South Dakota, 2022

Blizzard in South Dakota, April 12 to 14, 2022

April 12 to 14, 2022 · NWS ABR · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A powerful low pressure system brought damaging high winds, blizzard conditions, and areas of blowing dust from April 12th to April 14th. The combination of heavy snowfall and high winds produced blizzard conditions in Corson and Dewey counties in north-central South Dakota.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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
6

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 powerful low pressure system brought damaging high winds, blizzard conditions, and areas of blowing dust from April 12th to April 14th. The combination of heavy snowfall and high winds produced blizzard conditions in Corson and Dewey counties in north-central South Dakota. Snowfall amounts ranged from 6.7 inches in McLaughlin, to 9 inches 14 miles NNE from Isabel, to 14 inches in Keldron. The snowfall and sustained winds of 45 mph with gusts exceeding 55 mph produce over six feet high snowdrifts. The blizzard caused the death of newborn livestock in north-central South Dakota. Mail was delayed in portions of north-central South Dakota as trucks could not leave Bismarck due to dangerous road conditions. The storm canceled many school activities in north-central South Dakota. In eastern South Dakota, snowfall amounts at or below one inch combined with high winds to produce blizzard conditions, especially in the open country areas. The blizzard significantly impacted travel - The Watertown Police Department recommended no travel advised within the city limits. There were additional reports of people pulled over in Clark County on Highway 212 and Interstate 29 between Watertown and South Shore due to zero visibility. Numerous school activities were canceled, and businesses closed early due to the horrific weather conditions. Some area schools were delayed or closed on the 14th.

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 Apr 12, 2:22 AM CST, 2 hours 38 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 12, 2:22 AM CST, 2 hours 38 minutes before
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Corson

When
April 12, 5:00 AM CST to April 14, 7:00 AM CST
Where
Corson forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
45.709, -101.197 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

As many as seven calves were killed during this blizzard.

Blizzard, Dewey

When
April 12, 6:00 AM CST to April 14, 7:00 AM CST
Where
Dewey forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
45.157, -100.872 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Clark

When
April 14, 2:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Clark forecast zone
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
44.858, -97.729 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Day

When
April 14, 2:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Day forecast zone
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
45.367, -97.607 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Codington

When
April 14, 2:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Codington forecast zone
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
44.978, -97.189 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Hamlin

When
April 14, 2:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Hamlin forecast zone
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
44.674, -97.188 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Blizzard
Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in South Dakota in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, April 2022

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: 1016451, 1016453, 1016482, 1016484, 1016485, 1016486.