High Wind in South Dakota, December 5, 2021

Name: High Wind in South Dakota, December 5, 2021
Start: 2021-12-05T11:06
End: 2021-12-05T19:00
Location: South Dakota

December 5, 2021 · NWS ABR · 13 events in 13 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 13 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 13

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 ABR wrote it up.

A surface low pressure system deepened as it tracked across the Northern Plains. Generally 1-2 of snow fell across north central and northeastern South Dakota on the evening of the 4th into the morning of the 5th, and strong to high winds followed throughout the day on the 5th. Some of the strongest gusts occurred across central South Dakota and across the Sisseton Hills: 61 mph at the Pierre Regional Airport and 3 miles north of Altamont, and 60 mph 1 mile NNW of Lees Corner and 1 mile WNW of Summit.

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 Aberdeen, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 5, 5:29 AM CST, 5 hours 37 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 5, 5:29 AM CST, 5 hours 37 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
529 AM CST Sun Dec 5 2021

.SHORT TERM...(Today through Monday Afternoon)
Issued at 339 AM CST Sun Dec 5 2021

Less confidence in current headline-worthy weather materializing
today. Guidance has backed off on warning level winds, primarily
due to the lack of strong winds aloft during peak mixing. Even the
NBM 90th percentile does not indicate gusts over 45 kts. However,
gusty winds with at least advisory level speeds are still in the
cards. Let the High Wind Warning stand so as not to flip-flop, but
could be a very isolated event, if at all. The afternoon pressure
gradient has fallen to about 12 mb difference across the cwa,
though caa remains strong with a -10C difference between 15z and
21z at H85. Highs will occur in the morning with the waa push from
southwest to northeast before temps drops off sharply in the
afternoon.

In terms of further precip, wraparound light snow is still expected
this afternoon across northeast SD and west central MN. As the upper
trough digs into the Dakotas and MN, more shortwave energy will move
through the trough. A more intense push of cold air will come with
the arctic front. Snow showers will be possible across central SD
with this front. Can't rule out a snow squall this evening into the
overnight as the arctic front moves southeast.

In the wake of the front, H85 temps will fall as low as -22C. Lows
tonight may be moderated somewhat by lingering cloud cover. Highs on
Monday will be the lowest of the season, however, topping out only
in the single digits in most of the forecast area.

.LONG TERM...(Monday Evening through Saturday)
Issued at 339 AM CST Sun Dec 5 2021

The period begins on Monday night with an inverted surface trough
crossing the area with warm air advection light snow possible. The
latest NBM significantly lowered pops Monday night into Tuesday
morning. Based on QPF from WPC, deterministic model consistency,
along with collaboration from neighboring offices, have reintroduced
higher pops Monday night into Tuesday morning. As of now, this
system may end up being a high pop, low QPF event. Wednesday and
Thursday will feature dry conditions, along with the possibility of
above normal temperatures on Thursday.

Another low pressure system and mid level trough could bring
accumulating snow into the area Thursday night through Friday night.
Still a lot of uncertainty with this system, with several models
supporting snowfall along and south of Interstate 90. The GFS has
trended further south with a significantly weaker surface low
pressure, or similar to the ECMWF. If trends continue, would
expected pops to be lower in the northern half of the CWA in the
coming days.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Monday Morning)
Issued at 528 AM CST Sun Dec 5 2021

Terminals KABR,KATY,KPIR,KMBG

VFR conditions will diminish this morning to MVFR as a low
pressure system moves through. Northwest winds will gust to 30 to 40
kts at all sites this afternoon.

&&

.ABR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...High Wind Warning from 9 AM CST /8 AM MST/ this morning to 6 PM
     CST /5 PM MST/ this evening for SDZ003>005-009-010-015>017-
     033>037-045-048-051.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM CST this evening for SDZ007-
     008.

     Wind Advisory from 9 AM this morning to 6 PM CST this evening
     for SDZ006-011-018>023.

MN...Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM CST this evening for MNZ039.

     Wind Advisory from 9 AM this morning to 6 PM CST this evening
     for MNZ046.

&&

SHORT TERM...Wise
LONG TERM...SD
AVIATION...Wise

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 5, 3:21 AM CST, 7 hours 45 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
321 AM CST Sun Dec 5 2021

MNZ039-046-SDZ003>011-015>023-033>037-045-048-051-060930-
Traverse-Big Stone-Corson-Campbell-McPherson-Brown-Marshall-Roberts-
Walworth-Edmunds-Day-Dewey-Potter-Faulk-Spink-Clark-Codington-Grant-
Hamlin-Deuel-Stanley-Sully-Hughes-Hyde-Hand-Jones-Lyman-Buffalo-
321 AM CST Sun Dec 5 2021 /221 AM MST Sun Dec 5 2021/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for west central Minnesota,
central South Dakota, north central South Dakota and northeast
South Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Additional light snow is expected this afternoon through this
evening. Northwest winds will gust between 40 and 60 mph this
afternoon resulting in some patchy blowing snow across the northeast.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 5, 9:13 AM CST, 1 hour 53 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ABERDEEN SD
913 AM CST SUN DEC 5 2021

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0700 AM     SNOW             8 ENE SISSETON MUNICIPA 45.69N 96.83W
12/05/2021  M2.0 INCH        ROBERTS            SD   COCORAHS

            COCORAHS STATION SD-RB-4 BROWNS VALLEY 6 N.

&&

RL

Local storm report, Dec 5, 9:14 AM CST, 1 hour 52 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ABERDEEN SD
914 AM CST SUN DEC 5 2021

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0700 AM     SNOW             4 W SISSETON            45.66N 97.12W
12/05/2021  M1.5 INCH        ROBERTS            SD   COCORAHS

            COCORAHS STATION SD-RB-1 SISSETON 3 W.

&&

RL

Local storm report, Dec 5, 9:15 AM CST, 1 hour 51 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ABERDEEN SD
915 AM CST SUN DEC 5 2021

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0600 AM     SNOW             ABERDEEN REGIONAL AIRPO 45.46N 98.41W
12/05/2021  M1.0 INCH        BROWN              SD   CO-OP OBSERVER

            CO-OP OBSERVER STATION ABES2 ABERDEEN 3 E.

&&

RL

Local storm report, Dec 5, 9:55 AM CST, 1 hour 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ABERDEEN SD
955 AM CST SUN DEC 5 2021

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0941 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 4 W TRAIL CITY          45.47N 100.81W
12/05/2021  M50 MPH          DEWEY              SD   MESONET

            MESONET STATION 178 TRAIL CITY (SDDOT).

&&

RL

Local storm report, Dec 5, 10:53 AM CST, 13 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ABERDEEN SD
1053 AM CST SUN DEC 5 2021

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0800 AM     SNOW             2 WNW ROY LAKE STATE PA 45.72N 97.48W
12/05/2021  M1.6 INCH        MARSHALL           SD   CO-OP OBSERVER

            CO-OP OBSERVER STATION ROYS2 LAKE CITY 3 W.

&&

RL

Local storm report, Dec 5, 10:54 AM CST, 12 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ABERDEEN SD
1054 AM CST SUN DEC 5 2021

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1019 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 N HERREID             45.87N 100.07W
12/05/2021  M51 MPH          CAMPBELL           SD   MESONET

            MESONET STATION 50 HERREID (SDDOT).

&&

RL

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Corson

When: December 5, 11:06 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Corson forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 45.709, -101.197 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Dewey

When: December 5, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Dewey forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.157, -100.872 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Stanley

When: December 5, 12:30 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Stanley forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 44.412, -100.736 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Hughes

When: December 5, 12:39 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Hughes forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 44.389, -99.996 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Roberts

When: December 5, 1:00 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Roberts forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 45.630, -96.946 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Hand

When: December 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Hand forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.548, -99.005 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Jones

When: December 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Jones forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.961, -100.690 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Sully

When: December 5, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Sully forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.716, -100.132 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Grant

When: December 5, 1:00 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Grant forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.172, -96.768 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Buffalo

When: December 5, 1:21 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Buffalo forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 44.076, -99.205 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Hyde

When: December 5, 2:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Hyde forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.547, -99.487 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Lyman

When: December 5, 2:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Lyman forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.896, -99.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Deuel

When: December 5, 2:16 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Deuel forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 44.760, -96.668 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in South Dakota in 2021 Every state in 2021 This day in weather history Warnings in South Dakota, December 2021

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: 993121, 993126, 993125, 993123, 993124, 993127, 993130, 993133, 994031, 993120, 993128, 993129, 993122.