Heavy Snow in South Dakota, April 5 to 6, 2018

Name: Heavy Snow in South Dakota, April 5 to 6, 2018
Start: 2018-04-05T20:00
End: 2018-04-06T10:00
Location: South Dakota

April 5 to 6, 2018 · NWS UNR · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

A spring storm system brought rain and snow to the region. Heavy snow fell across much of the northern Black Hills area during the overnight and early morning hours.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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 spring storm system brought rain and snow to the region. Heavy snow fell across much of the northern Black Hills area during the overnight and early morning hours. Four to eight inches of snow fell across much of the area, with amounts close to 12 inches in the Spearfish area.

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 Apr 5, 4:47 PM MST, 3 hours 13 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 5, 4:47 PM MST, 3 hours 13 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
547 PM MDT Thu Apr 5 2018

.DISCUSSION...(This Evening Through Thursday)
Issued at 235 PM MDT Thu Apr 5 2018

Upper level analysis has closed low and associated trof swinging
through southern Manitoba, with ridging across the West Coast.
Across the Northern Plains...weak mid-level energy is moving
through the area with scattered snow showers across the Black
Hills and SD plains. At the surface, weak cold front has pushed
through much of western SD with winds breezy out of the north.
Temperatures at 2pm are in the upper 20s to lower 40s.

Mid level shortwave associated with the Canadian upper low will
swing through the Northern Plains tonight, and cold air will
continue to drop into the area. Strong frontogenesis will develop
along the baroclinic zone, beneath coupled upper jets. With
plentiful moisture available, a band of snow will spread across
mainly the southwestern 2/3 of the CWA. High-res models are now
showing a fairly good swath of QPF across southern Campbell
County, Weston County, and into far southwest SD, with snow
amounts expected to be enough to upgrade these areas into the
current Winter Storm Warnings. After midnight, snow will be heavy
at times, especially across the warning areas, with up to 8
inches of snow possible, and locally higher amounts across the
higher elevations of the Black Hills. Surrounding areas are
expected to receive 3 to 5 inches, locally up to 6. Winds will be
northerly around 15 mph, so blowing snow is not expected to be
much of an issue. Northwestern/north central SD won't receive much
precip from this system.

Cold high pressure will settle into the northern plains Friday. Snow
will end Friday late morning for most places, possibly lingering
into the afternoon over the Black Hills. Highs will be only in
the 20s. Northerly winds of 15 to 20 mph Friday morning may
produce some local areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Transient ridging will allow for a brief dry period Friday night
into Saturday, before the next wave brings another round of precip.
Slightly warmer temps may allow for some of this precip to fall as
rain, then changing to snow Saturday night, mainly across eastern
SD. Yet another cold front will push through the region Sunday,
resulting in some gusty northerly winds.

Next week looks warmer and drier, although a couple waves may bring
chances for precip towards the middle and end of the week.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS Through 00Z Friday Evening)
Issued At 545 PM MDT Thu Apr 5 2018

Snow will spread across northeast Wyoming into the Black Hills and
southwest/south central South Dakota tonight and Friday morning.
Widespread IFR/LIFR visibility with the snow. Outside of the snow,
areas of MVFR ceilings will be found across portions of northwest
South Dakota.

&&

.UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...Winter Storm Warning until noon MDT Friday for SDZ024-025-
     027>029-041-072.

     Winter Weather Advisory until noon MDT /1 PM CDT/ Friday for
     SDZ012-026-030-031-042>044-047-073-074.

WY...Winter Storm Warning until noon MDT Friday for WYZ055-057-058.

     Winter Weather Advisory until noon MDT Friday for WYZ054-056-071.

&&

DISCUSSION...15
AVIATION...7

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 5, 3:28 AM MST, 16 hours 32 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
428 AM MDT Thu Apr 5 2018

SDZ012-026-027-030-031-041>044-047-073-074-WYZ054>056-058-071-
061300-
Butte-Rapid City-Southern Foot Hills-Custer Co Plains-
Pennington Co Plains-Fall River-Oglala Lakota-Jackson-Bennett-
Todd-Southern Meade Co Plains-Hermosa Foot Hills-
Northern Campbell-Southern Campbell-Western Crook-Weston-
Northeastern Crook-
428 AM MDT Thu Apr 5 2018 /528 AM CDT Thu Apr 5 2018/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western South
Dakota and northeastern Wyoming.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Snow will redevelop in earnest tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Snow will continue Friday morning and then taper off. Storm total
snow accumulations will average 2 to 5 inches with local 6 inch
amounts possible.

.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

SDZ001-002-013-014-032-046-049-061300-
Harding-Perkins-Northern Meade Co Plains-Ziebach-Haakon-Mellette-
Tripp-
428 AM MDT Thu Apr 5 2018 /528 AM CDT Thu Apr 5 2018/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western South
Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Light snow will redevelop tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Light snow will end Friday morning with minor accumulations. 1 to
3 inches may fall from Philip to Winner.

.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

SDZ024-025-028-029-072-WYZ057-061300-
Northern Black Hills-Northern Foot Hills-Central Black Hills-
Southern Black Hills-Sturgis/Piedmont Foot Hills-
Wyoming Black Hills-
428 AM MDT Thu Apr 5 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwestern
South Dakota...the Black Hills of South Dakota...and the Black
Hills of Wyoming.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Snow will redevelop this evening. The snow will be heavy at times.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Snow will continue Friday, especially in the morning. The snow
will be heavy at times. Storm total snow accumulation will be 5 to
8 inches with locally higher amounts.

.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

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Northern Black Hills

When: April 5, 8:00 PM MST to April 6, 10:00 AM MST
Where: Northern Black Hills forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 44.310, -103.111 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Northern Foot Hills

When: April 5, 8:00 PM MST to April 6, 10:00 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)

Heavy Snow, Central Black Hills

When: April 5, 8:00 PM MST to April 6, 10:00 AM MST
Where: Central Black Hills forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.841, -103.137 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Sturgis / Piedmont Foothills

When: April 5, 8:00 PM MST to April 6, 10:00 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)

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in South Dakota in 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history Warnings in South Dakota, April 2018

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 742362, 742363, 742364, 742365.