A very strong cold front was accompanied by a narrow band of moderate to heavy snowfall, as well as wind gusting to 30 to 45 mph. Most areas saw a brief period of rain, freezing rain or sleet before changing to snow, which was accompanied by a temperature fall of 10 to 20 degrees over a six hour period.
Every event with a place to put it; 12 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.
A very strong cold front was accompanied by a narrow band of moderate to heavy snowfall, as well as wind gusting to 30 to 45 mph. Most areas saw a brief period of rain, freezing rain or sleet before changing to snow, which was accompanied by a temperature fall of 10 to 20 degrees over a six hour period. Contraction of the band occurred due to strong elevated instability, with isolated thunder occurring in southeast South Dakota and southwest Minnesota. While most areas received around an inch or two of snowfall, the band peaked in intensity around the Sioux Falls area with up to three to five inches.
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 Feb 3, 5:55 PM CST, 3 hours 5 minutes earlier.
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</html>Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 641 PM CST Wed Feb 3 2021 IAZ001-002-012-MNZ081-089-090-NEZ013-SDZ070-071-041300- Lyon-Osceola-Sioux-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson-Dixon-Clay-Union- 641 PM CST Wed Feb 3 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Iowa, southwest Minnesota, northeast Nebraska and southeast South Dakota. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Scattered wintry mix changing to light snow is expected through early Thursday morning. While any snow accumulations are expected to be a few inches or less, gusty northwest winds may lead to areas of blowing snow, primarily east of I-29. Additionally, falling temperatures may lead to any wet road surfaces to re-freeze. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Bitterly cold Arctic air will dig into the region this weekend. High temperatures in the single digits and wind chills of 10 to 30 below zero are expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. IAZ003-013-014-020>022-031-032-NEZ014-041300- Dickinson-O'Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee-Buena Vista-Woodbury-Ida- Dakota- 641 PM CST Wed Feb 3 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Iowa, west central Iowa and northeast Nebraska. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A wintry mix changing to snow is expected late tonight through Thursday morning. While any snow accumulations are expected to be two inches or less, gusty northwest winds may lead to areas of blowing snow, primarily east of I-29. Additionally, falling temperatures may lead to any wet road surfaces to re-freeze. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Bitterly cold Arctic air will dig into the region this weekend. High temperatures in the single digits and wind chills of 10 to 30 below zero are expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. MNZ080-098-SDZ067-041300- Murray-Rock-Lincoln- 641 PM CST Wed Feb 3 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Minnesota and southeast South Dakota. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Scattered wintry mix changing to light snow is expected tonight into early Thursday morning. While any snow accumulations are expected to be a few inches or less, gusty northwest winds may lead to areas of blowing snow, primarily east of I-29. Additionally, falling temperatures may lead to any wet road surface to re-freeze. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Bitterly cold Arctic air will dig into the region this weekend. High temperatures in the single digits and wind chills of 10 to 30 below zero are expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. MNZ071-072-097-SDZ038>040-050-052>066-068-069-041300- Lincoln-Lyon-Pipestone-Beadle-Kingsbury-Brookings-Gregory-Jerauld- Sanborn-Miner-Lake-Moody-Brule-Aurora-Davison-Hanson-McCook- Minnehaha-Charles Mix-Douglas-Hutchinson-Turner-Bon Homme-Yankton- 641 PM CST Wed Feb 3 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Minnesota, central South Dakota, east central South Dakota, south central South Dakota and southeast South Dakota. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Scattered wintry mix changing to light snow is expected through early Thursday morning. While any snow accumulations are expected to be around an inch or less, gusty northwest winds may lead to areas of blowing snow, primarily east of I-29. Additionally, falling temperatures may lead to any wet road surface to re-freeze. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Bitterly cold Arctic air will dig into the region this weekend. High temperatures in the single digits and wind chills of 10 to 30 below zero are expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
12 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Snowfall was briefly heavy and totaled 2.1 inches 4 miles south southwest of Pickstown. Roads became hazardous, and frequent wind gusts as high as 37 mph at Fairfax produced several hours of blowing snow with visibility as low as one-half mile.
Snowfall was briefly heavy and totaled 3.1 inches near Wagner and 2.8 inches 4 miles south of Dante. Roads became hazardous, and frequent wind gusts as high as 37 mph 5 miles west of Geddes produced several hours of blowing snow with visibility as low as one-half mile.
Snowfall was briefly heavy and totaled 3.0 inches at Menno. Roads became hazardous, and frequent wind gusts as high as 44 mph near Freeman produced several hours of blowing snow with visibility as low as one-half mile.
Snowfall was briefly heavy and totaled 2.3 inches at Montrose. Roads became hazardous, and frequent wind gusts as high as 43 mph near Montrose produced several hours of blowing snow with visibility as low as one-half mile.
Snowfall was briefly heavy and totaled 1.9 inches at Flandreau. Roads became hazardous, and frequent wind gusts as high as 41 mph 13 miles west of Ward produced several hours of blowing snow with visibility as low as one-half mile.
Snowfall was briefly heavy and with several reports of 3 to 5 inches around the Sioux Falls metro area, 4.0 inches 6 miles south of Hartford, and 3.5 inches near Garretson. Roads became treacherous, and frequent wind gusts as high as 39 mph at Sioux Falls resulted in several hours of blowing snow with visibility as low as one-half mile.
Snowfall was briefly heavy and totaled 2.0 inches 8 miles west northwest of Springfield. Roads became hazardous, and frequent wind gusts as high as 44 mph near Tyndall produced several hours of blowing snow with visibility as low as one-half mile.
Snowfall was briefly heavy and totaled 2.0 inches at Yankton. Roads became hazardous, and frequent wind gusts as high as 39 mph at Yankton produced several hours of blowing snow with visibility as low as one-half mile.
Snowfall was briefly heavy and totaled 3.6 inches at Marion and 2.4 inches at Hurley. Roads became hazardous, and frequent wind gusts as high as 44 mph near Freeman produced several hours of blowing snow with visibility as low as one-half mile.
Snowfall was briefly heavy and totaled 3.8 inches on the south side of Sioux Falls and 2.0 inches at Canton. Roads became hazardous, and frequent wind gusts as high as 44 mph near Davis and 39 mph at Sioux Falls resulted in several hours of blowing snow with visibility as low as one-half mile.
Snowfall was briefly heavy and totaled 2.5 inches at Vermillion. Roads became hazardous, and frequent wind gusts as high as 43 mph near Gayville produced several hours of blowing snow with visibility as low as one-half mile.
Snowfall was briefly heavy and totaled 2.0 inches 6 miles north northeast of Elk Point. Roads became hazardous, and frequent wind gusts as high as 43 mph 3 miles south of Beresford produced several hours of blowing snow with visibility as low as one-half mile.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Dakota in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, February 2021
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: 942171, 942172, 942174, 942175, 942182, 942181, 942173, 942176, 942179, 942180, 942177, 942178.