With intense rainfall rates late on March 13, the runoff as a result of frozen ground along with the impact of ice jamming along smaller creeks and tributaries produced considerable flash flooding. Rainfall of an inch to inch and a half fell in just over 3 hours.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
With intense rainfall rates late on March 13, the runoff as a result of frozen ground along with the impact of ice jamming along smaller creeks and tributaries produced considerable flash flooding. Rainfall of an inch to inch and a half fell in just over 3 hours.
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 Mar 13, 5:20 PM CST, 6 hours 5 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
620 PM CDT Wed Mar 13 2019
.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thursday night)
Issued at 501 PM CDT Wed Mar 13 2019
Current radar showing dry slot lifting northward, and will see an
overall break in the rainfall through late evening. The reprieve
will be brief however, as the upper level low presently over KS
lifts to the north overnight. With increasing midlevel frontogenesis
to the northwest of the low, will see rain redevelop, focused from
the mid MO River Valley northward through the James River Valley
late tonight into Thursday morning. Additional rainfall within this
band could range from near an inch to an inch and a half, with
locally higher amounts. Colder air begins to wrap in behind the
system by very late tonight, and this will be the impetus for the
rain changing to snow from west to east during the day on Thursday.
Again, this transition is critical for snowfall amounts across the
area, though models are in decent agreement with the changeover
occurring along the I-29 corridor by mid to late morning, then in
areas to the east by mid to late afternoon. With strong midlevel
frontogenesis occurring through the James River Valley in the
morning, if colder temperatures were to come in quicker, snowfall
amounts over that area could be higher. At this point, 2 to 3 inches
looks appropriate for that area - closer to 4 inches over south
central SD. As has been advertised, the bigger impacts may come from
the wind - which in a tightening gradient will increase from west to
east through the morning and afternoon, gusting 50 to 60 mph at
times. This will result in near blizzard conditions where snow is
falling, though in heavy wet snow with temperatures lingering in the
lower to mid 30s, blowing snow should be fairly patchy when snow
diminishes.
As far as headlines, extended the Winter Storm Warning farther to
the east - through the entire James River Valley where snowfall will
be greater and winds will pick up first. While conditions will be
close to near blizzard at times, based on the above reasoning
concerning the "wet snow" and to remain in coordination with
surrounding offices, elected to go with the Winter Storm Warning as
opposed to a Blizzard Warning. This is not diminish the
significance of potential impacts, as it will still be quite nasty
either way. Father to the east, converted the Winter Storm Watch to
a Winter Weather Advisory as snowfall amounts are expected to be an
inch or less from the I-29 eastward. Even so, there will still be
rather significant visibility restrictions at times when snow is
falling over that area. Issued a Wind Advisory for the remaining
counties in our CWA due to the strong winds.
Snow will come to an end by Thursday evening in a fading trowal,
though winds will only slowly come down overnight in a lessening
gradient and diminishing cold air advection. This may result in
lingering patchy blowing snow for the early part of the night.
.LONG TERM...(Friday through Wednesday)
Issued at 501 PM CDT Wed Mar 13 2019
With the current significant weather situation, no changes were made
to the extended period. Remaining in a northwesterly upper level
flow, there will only be subtle warming into the beginning of next
week, with highs staying in the 30s and 40s and lows in the teens
and 20s. It looks to be mainly dry through the period.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Thursday evening)
Issued at 612 PM CDT Wed Mar 13 2019
Poor conditions through the TAF period. Fog and rain across the
area through the evening, then rain will transition to snow from
west to east late tonight into Thursday, with IFR conditions
common. In addition, northwesterly winds will pick up through the
period, gusting 40 to 50 kts by late Thursday morning and
continuing into Thursday evening.
&&
.FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...Flood Watch through Thursday evening for SDZ038>040-050-052>071.
Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM to 7 PM CDT Thursday for
SDZ040-055-056-061-062-066-067-070-071.
Winter Storm Warning from 7 AM to 7 PM CDT Thursday for SDZ039-
054-060-065-068-069.
Winter Storm Warning from 1 AM to 7 PM CDT Thursday for SDZ053-
058-059-064.
Winter Storm Warning until 7 PM CDT Thursday for SDZ038-050-052-
057-063.
MN...Flood Watch through Thursday evening for MNZ071-072-080-081-089-
090-097-098.
Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM to 7 PM CDT Thursday for
MNZ071-072-080-089-097-098.
Wind Advisory from 1 PM to 10 PM CDT Thursday for MNZ081-090.
IA...Flood Watch through Thursday evening for IAZ001>003-012>014-
020>022-031-032.
Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM to 7 PM CDT Thursday for
IAZ001-012.
Wind Advisory from 1 PM to 10 PM CDT Thursday for IAZ002-003-013-
014-020>022-031-032.
NE...Flood Watch through Thursday evening for NEZ013-014.
Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM to 7 PM CDT Thursday for
NEZ013.
Wind Advisory from 1 PM to 10 PM CDT Thursday for NEZ014.
&&
SHORT TERM...JM
LONG TERM...JM
AVIATION...JMHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 716 PM CDT Wed Mar 13 2019 SDZ038-050-052-053-057>059-063-064-150030- Beadle-Gregory-Jerauld-Sanborn-Brule-Aurora-Davison-Charles Mix- Douglas- 716 PM CDT Wed Mar 13 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central South Dakota, east central South Dakota, south central South Dakota, and southeast South Dakota. .DAY ONE...Tonight Precipitation will change from rain to snow, with potentially a brief period of freezing rain in transition. North winds will increase, reaching 30 to 40 mph by later tonight. When combined with expected snowfall from one to three inches, this will create very hazardous, if not impossible travel conditions. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Wind gusts will reach 55 to 60 mph on Thursday, as snowfall continues through the morning hours. Periods of visibility of one half mile or less are likely through the day, especially through midday. Difficult if not impossible travel conditions are likely. Total snow accumulations will be from 2 to 4 inches. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. IAZ001-012-MNZ071-072-080-089-097-098-NEZ013-SDZ039-040-054>056- 060>062-065>071-150030- Lyon IA-Sioux-Lincoln MN-Lyon MN-Murray-Nobles-Pipestone-Rock- Dixon-Kingsbury-Brookings-Miner-Lake-Moody-Hanson-McCook- Minnehaha-Hutchinson-Turner-Lincoln SD-Bon Homme-Yankton-Clay SD- Union- 716 PM CDT Wed Mar 13 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest Iowa, southwest Minnesota, northeast Nebraska, east central South Dakota, and southeast South Dakota. .DAY ONE...Tonight Areas of dense fog and light rain this evening will give way to more rain which, when combined with melting snow, will result in ponding of water on roadways and poor drainage areas, as well as continued rises in areas rivers and streams. Precipitation should begin to transition over from rain to snow later tonight higher elevations north of I-90. There may be a brief period of light wintry mix in transition. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday The transition to snow will spread across the remainder of the area on Thursday morning, as wind increase and gust to 50 to 60 mph at times later morning and through the afternoon. Visibility of less than a half mile can be expected, with brief periods of near blizzard conditions, especially while snow is falling. Travel conditions will be very difficult and highly dangerous at best. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. IAZ002-003-013-014-020>022-031-032-MNZ081-090-NEZ014-150030- Osceola-Dickinson-O'Brien-Clay IA-Plymouth-Cherokee-Buena Vista- Woodbury-Ida-Cottonwood-Jackson-Dakota- 716 PM CDT Wed Mar 13 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest Iowa, west central Iowa, southwest Minnesota, and northeast Nebraska. .DAY ONE...Tonight Dense fog and drizzle will give way to more rain, and a few rumbles of thunder through the evening. Additional rainfall up to a half inch, when combined with melting snow, will result in continued ponding of water on roadways and poor drainage areas, as well as rises in areas rivers and streams. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Precipitation will gradually change over to snow by midday or early afternoon on Thursday. Very strong winds with gusts up to 50 to 60 mph will also develop by this time, and will combine with precipitation to produce very hazardous conditions. At this time, an inch or less snowfall is forecast, but if more snow falls than expected, then a possibility for highly dangerous conditions exists with very low visibility at times. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
727 PM CDT WED MAR 13 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0635 PM FLOOD 5 S CENTERVILLE 43.05N 96.96W
03/13/2019 CLAY SD TRAINED SPOTTER
RIVER GAGE OBSERVER REPORTED WATER COVERING
ROADWAYS AT THE INTERSECTION OF 302ND ST AND
HWY 19 AND THE INTERSECTION OF HWYS 46 AND
19.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
953 PM CDT WED MAR 13 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0953 PM HAIL 3 ESE SIOUX FALLS 43.53N 96.68W
03/13/2019 E0.70 INCH MINNEHAHA SD NWS EMPLOYEE
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
1024 PM CDT WED MAR 13 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1023 PM HEAVY RAIN DE SMET 44.39N 97.55W
03/13/2019 M1.90 INCH KINGSBURY SD CO-OP OBSERVER
TOTAL FROM 9 AM TO 8 PM.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
1053 PM CDT WED MAR 13 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1052 PM FLOOD STORDEN 44.04N 95.32W
03/13/2019 COTTONWOOD MN PUBLIC
SOME STREET FLOODING THIS EVENING. REPORT
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.
&&The Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 116 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:23 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flood waters flowed over the intersection of SD State Highway 46 and 37.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Dakota in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, March 2019
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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 828982.