Strong winds and light snow combined to produce blizzard conditions across far northeast South Dakota. The Milbank Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) recorded a peak wind gust of 62 mph and consistent visibilities between 1/4 and 1/2 mile.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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.
Strong winds and light snow combined to produce blizzard conditions across far northeast South Dakota. The Milbank Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) recorded a peak wind gust of 62 mph and consistent visibilities between 1/4 and 1/2 mile. The COOP observer in Webster recorded 3.2 inches of snow, while 2.5 inches fell near LaBolt. The hazardous conditions prompted No Travel Advised notices in Roberts and Day counties.
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 Dec 28, 6:13 AM CST, 1 hour 47 minutes earlier.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 blizzard, 1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Blizzard conditions reported on Milbank AWOS starting around 8 am with visibility consistently down to between a quarter to a half mile. Wind gusts were initially up around 45 mph, but increased through the day with a peak of 62 mph by 710pm.
The Roberts County Sheriff issued No Travel Advised with the South Dakota Department of Transportation estimating visibility was 1/4 mile or less along Interstate 29. A peak wind gust of 49 mph was recorded at 642 pm by the South Dakota Department of Transportation mesonet station in Summit. The COOP observer in Sisseton recorded 2 inches of snowfall with this system as well.
The Day County Sheriff issued No Travel Advised for the county due to snow showers and high winds reducing visibility on the roadways. These conditions resulted in a semi stuck in snow on Highway 12. Winds at the South Dakota State University mesonet weather station in Webster recorded a peak wind gust of 40 mph, while the COOP in Webster recorded a snow total of 3.2 inches.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Dakota in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, December 2025
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: 1303005, 1303006, 1303012.