A strong low pressure system east of the region produced strong winds over portions of western South Dakota, with the strongest winds in the Rapid City area. Northwesterly winds of 30 to 45 mph with a few gusts around 60 mph were recorded from Rapid City to Hermosa.
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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 UNR wrote it up.
A strong low pressure system east of the region produced strong winds over portions of western South Dakota, with the strongest winds in the Rapid City area. Northwesterly winds of 30 to 45 mph with a few gusts around 60 mph were recorded from Rapid City to Hermosa.
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 29, 2:41 AM MST, 1 hour 49 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
241 AM MST Tue Nov 29 2016
.SHORT TERM...(Today Through Wednesday Night)
Issued at 239 AM MST Tue Nov 29 2016
09z surface analysis had stacked low over the SD/ND/MN border.
Upper low spreading bands of -SN into the CWA early this morning
with distinct upslope/downslope/downstream convergence signatures
on KUDX WSR-88D. The disposition of this system is the main
concern.
Today and this evening, upper low moves little and weakens a bit. A
couple of impulses will rotate around it maintaining bands of -SN
much of the day under weakening TROWAL over the Dakotas. Guidance
continues to advertise well-defined upslope snow event for the
northern Black Hills, adjacent foothills, and parts of northeast WY.
Additional snow of 4-8 inches+ possible over the favored higher
terrain. Could see an area of moderate snow downstream over parts of
Oglala Lakota into Bennett and Jackson counties. New snow amounts on
the plains will be highly variable. Areas of strong winds will
continue as surface trough moves from ND into western SD this
morning. Have upgraded Rapid City area to High Wind warning as a
result. Winter headlines still look good given combination of snow
and blowing snow through this evening, but will need to watch
downstream convergence areas for possible upgrade.
Overnight into Wednesday, upper low weakens and starts moving away.
Gradient will slacken as well as areas of -SN with upslope tailing
off significantly. A bit of accumulation possible Wednesday over
central SD as last gasp of upward vertical motion from system moves
away.
Wednesday night, a chilly night in store with wide variability
in temperatures depending on snow cover.
.LONG TERM...(Thursday Through Monday)
Issued at 239 AM MST Tue Nov 29 2016
Dry weather expected late this week and this weekend for most of
the area as drier flow aloft from the west-northwest develops over
the region. Weak disturbances in the flow will bring clouds at
times and possibly a few snow showers from far northeast WY into
the Black Hills. Temperatures will mostly be near average through
the weekend, upper 20s and 30s Thursday and Friday, mid 30s to mid
40s over the weekend.
Medium range models have been consistently showing some arctic air
surging into the Northern Plains sometime early next week, mostly in
the Monday night/Tuesday timeframe. Chances for light snow will
likely accompany the arctic air as a large upper trof digs over the
Rockies region. Temperatures look to be well below average Tuesday
and at least the middle of next week.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS Through 12Z Wednesday Morning)
Issued At 239 AM MST Tue Nov 29 2016
MVFR/IFR conditions across most of the area today, with areas of
LIFR, especially over the northern Black Hills area where snow
will be heaviest. VFR conditions can generally be expected over
most of the southern Black Hills and far southwest SD. Strong
northwesterly winds will continue through this afternoon...with a
few gusts to near 50 kt across the west central SD plains.
Conditions will gradually improve across northeast WY this
afternoon and across much of western SD tonight.
&&
.UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...Winter Storm Warning until 5 AM MST Wednesday for SDZ001-002-012-
014-024-025-028-072.
Winter Weather Advisory until 5 AM MST /6 AM CST/ Wednesday for
SDZ013-030>032-042>044-046-047-073.
Wind Advisory until 11 PM MST this evening for SDZ027-041.
High Wind Warning until 11 PM MST this evening for SDZ026-074.
WY...Winter Storm Warning until 5 AM MST Wednesday for WYZ056-057-071.
Winter Weather Advisory until 11 PM MST this evening for WYZ054.
&&
SHORT TERM...Helgeson
LONG TERM...26
AVIATION...26The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Dakota in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, November 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: 661782, 661783.