South Dakota, 2022Blizzard 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.
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
Open the live radar over this ground
- 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.
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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</html>Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 12, 3:40 AM CST, 1 hour 20 minutes before
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</html>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)
- 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.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, April 12 to 13, 202223 injured · $2.3 million · EF3 · 89 events
- Blizzard in North Dakota, April 12 to 14, 20222 deaths · 34 events
- Tornadoes and Hail in Minnesota, April 12, 20222 injured · $2.5 million · EF2 · 31 events
- Tornadoes and Hail in Louisiana, April 12 to 13, 20221 injured · $885,000 · EF2 · 54 events
- Tornadoes and Flood in Iowa, April 12 to 13, 20221 injured · $520,000 · EF2 · 41 events
- Flood in Kentucky, April 12, 20221 death · 1 event
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Minnesota, April 12, 2022$10 million · 1.5 in hail · 10 events
- Tornadoes and Hail in Iowa, April 12, 2022$1.3 million · EF1 · 16 events
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Louisiana, April 12 to 13, 2022$376,000 · 70 kt wind · 15 events
- Tornado and Hail in Texas, April 12, 2022$100,000 · EF1 · 8 events
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Missouri, April 12 to 13, 2022$19,000 · 53 kt wind · 39 events
- Tornadoes and Hail in Nebraska, April 12, 2022EF1 · 27 events
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.