South Dakota, 2020

Winter Storm and Winter Weather in South Dakota, February 6 to 7, 2020

February 6 to 7, 2020 · NWS UNR · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A strong clipper system pushed through the northern Plains, producing snowfall and gusty winds across much of northwestern and west central South Dakota. The heaviest snow fell across the northern Black Hills, where four to nine inches were reported.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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 strong clipper system pushed through the northern Plains, producing snowfall and gusty winds across much of northwestern and west central South Dakota. The heaviest snow fell across the northern Black Hills, where four to nine inches were reported. Three to five inches fell across the northern and northeastern foothills, the central Black Hills, and southwestern Meade County plains.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 winter weather, 1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Northern Black Hills

When
February 6, 5:00 AM MST to February 7, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Northern Black Hills forecast zone
Reported by
CoCoRaHS
Coordinates
44.310, -103.111 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Northern Foot Hills

When
February 6, 5:00 AM MST to February 7, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Northern Foot Hills forecast zone
Reported by
CoCoRaHS
Coordinates
44.359, -103.792 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Central Black Hills

When
February 6, 8:00 AM MST to February 7, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Central Black Hills forecast zone
Reported by
CoCoRaHS
Coordinates
43.841, -103.137 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Southern Foot Hills

When
February 6, 8:00 AM MST to February 7, 8:00 AM MST
Where
Southern Foot Hills forecast zone
Reported by
CoCoRaHS
Coordinates
43.239, -103.528 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Southern Meade Co Plains

When
February 6, 9:00 AM MST to February 7, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Southern Meade Co Plains forecast zone
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
44.567, -102.717 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
Winter Weather
Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in South Dakota in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, February 2020

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 869775, 869776, 869777, 869778, 869779.