Brisk winds in advance of the center of strong arctic high pressure brought wind chill readings to -25 to -35 during the overnight and morning of January 19.
Every event with a place to put it; 11 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
Brisk winds in advance of the center of strong arctic high pressure brought wind chill readings to -25 to -35 during the overnight and morning of January 19.
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 Jan 18, 5:32 AM CST, 5 hours 28 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
532 AM CST Sat Jan 18 2020
.SHORT TERM...(Today through Sunday)
Issued at 339 AM CST Sat Jan 18 2020
Strong arctic front working across the forecast area with winds
gusting to 50-60 mph behind the front. Temperatures plummeting
behind the front, and will struggle to make much of a recovery today
with strong cold air advection. Pressure rises decrease throughout
the day, but strong cold air advection along with a tight pressure
gradient remain in place. With 40-45 knots at 925 hpa, will keep the
blizzard warning going as is. With temperatures near zero, wind
chills are already approaching advisory criteria. Will cover wind
chills within the blizzard warning, but as the winds drop off enough
this evening to allow the blizzard warning to expire, wind chills
will remain a problem through the overnight into Sunday. Have
issued a wind chill advisory for wind chills up to wind chill
warning criteria, but day shift will need to consider a wind chill
warning for locations along the Buffalo Ridge tonight.
Frigid temperatures are expected tonight into Sunday with
temperatures remaining below zero in many locations. Have wind chill
advisory going through mid-day Sunday, but may need to extend into
Monday before the region sees relief.
.LONG TERM...(Monday through Friday)
Issued at 339 AM CST Sat Jan 18 2020
On Monday there is a moisture starved wave dropping down from
Canada. Very efficient atmosphere in place with deep dendritic layer
from the surface through 10,000 feet. Despite the lack of moisture,
have added mention of flurries Monday morning.
Still looks like a warm up is expected through midweek. Thereafter,
the pattern gets fairly active with a series of waves moving through
the region. Models are still not in great agreement on the various
features, so have left the blend as is for the time being.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Sunday morning)
Issued at 523 AM CST Sat Jan 18 2020
Ground blizzard conditions expected today as strong gusty winds
create blowing snow reducing visibility. As winds slowly decrease
this afternoon from west to east, visibility is expected to
improve. Breezy conditions continue tonight, though visibilities
should eventually improve to VFR.
&&
.FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...Wind Chill Advisory from 6 PM this evening to noon CST Sunday
for SDZ038>040-052>056-058>062-064>071.
Blizzard Warning until 6 PM CST this evening for SDZ039-040-
054>056-061-062-066-067-070-071.
Blizzard Warning until 3 PM CST this afternoon for SDZ038-050-
052-053-057>060-063>065-068-069.
MN...Wind Chill Advisory from 6 PM this evening to noon CST Sunday
for MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097-098.
Blizzard Warning until 6 PM CST this evening for MNZ071-072-080-
081-089-090-097-098.
IA...Wind Chill Advisory from 6 PM this evening to noon CST Sunday
for IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032.
Blizzard Warning until 6 PM CST this evening for IAZ001>003-
012>014-020>022-031-032.
NE...Wind Chill Advisory from 6 PM this evening to noon CST Sunday
for NEZ013-014.
Blizzard Warning until 6 PM CST this evening for NEZ013-014.
&&
SHORT TERM...BT
LONG TERM...BT
AVIATION...BTHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 500 AM CST Sat Jan 18 2020 SDZ038-052-053-058>060-064-065-068-069-191100- Beadle-Jerauld-Sanborn-Aurora-Davison-Hanson-Douglas-Hutchinson- Bon Homme-Yankton- 500 AM CST Sat Jan 18 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central South Dakota, east central South Dakota, south central South Dakota and southeast South Dakota. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Strong northwest winds with gusts up to 60 mph are expected to create blizzard with whiteout conditions through mid afternoon. Winds will slowly decrease this afternoon into the evening, but the bitterly cold temperatures will produce wind chills of 20 to 30 below zero. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Wind chills of twenty to twenty five degrees below zero can be expected through Monday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097- 098-NEZ013-014-SDZ039-040-054>056-061-062-066-067-070-071-191100- Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Sioux-O'Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee- Buena Vista-Woodbury-Ida-Lincoln-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson- Pipestone-Rock-Dixon-Dakota-Kingsbury-Brookings-Miner-Lake-Moody- McCook-Minnehaha-Turner-Union- 500 AM CST Sat Jan 18 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Iowa, west central Iowa, southwest Minnesota, northeast Nebraska, east central South Dakota and southeast South Dakota. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Strong northwest winds with gusts up to 55 mph are expected to create blizzard with whiteout conditions. Winds will slowly decrease this evening, but the bitterly cold temperatures will produce wind chills of 25 to 35 below zero. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Wind chills of 20 to 30 below zero can be expected through Monday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. SDZ050-057-063-191100- Gregory-Brule-Charles Mix- 500 AM CST Sat Jan 18 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central South Dakota. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Strong northwest winds with gusts up to 55 mph are expected to create blizzard with whiteout conditions into early afternoon. Winds will slowly decrease this evening, but the bitterly cold temperatures will produce wind chills of 15 to 25 below zero. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Wind chills of 20 to 25 below zero can be expected through Monday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
1009 AM CST SAT JAN 18 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM SNOW SIBLEY 43.40N 95.75W
01/18/2020 M7.0 INCH OSCEOLA IA CO-OP OBSERVER
&&
ATPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
1011 AM CST SAT JAN 18 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 AM SNOW 1 N MARSHALL 44.47N 95.79W
01/18/2020 M5.5 INCH LYON MN CO-OP OBSERVER
&&
ATPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
1012 AM CST SAT JAN 18 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 AM SNOW TYNDALL 42.99N 97.87W
01/18/2020 M4.0 INCH BON HOMME SD CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL.
&&
ATPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
1013 AM CST SAT JAN 18 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 AM SNOW 2 NNE BROOKINGS 44.33N 96.77W
01/18/2020 M5.8 INCH BROOKINGS SD CO-OP OBSERVER
&&
ATPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
1055 AM CST SAT JAN 18 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM SNOW SHELDON 43.18N 95.85W
01/18/2020 M5.8 INCH O'BRIEN IA CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION SHDI4 SHELDON.
0700 AM SNOW ORANGE CITY 43.00N 96.05W
01/18/2020 M6.0 INCH SIOUX IA CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION ORCI4 ORANGE CITY.
0800 AM SNOW ORANGE CITY 43.01N 96.07W
01/18/2020 M5.0 INCH SIOUX IA COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION IA-SX-9 ORANGE CITY 0.4
WNW.
0700 AM SNOW 2 NNE LAKEFIELD 43.70N 95.15W
01/18/2020 M7.0 INCH JACKSON MN CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION LKFM5 LAKEFIELD 2 NE.
0600 AM SNOW EDGERTON 43.87N 96.13W
01/18/2020 M6.0 INCH PIPESTONE MN COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION MN-PS-6 EDGERTON 0.2 WSW.
0800 AM SNOW HILLS 43.53N 96.36W
01/18/2020 M7.0 INCH ROCK MN COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION MN-RK-5 HILLS 0.2 NW.
0700 AM SNOW BROOKINGS 44.30N 96.79W
01/18/2020 M6.0 INCH BROOKINGS SD COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION SD-BK-7 BROOKINGS 0.2 SSW.
0800 AM SNOW 5 W BRUCE 44.43N 97.00W
01/18/2020 M5.8 INCH BROOKINGS SD COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION SD-BK-45 BRUCE 5.3 W.
1100 PM SNOW 1 SSW MITCHELL 43.71N 98.04W
01/17/2020 M6.8 INCH DAVISON SD CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION MCLS2 MITCHELL.
0700 AM SNOW 8 SSW HERRICK 43.00N 99.23W
01/18/2020 M5.0 INCH GREGORY SD COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION SD-GY-12 HERRICK 8.2 SSW.
0700 AM SNOW 4 SSW PICKSTOWN 43.02N 98.56W
01/18/2020 M5.0 INCH GREGORY SD CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION PCKS2 PICKSTOWN 4
SSW.
0700 AM SNOW 4 SSE SIOUX FALLS 43.49N 96.71W
01/18/2020 M6.8 INCH LINCOLN SD COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION SD-LN-32 SIOUX FALLS 3.6
SSE.
0800 AM SNOW 1 ENE WALL LAKE 43.53N 96.95W
01/18/2020 M7.5 INCH MINNEHAHA SD COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION SD-MH-8 HARTFORD 6.4 S.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
1056 AM CST SAT JAN 18 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0838 AM SNOW JACKSON 43.63N 94.99W
01/18/2020 M7.2 INCH JACKSON MN PUBLIC
&&
ATThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
11 cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.
Coldest wind chill readings reached -37F around 2300CST January 18 at a location 1 mile northeast of Sibley.
Coldest wind chill readings reached -25F around 0300CST January 19 at Le Mars.
Coldest wind chill readings reached -25F around 2000CST January 18 at Maurice.
Coldest wind chill readings reached -31F around 0100CST January 19 at Sheldon.
Coldest wind chill readings reached -32F around 0730CST January 19 near Storm Lake.
Coldest wind chill readings reached -34F around 0500CST January 19 at a location 3 miles south southeast of Lake Park.
Coldest wind chill readings reached -28F at 0500CST January 19 at a location 10 miles south of Marcus.
Coldest wind chill readings reached -29F at 0600CST January 19 at Spencer.
Coldest wind chill readings reached -26F around 0840CST January 19 at Ida Grove.
Coldest wind chill readings reached -30F around 0300CST January 19 at a location 3 miles east northeast of Doon.
Coldest wind chill readings reached -26F around 0800CST January 19 at Sioux City.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, January 2020
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: 874314, 874316, 874317, 874313, 874291, 874301, 874296, 874298, 874310, 874312, 874318.