South Dakota, 2016

Winter Storm and Winter Weather in South Dakota, November 28 to 30, 2016

November 28 to 30, 2016 · NWS UNR · 17 events in 17 counties and zones

A strong low pressure system moved into eastern portions of the Northern Plains and stalled out for nearly 48 hours. Wrap-around moisture behind the low brought snow to much of western and south central South Dakota.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 17 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
17

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 UNR wrote it up.

A strong low pressure system moved into eastern portions of the Northern Plains and stalled out for nearly 48 hours. Wrap-around moisture behind the low brought snow to much of western and south central South Dakota. The heaviest snow fell across the northern Black Hills as significant upslope snowfall developed and persisted for 36 hours. Snowfall amounts of one to two feet were common across the northern Black Hills, with localized amounts to three feet west of Lead. Snow amounts on the northwestern to west central South Dakota plains ranged from three to seven inches, with little to no snowfall from the Rapid City area to far southwestern South Dakota. Strong northwesterly winds caused significant blowing and drifting snow and visibilities below a quarter mile in many areas. Interstate 90 was closed from Piedmont to Spearfish on the afternoon of the 29th to the morning of the 30th.

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 Rapid City, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 28, 10:28 AM MST, 1 hour 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 28, 10:28 AM MST, 1 hour 32 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 28, 3:23 AM MST, 8 hours 37 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
323 AM MST MON NOV 28 2016

SDZ024-028-WYZ057-291300-
NORTHERN BLACK HILLS-CENTRAL BLACK HILLS-WYOMING BLACK HILLS-
323 AM MST MON NOV 28 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE BLACK HILLS
OF SOUTH DAKOTA...AND THE BLACK HILLS OF WYOMING.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SNOW WILL DEVELOP LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE THROUGH
TONIGHT. SEE THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE PRODUCT, WSWUNR,
FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. SEE THE LATEST WINTER
WEATHER MESSAGE PRODUCT, WSWUNR, FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY.

&&

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER UPDATES...OR CHECK
OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/RAPIDCITY

SDZ001-002-012-025-072-WYZ071-291300-
HARDING-PERKINS-BUTTE-NORTHERN FOOT HILLS-
STURGIS/PIEDMONT FOOT HILLS-NORTHEASTERN CROOK-
323 AM MST MON NOV 28 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN SOUTH
DAKOTA...AND NORTHEAST WYOMING.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. SEE
THE LATEST WEATHER MESSAGE, NPWUNR, FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.

SNOW WILL DEVELOP LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE THROUGH
TONIGHT. SEE THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE PRODUCT, WSWUNR,
FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. SEE THE LATEST WINTER
WEATHER MESSAGE PRODUCT, WSWUNR, FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY.

&&

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER UPDATES...OR CHECK
OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/RAPIDCITY

WYZ054-056-291300-
NORTHERN CAMPBELL-WESTERN CROOK-
323 AM MST MON NOV 28 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST
WYOMING.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SNOW WILL DEVELOP LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE THROUGH
TONIGHT. SEE THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE PRODUCT, WSWUNR,
FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. SEE THE LATEST WINTER
WEATHER MESSAGE PRODUCT, WSWUNR, FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY.

&&

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER UPDATES...OR CHECK
OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/RAPIDCITY

SDZ013-014-030>032-042>044-073-291300-
NORTHERN MEADE CO PLAINS-ZIEBACH-CUSTER CO PLAINS-
PENNINGTON CO PLAINS-HAAKON-OGLALA LAKOTA-JACKSON-BENNETT-
SOUTHERN MEADE CO PLAINS-
323 AM MST MON NOV 28 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN SOUTH
DAKOTA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. SEE
THE LATEST WEATHER MESSAGE, NPWUNR, FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.

SNOW WILL DEVELOP LATE THIS EVENING AND CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT.
SEE THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE PRODUCT, WSWUNR, FOR THE
LATEST INFORMATION.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. SEE THE LATEST WINTER
WEATHER MESSAGE PRODUCT, WSWUNR, FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY.

&&

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER UPDATES...OR CHECK
OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/RAPIDCITY

SDZ026-027-029-041-046-047-049-074-WYZ055-058-291300-
RAPID CITY-SOUTHERN FOOT HILLS-SOUTHERN BLACK HILLS-FALL RIVER-
MELLETTE-TODD-TRIPP-HERMOSA FOOT HILLS-SOUTHERN CAMPBELL-WESTON-
323 AM MST MON NOV 28 2016 /423 AM CST MON NOV 28 2016/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL
SOUTH DAKOTA...THE BLACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA...WESTERN SOUTH
DAKOTA...AND NORTHEAST WYOMING.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT, WITH GUSTS OF
40 TO 55 MPH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING, WITH
GUSTS OF 40 TO 55 MPH.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY.

&&

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER UPDATES...OR CHECK
OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/RAPIDCITY

In the hours before

Local storm report, Nov 28, 11:43 AM MST, 17 minutes before
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Local storm report, Nov 28, 11:58 AM MST, 2 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

9 winter weather, 8 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Perkins

When
November 28, 12:00 PM MST to November 30, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Perkins forecast zone
Reported by
CoCoRaHS
Coordinates
45.491, -102.476 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Ziebach

When
November 28, 3:00 PM MST to November 30, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Ziebach forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
44.980, -101.666 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northern Black Hills

When
November 28, 6:00 PM MST to November 30, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Northern Black Hills forecast zone
Reported by
SNOTEL
Coordinates
44.310, -103.111 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Central Black Hills

When
November 28, 7:00 PM MST to November 30, 3:00 AM MST
Where
Central Black Hills forecast zone
Reported by
SNOTEL
Coordinates
43.841, -103.137 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northern Foot Hills

When
November 28, 8:00 PM MST to November 30, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Northern Foot Hills forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
44.359, -103.792 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Butte

When
November 28, 9:00 PM MST to November 30, 1:00 AM MST
Where
Butte forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
44.906, -103.508 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Sturgis / Piedmont Foothills

When
November 28, 9:00 PM MST to November 30, 3:00 AM MST
Where
Sturgis / Piedmont Foothills forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
44.567, -102.717 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Harding

When
November 28, 10:00 PM MST to November 29, 11:00 PM MST
Where
Harding forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.580, -103.496 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Oglala Lakota

When
November 28, 11:00 PM MST to November 30, 3:00 AM MST
Where
Oglala Lakota forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.336, -102.552 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Bennett

When
November 28, 11:00 PM MST to November 30, 5:00 AM MST
Where
Bennett forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.195, -101.664 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Pennington Co Plains

When
November 29, 1:00 AM MST to November 30, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Pennington Co Plains forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
44.004, -102.824 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Jackson

When
November 29, 1:00 AM MST to November 30, 5:00 AM MST
Where
Jackson forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
43.694, -101.628 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Northern Meade Co Plains

When
November 29, 2:00 AM MST to November 30, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Northern Meade Co Plains forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
44.567, -102.717 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Southern Meade Co Plains

When
November 29, 2:00 AM MST to November 30, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Southern Meade Co Plains forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
44.567, -102.717 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Mellette

When
November 29, 7:00 AM CST to November 30, 7:00 AM CST
Where
Mellette forecast zone
Reported by
CoCoRaHS
Coordinates
43.581, -100.760 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Todd

When
November 29, 7:00 AM CST to November 30, 7:00 AM CST
Where
Todd forecast zone
Reported by
CoCoRaHS
Coordinates
43.193, -100.718 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Tripp

When
November 29, 11:00 AM CST to November 30, 7:00 AM CST
Where
Tripp forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
43.346, -99.884 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
Winter Weather
Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in South Dakota in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, November 2016

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: 662788, 662793, 662795, 662797, 662796, 662789, 662805, 662787, 662799, 662801, 662798, 662800, 662790, 662806, 662802, 662803, 662804.