 2016
At this time, will make no changes to the headlines. Area radars
continue to be free of echoes with not even drizzle showing up.
Therefore backed off on the pops a bit in the overnight hours and
slowed the northward progress of the drizzle/freezing drizzle
some. Stratus continues to move to the west as expected along the
east to southeast flow of air. Therefore temperatures should begin
to steady out in our west and in fact will likely rise. With
moisture advection and winds increasing through the night, some
locations may see their hourly temperatures warm a bit more then
expected, except in southwest MN where an easterly flow of air is
quite cool for that location. So they will remain rather steady in
the upper 20s. Still, except for our far southern zones around
Sioux City, if any drizzle does fall, it will likely freeze late
tonight with temperatures near or just below 32, but with
locations around Sioux City just above freezing.
The fog is problematic tonight. At this time, there are not a lot
of observations that are at a quarter mile or less. Most
observations are in the 1/2 mile to 1 1/2 mile range. Under the
stratus, the surface dew point depressions are very small which
should aid fog development. But with the winds increasing to the
10 to 20 mph range, that may be mixing the near surface
environment just enough to keep a lot of dense fog formation at
bay. Therefore certainly do not want to drop our current dense fog
advisory, but do not have enough evidence to expand it westward
either. So will leave it as is and monitor our western
observations closely as their surface dew point depressions shrink
with the oncoming stratus.
&&
.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Sunday)
Issued at 257 PM CST Sat Dec 24 2016
Active forecast with fog continuing to plague eastern areas of the
forecast. Expect this fog to remain through the afternoon hours,
and then expand tonight as strong moisture/thetae advection is
expected tonight. For simplicity sake, have left dense fog advisory
in place throughout the night. Would not be surprised if dense fog
advisory will need to be expanded in time and space through the
overnight hours. Could see some drizzle develop mainly after 9Z as
low level moisture transport increases and wind shear at the top of
the saturated layer increases. Areas along and north of I-90 are
still below freezing at that point, and could see a little bit of
freezing rain prior to the dynamic warming from south to north
resulting in temperatures warming above freezing. Have continued
freezing rain advisory through the morning.
Mainly expecting rain throughout the day, but could have a few
lightning strikes with the atmosphere remaining unstable from near
850 mb. Biggest concern will be the winds. While there is a strong
inversion in place, will have to watch winds closely with any shower
activity that develops. Forecast sounds suggest 55-60 knots of flow
around 1500 feet. Concern is that if the downdrafts get strong
enough they could bring the momentum down from aloft. Once the cold
front comes through, could see a little bit of snow develop Sunday
night across central South Dakota but amounts should be very minor.
Once again, the biggest concerns will be the winds which may gust up
towards 50 mph Sunday night.
.LONG TERM...(Sunday night through Saturday)
Issued at 257 PM CST Sat Dec 24 2016
Didn't spend a lot of time on the extended and focused more
attention to Christmas storm. But wind continues on Monday with
temperatures cooling back below normal. Cooler highs are brief
though as they return to the 30s by Thursday. Not much in the way
of precip expected in the long range, but there are plenty of
hints of weak disturbances passing through with the northwest flow
and may produce some light snow or flurries.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Sunday evening)
Issued at 527 PM CST Sat Dec 24 2016
KHON may see some temporary partial clearing this evening. But
overall a lot of LIFR and IFR, with also some VLIFR will be found
over the area tonight with freezing drizzle developing especially
between 06Z and 12Z Sunday. That said, it is possible KSUX may be
warm enough that their precipitation could be liquid drizzle. A
strong storm system will then move in on Christmas Day creating a
lot of rainfall with IFR to perhaps lower end MVFR conditions. A
combination of the rain and increasing winds gusting frequently
more than 25 knots from the east, could very well scour out the
lowest of the stratus. In addition, mentioned some TSRA in the TAF
sites as a heads up that conditions are unstable enough in this
forecast area Sunday afternoon to warrant storms. This is a very
rare occurrence in this forecast area on Christmas Day so
mentioning the possibility is prudent.
&&
.FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...Dense Fog Advisory until 4 AM CST Sunday for SDZ039-040-054>056-
061-062-066-067-069>071.
Freezing Rain Advisory from 3 AM to noon CST Sunday for
SDZ038>040-052>057.
MN...Dense Fog Advisory until 4 AM CST Sunday for MNZ071-072-080-081-
089-090-097-098.
Freezing Rain Advisory from 3 AM to noon CST Sunday for MNZ071-
072-080-081-089-090-097-098.
IA...Dense Fog Advisory until 4 AM CST Sunday for IAZ001>003-012>014-
020>022-031-032.
Freezing Rain Advisory from 3 AM to noon CST Sunday for IAZ002-
003-014.
NE...Dense Fog Advisory until 4 AM CST Sunday for NEZ013-014.
&&
UPDATE...MJ
SHORT TERM...BT
LONG TERM...Heitkamp
AVIATION...MJHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD 610 PM CST SAT DEC 24 2016 SDZ038-052-053-057-260015- BEADLE-JERAULD-SANBORN-BRULE- 610 PM CST SAT DEC 24 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA...EAST CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA AND SOUTH CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT LATE TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING FOR ICE ACCUMULATIONS UP TO A TENTH OF AN INCH. FREEZING DRIZZLE LATE TONIGHT WILL LIKELY CHANGE OVER TO LIGHT FREEZING RAIN EARLY CHRISTMAS DAY. FOG WILL ALSO LIKELY DEVELOP LATE TONIGHT AND CHRISTMAS MORNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FREEZING RAIN WILL CHANGE OVER TO LIQUID...WITH RAIN AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS FROM LATE CHRISTMAS MORNING ONWARD. SEVERE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED. WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL BECOME VERY STRONG SUNDAY NIGHT WITH GUSTS OF 35 TO 50 MPH QUITE POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. IAZ002-003-014-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097-098-SDZ039-040- 054>056-260015- OSCEOLA-DICKINSON-CLAY IA-LINCOLN MN-LYON MN-MURRAY-COTTONWOOD- NOBLES-JACKSON-PIPESTONE-ROCK-KINGSBURY-BROOKINGS-MINER-LAKE- MOODY- 610 PM CST SAT DEC 24 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST IOWA...SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA AND EAST CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A DENSE FOG ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT TONIGHT FOR VISIBILITIES DEVELOPING OF A QUARTER MILE OR LESS. IN ADDITION...A FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT LATE TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING FOR ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO A TENTH OF AN INCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THE FREEZING RAIN AND DRIZZLE WILL GIVE WAY TO RAIN AND SOME THUNDERSTORMS FROM LATE CHRISTMAS MORNING ONWARD. THE SEVERE THREAT IS LOW. HOWEVER A FEW STORMS MAY BE MARGINALLY SEVERE CHRISTMAS DAY AFTERNOON WITH BRIEF WINDS OF UP TO 60 MPH. THIS IS BECAUSE SURFACE WINDS WILL AVERAGE 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH EVEN WITHOUT STORMS. WINDS WILL BECOME SOUTHWESTERLY SUNDAY NIGHT AND WILL STILL AVERAGE A VERY STRONG 30 TO 45 MPH. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL PROBABLY NOT BE NEEDED SUNDAY AFTERNOON. IAZ001-012-013-020>022-031-032-NEZ013-014-SDZ061-062-066-067- 069>071-260015- LYON IA-SIOUX-O'BRIEN-PLYMOUTH-CHEROKEE-BUENA VISTA-WOODBURY-IDA- DIXON-DAKOTA-MCCOOK-MINNEHAHA-TURNER-LINCOLN SD-YANKTON-CLAY SD- UNION- 610 PM CST SAT DEC 24 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST IOWA...WEST CENTRAL IOWA...NORTHEAST NEBRASKA AND SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A DENSE FOG ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR TONIGHT...WITH VISIBILITIES OF A QUARTER MILE OR LESS DEVELOPING. FREEZING DRIZZLE OR DRIZZLE IS ALSO A THREAT LATE TONIGHT...AND SOME GLAZE OF A FEW HUNDREDTHS OF AN INCH MAY OCCUR ESPECIALLY APPROACHING THE I 90 CORRIDOR. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY DRIZZLE...OR A FREEZING DRIZZLE MIX EARLY CHRISTMAS MORNING WILL GIVE WAY TO RAIN WITH SOME THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE DAY ON CHRISTMAS. THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT IS LOW...HOWEVER A FEW STORMS MAY BE MARGINALLY SEVERE WITH BRIEF WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH. THIS IS BECAUSE SURFACE WINDS WILL AVERAGE 25 TO 35 MPH...WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH EVEN WITHOUT STORMS. AS WINDS BECOME SOUTHWESTERLY SUNDAY NIGHT...IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE VERY WINDY WITH GUSTS OF 40 TO 45 MPH. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. SDZ050-058>060-063>065-068-260015- GREGORY-AURORA-DAVISON-HANSON-CHARLES MIX-DOUGLAS-HUTCHINSON- BON HOMME- 610 PM CST SAT DEC 24 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE AND FOG COULD DEVELOP LATE TONIGHT WHICH MAY CAUSE A THIN GLAZE OF ICE ON UNTREATED SURFACES. TEMPERATURES WILL BE CLOSE TO FREEZING HOWEVER...SO PRECIPITATION SHOULD CHANGE TO LIQUID BY EARLY CHRISTMAS DAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THERE WILL LIKELY BE A MIX OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN AND RAIN VERY EARLY CHRISTMAS DAY...GIVING WAY TO RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS FROM MID MORNING ON. SEVERE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED. VERY STRONG WINDS WILL BECOME WEST TO NORTHWEST SUNDAY NIGHT AND WILL GUST TO 45 TO 50 MPH. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
8 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Freezing drizzle and freezing rain caused icy surfaces, resulting in a few vehicle accidents.
Freezing drizzle and freezing rain caused icy surfaces, resulting in a few vehicle accidents. One of the accidents, on Highway 23 about 11 p.m., was fatal.
Freezing drizzle and freezing rain caused icy surfaces, resulting in a few vehicle accidents.
Freezing drizzle and freezing rain caused icy surfaces, resulting in a few vehicle accidents.
Freezing drizzle and freezing rain caused icy surfaces, resulting in a few vehicle accidents.
Freezing drizzle and freezing rain caused icy surfaces, resulting in a few vehicle accidents.
Freezing drizzle and freezing rain caused icy surfaces, resulting in a few vehicle accidents.
Freezing drizzle and freezing rain caused icy surfaces, resulting in a few vehicle accidents.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather, Lyon | 2016-12-24 | 20 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Minnesota in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, December 2016
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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 664504, 664505, 664506, 664507, 664508, 664509, 664510, 664511.