Heavy Snow in South Dakota

Events

1,416

Deaths

2

Injuries

13

Damage

$341,000

• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in South Dakota, April 1 to 3, 20252 deaths · 1 injured · 11 eventsA system to the south looped up into Minnesota, generating a band of heavy snow and strong winds across mainly northeast South Dakota, with a lull and partial melting before wrap around precipitation and a re-freeze resulted in additional ice and snowfall.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in South Dakota, January 9 to 10, 20111 death · 24 eventsSnow produced heavy accumulations of 8 to 10 inches in an area near the Missouri River in southeast South Dakota during a 24 hour period beginning in the late afternoon of January 9th.
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, November 21 to 22, 20101 death · 2 injured · 5 eventsAn area of low pressure moved northeast across the region from Sunday night through the morning hours on Monday. While this system brought snowfall amounts generally from 1 to 5 inches, a narrow frontal band of 6 to 12 inches occurred over north central South Dakota.
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, March 10 to 11, 20211 death · 1 injured · 12 eventsAn area of low pressure tracked through the Central Plains, and brought heavy snow across portions of central and northeastern South Dakota from the morning of the 10th through the early morning of the 11th. Snowfall amounts of 3 to 8 inches accumulated.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in South Dakota, February 14, 20241 death · 9 eventsA compact system crossing from west to east generated an approximately 100 mile wide band of snow across central and northeast South Dakota.
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, March 31, 1998$140,000 · 22 eventsSnowfall of 6 to 16 inches occurred over a large area, causing some damage to power lines resulting in power outages. The wet snow also caused tree damage in Charles Mix County where the heaviest accumulation of 16 inches was reported.
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, November 1, 2000$89,000 · 5 eventsAn intense winter storm brought heavy, wet snowfall and very strong winds to portions of western South Dakota. In Butte and Harding counties, the snowfall was greatest on the western half of the county. Totals ranged from 4 to 6 inches.
• Heavy Snow and High Wind in South Dakota, February 26 to 27, 1999$55,000 · 60 kt wind · 7 eventsAn intense upper level low pressure system over Minnesota, combined with a Pacific cold front moving into the region, created strong winds and some heavy snowfall over portions of northwestern South Dakota.
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, December 14 to 15, 1996$25,000 · 18 eventsSnow accumulated 6 to 12 inches over a large area, causing a few accidents and stranding motorists.
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, December 14, 19962 injured · 19 eventsHeavy snow of 6 to 20 inches fell across most of central, north central and part of northeast South Dakota through the late evening of the 14th. Strong north winds of 20 to 35 mph created near blizzard conditions and heavy dritfing across the area.
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, October 1, 1999$40,000 · 4 eventsAn early season snowfall of 4 to 8 inches caused damage to trees and power lines because of the heavy, wet nature of the snow. A few power outages occurred.
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, March 4, 19983 injured · 6 eventsA heavy snow event occurred during the early morning and afternoon hours resulting in snow amounts of five to eight inches over the southern Black Hills and southwest South Dakota. Numerous accidents were reported due to slick roads.
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, April 12, 19963 injured · $5,000 · 5 eventsSnow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches fell in a narrow band. One report of an undetermined amount greater than 8 inches came from Avon in Bon Homme County. A rollover accident in the snow 3 miles west of Canton resulted in 3 injuries.
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, February 3 to 4, 1997$10,000 · 24 eventsSnow accumulated 6 to 15 inches with 15 inches reported near Sioux Falls. The snow curtailed travel and closed schools and some businesses for a day. A barn roof near Volga collapsed, injuring some cows.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in South Dakota, December 1, 200724 eventsWidespread snow developed quickly over southeast South Dakota on the early morning of December 1st, and continued into the afternoon and early evenng of the same day.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in South Dakota, February 20 to 21, 201124 eventsWidespread moderate to heavy precipitation fell as heavy snow over the northern and western part of the area, and as freezing rain and sleet in far southeast South Dakota.
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, November 26, 200123 eventsWidespread heavy snow accumulated from 6 to 16 inches. The snowfall closed many schools and businesses, closed some government offices, and severely hampered transportation.
• Blizzard and Heavy Snow in South Dakota, February 22 to 23, 202323 eventsHeavy snow and strong winds developed across the region associated with a classic Colorado Low type storm system around mid-day Wednesday, February 22, with strong winds lingering into the early morning hours of Thursday, February 23rd.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in South Dakota, March 31, 200822 eventsWidespread snow produced areas of heavy accumulations over most of southeast South Dakota during the predawn and daytime hours of March 31st. Accumulations varied from a little under 6 inches to a little over 6 inches.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in South Dakota, February 13, 201222 eventsSnow accumulated 6 to 8 inches along a stretch of southeast South Dakota, from the pre-daybreak hours through the daytime hours of February 23rd.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in South Dakota, November 28 to 29, 20251 injured · 14 eventsA broad area of light and fluffy snow developed across north central and northeast South Dakota.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in South Dakota, December 27 to 28, 199721 eventsA strong low pressure system moved through the Northern Plains resulting in snow, very gusty winds, and below zero wind chills. The areas hit hardest by the storm were the northern and central Black Hills. Snow amounts in these areas ranged from four to eight inches.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in South Dakota, April 25, 200821 eventsSnow, preceded in many areas by rain and freezing rain, accumulated 8 to 15 inches along and near the James River Valley in southeast South Dakota, extending east to the Brookings area in the north. The snow fell from early morning to early evening on April 25th.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in South Dakota, November 10, 201921 eventsA strong cold front moved through the area with an upper level shortwave following it. Snow developed from north to south across the area, with several inches falling across much of western South Dakota.
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, April 3 to 5, 202321 eventsJust 4 days after a major winter storm at the end of March, a strong low pressure system developed across the western Great Plains and strengthened as it tracked northeast into Iowa on the afternoon of April 4th and into northeastern Minnesota by noon on April 5th.

Heavy Snow everywhereEvery kind of event in South Dakota

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 2026-09-24.