South Dakota, 2018Blizzard in South Dakota, January 22, 2018
January 22, 2018 · NWS FSD · 4 events in 4 counties and zones
A strong mid-level trough pushed across the Rockies on January 21, and developed into a closed cyclone across the central Plains. As low pressure deepened moving from Kansas to the Great Lakes on January 22, precipitation wrapped back into a tight deformation zone on the northwest flank of the storm.
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.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
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- 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.
A strong mid-level trough pushed across the Rockies on January 21, and developed into a closed cyclone across the central Plains. As low pressure deepened moving from Kansas to the Great Lakes on January 22, precipitation wrapped back into a tight deformation zone on the northwest flank of the storm. Initially warm enough for rain, colder air rushed in as northwest winds rapidly increased to a gusty 35 to 55 mph and brought a rapid change to snow late on January 21 and early January 22. Widespread visibility of a quarter mile or less with snow, heavy at times, continued through mid afternoon. Snow amassed to 8 to 13 inches.
Blizzard, Lincoln
- When
- January 22, 6:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Lincoln forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 43.279, -96.722 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Rain changed to snow around 0000CST January 22, with northwest winds increasing during the early morning to a gusty 25 to 40 mph. Frequent wind gusts along with heavy falling snow produced near zero visibility by daybreak, and continued into mid afternoon. Poor road conditions led several vehicles to slide into the ditch or become stuck, as well as a few jackknifed trucks. State officials issued a no travel advisory around 0700CST, which was enhanced when Interstate 29 was closed from Tea, South Dakota to the Iowa border just after noon. Winds peaked at 40 mph at 1100CST. Conditions gradually improved toward 1600CST, and eventually Interstate 29 was opened again around 2130CST. Total snowfall was measured at 10.4 inches at Canton.
Blizzard, Clay
- When
- January 22, 6:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
- Where
- Clay forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 42.915, -96.976 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Rain changed to snow around 0000CST January 22, with northwest winds increasing during the early morning to a gusty 30 to 40 mph. Frequent wind gusts along with heavy falling snow produced near zero visibility by daybreak, and continued into mid afternoon. State officials issued a no travel advisory and cancelled classes at the University of South Dakota around 0700CST, which was enhanced when Interstate 29 was closed from Tea, South Dakota to the Iowa border just after noon. Winds peaked at 40 mph at 1100CST. Conditions gradually improved toward 1600CST, and eventually Interstate 29 was opened again around 2130CST. Total snowfall was measured at 12.0 inches at Vermillion.
Blizzard, Union
- When
- January 22, 6:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
- Where
- Union forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 42.833, -96.656 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Rain changed to snow around 0000CST January 22, with northwest winds increasing during the early morning to a gusty 35 to 45 mph. Frequent wind gusts along with heavy falling snow produced near zero visibility before daybreak, which continued into mid afternoon. Poor road conditions led several vehicles to slide into the ditch or become stuck, as well as a few jackknifed trucks. State officials issued a no travel advisory around 0700CST, which was enhanced when Interstate 29 was closed from Tea, South Dakota to the Iowa border just after noon. Winds peaked at 40 mph at 1100CST. Conditions gradually improved toward 1800CST, and eventually Interstate 29 was opened again around 2130CST. Total snowfall was measured at 12.0 inches at Elk Point.
Blizzard, Yankton
- When
- January 22, 7:00 AM CST to 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Yankton forecast zone
- Reported by
- AWOS
- Coordinates
- 43.009, -97.395 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Rain changed to snow around 0000CST January 22, with northwest winds increasing during the early morning to a gusty 25 to 40 mph. Frequent wind gusts along with heavy falling snow produced visibility at a quarter mile or less by daybreak, which continued into mid afternoon. State officials issued a no travel advisory around 0700CST. Winds peaked at 41 mph at Yankton 0900CST. Conditions gradually improved toward 1500CST. A foot of snow fell at Yankton.
- Blizzard
- Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Tornadoes and Damaging Wind in Mississippi, January 22, 20182 injured · $60,000 · EF1 · 3 events
- Strong Wind in Kentucky, January 22, 2018$22,000 · 22 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Ohio, January 22, 2018$29,000 · 50 kt wind · 11 events
- Strong Wind in Illinois, January 22, 2018$19,000 · 19 events
- Winter Weather in California, January 22 to 23, 20181 injured · $20,000 · 1 event
- Blizzard in Nebraska, January 22, 201823 events
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Minnesota, January 22 to 23, 201821 events
- Tornado and Damaging Winds in Louisiana, January 22, 2018$22,000 · EF0 · 3 events
- Tornado in Texas, January 22, 2018$20,000 · EF0 · 1 event
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Indiana, January 22, 2018$17,000 · 52 kt wind · 4 events
- Blizzard and High Wind in Nebraska, January 22, 201852 kt wind · 14 events
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Michigan, January 22 to 23, 201814 events
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: 737986, 738002, 738003, 738001.