South Dakota, 2022

Blizzard in South Dakota, February 21 to 22, 2022

February 21 to 22, 2022 · NWS ABR · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

After a band of moderate to heavy snow moved through on February 20th into the 21st, periodic snowfall persisted across the area for much of February 21st and 22nd. Winds increased with peak gusts of 35 mph to 45 mph across far northeast South Dakota.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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
2

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.

After a band of moderate to heavy snow moved through on February 20th into the 21st, periodic snowfall persisted across the area for much of February 21st and 22nd. Winds increased with peak gusts of 35 mph to 45 mph across far northeast South Dakota. Two to three day snow totals ranged from just a trace west of the Missouri Valley, to upwards of 15.5 inches along the state line in Roberts County. The fresh snow and persistent winds result in widespread near blizzard to blizzard conditions for parts of northeast South Dakota, and lead to the closure of interstate 29 from Watertown north to the state line.

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 Feb 21, 4:55 AM CST, 3 hours 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 21, 4:55 AM CST, 3 hours 5 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 21, 4:59 AM CST, 3 hours 1 minute before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
459 AM CST Mon Feb 21 2022

MNZ039-046-SDZ003>011-015>023-033>037-045-048-051-221100-
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-
459 AM CST Mon Feb 21 2022 /359 AM MST Mon Feb 21 2022/

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.

Moderate to heavy snow will continue across northeast South Dakota
and west central Minnesota early this morning. Throughout the day,
additional snow accumulations will be mainly focused over northern
South Dakota, with lesser amounts further south. The second round of
snow will move in by this evening. Additional accumulations today
into tonight will range from 2 to 6 inches across the region, with
the highest totals over far northeast South Dakota and west central
Minnesota. Areas of blowing and drifting snow can be expected over
northern and eastern portions of the forecast area, with reduced
visibility and hazardous travel conditions at times.

Bitterly cold wind chills from 25 below to 40 below zero will be felt
across the area.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

Light to moderate snow will continue across the area on Tuesday. In
general, 1 to 4 inches can be expected across the region, with the
highest totals along and east of I-29. Areas of blowing and drifting
snow will occur over the region as well, with reduced visibility and
hazardous travel conditions at times.

Bitterly cold wind chills from 25 below to 40 below zero will be felt
across the area through much of the week.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

TMT

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 21, 7:18 AM CST, 42 minutes before
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Local storm report, Feb 21, 7:22 AM CST, 38 minutes before
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Local storm report, Feb 21, 7:23 AM CST, 37 minutes before
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Local storm report, Feb 21, 7:24 AM CST, 36 minutes before
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Local storm report, Feb 21, 7:26 AM CST, 34 minutes before
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Local storm report, Feb 21, 7:59 AM CST, 1 minute 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

2 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Roberts

When
February 21, 8:00 AM CST to February 22, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Roberts forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.630, -96.946 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Marshall

When
February 21, 8:35 AM CST to February 22, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Marshall forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
45.759, -97.598 (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, February 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: 1003982, 1003983.