A strong low pressure system developed east of the Rockies in Colorado and then moved through the Great Plains and into the Upper Mississippi Valley from the evening of March 30th through the evening of March 31st. This system produced heavy snow across parts of central and northeastern South Dakota, along with wind gusts of 40 to 55 mph.
Every event with a place to put it; 21 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 ABR wrote it up.
A strong low pressure system developed east of the Rockies in Colorado and then moved through the Great Plains and into the Upper Mississippi Valley from the evening of March 30th through the evening of March 31st. This system produced heavy snow across parts of central and northeastern South Dakota, along with wind gusts of 40 to 55 mph. Some of the heaviest amounts include 18 inches 5 miles north-northwest of Miranda, 16 inches 7 miles east of Hayes, 15 inches 8 miles south-southwest of Highmore, and 14 inches at Wilmot, Faulkton and a mile northwest of Pierre. The result was blizzard conditions over much of central and northeastern South Dakota during the day and evening on March 31st. In addition, this system produced thunderstorms with small hail, sleet, and thundersnow across the area, as well as ice accumulations of over a quarter of an inch across portions of northeastern South Dakota.
Impacts were significant, including widespread school closures, the cancellation of the YMCA Interstate Basketball tournament, widespread impassable or closed roads including I-90 from Wall to Chamberlain beginning at noon on the 31st and I-29 from 2pm on March 31st to noon on April 1st from Watertown to the North Dakota border, a great many stranded vehicles and vehicle accidents, power outages that lasted overnight for many customers, and cattle and ranchers during peak calving season were adversely affected. Finally, the heavy snowfall in Aberdeen was found to have caused the collapse of two-thirds of the Van Slyke building in downtown. A fire also started, but was contained soon thereafter. No injuries were reported. This heavy snow event further set the stage for significant spring flooding.
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 Mar 30, 5:12 PM CST, 17 hours 48 minutes earlier.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
21 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Blizzard conditions were reported in Murdo, and a COOP observer there measured 9.7 inches of snow.
A COCORAHS observer measured 6 inches of snow 9 miles north of Vivian.
A trained spotter observer measured 16 inches of snow 7 miles east of Hayes.
The weather station at the Pierre Regional Airport reported blizzard conditions, and the COOP observer there measured 10 inches of snow.
Blizzard conditions were reported in Onida. A COOP observer measured 13 inches of snow 4 miles northwest of Onida.
Blizzard conditions were reported 10 miles south-southwest of Lowry. A member of the public reported 12 inches of snow in Tolstoy.
Blizzard conditions were reported 2 miles north of Hoven.
Blizzard conditions were reported in Highmore. CoCoRaHS observers both 8 miles south-southwest of Highmore and 17 miles north of Holabird reported 15 inches of snow.
Blizzard conditions were reported in Miller, and a COOP observer there measured 6 inches of snow.
Emergency management reported blizzard conditions in Faulkton, and responded to at least 20 stranded vehicles in the area. A CoCoRaHS observer measured 18 inches of snow 5 miles north-northwest of Miranda.
A COOP observer reported blizzard conditions and measured 8 inches of snow in Ipswich.
Ground blizzard conditions were reported in Eureka.
The weather station at the Aberdeen Regional Airport reported blizzard conditions. The official National Weather Service observation there indicated 7.5 inches of snow.
Blizzard conditions were reported in Redfield.
Blizzard conditions were reported 2 miles west of Ortley. A CoCoRaHS observer measured 11 inches of snow 3 miles west of Grenville.
The automated weather station in Britton observed blizzard conditions, and a COOP observer measured 6.8 inches of snow there as well.
Blizzard conditions were reported in Milbank, along with many impassible secondary roads. A COOP observer measured 7 inches of snow a mile northeast of Milbank.
Blizzard conditions were reported 3 miles west of Sisseton. A COOP observer measured 10 inches of snow in Wilmot.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Dakota in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, March 2023
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: 1088395, 1088396, 1088397, 1088398, 1088399, 1088400, 1088401, 1088402, 1088403, 1088404, 1088405, 1088406, 1088407, 1088410, 1088411, 1088412, 1088413, 1088414, 1088415, 1088416, 1088417.