A powerful late winter storm will bring snow and strong northerly winds, to southeast South Dakota, parts of southwest Minnesota and northwest Iowa through tonight. Snow will become widespread by mid afternoon as cooling coincides with increased moisture. The highest threat for heavy snowfall amounts have now shifted into southwest Minnesota and much of northwest Iowa. Areas west of Interstate 90 can expect 2 to 6 inches of new snow, with lesser amounts in the far northwest from Chamberlain into the De Smet area. Be sure to stay tuned for the latest updates on the developing winter storm.
WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 AM CDT THURSDAY. * TIMING...RAIN WILL GRADUALLY DEVELOP THIS MORNING AND CHANGE TO SNOW THIS AFTERNOON. PERIODS OF FREEZING RAIN OR SLEET WILL BE POSSIBLE DURING THE TRANSITION IN THE MID TO LATE AFTERNOON. PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE DURING THE EVENING. SNOW WILL DIMINISH LATE TONIGHT. * ACCUMULATIONS...4 TO 8 INCHES WITH ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. VERY LIGHT ICE ACCUMULATIONS ARE POSSIBLE ON ELEVATED SURFACES. * WIND AND VISIBILITY...STRONG NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS BETWEEN 20 AND 35 MPH GUSTING AS HIGH AS 45 MPH THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH WINDS DECREASING LATE TONIGHT. VISIBILITY IN FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW MAY BE REDUCED TO UNDER A QUARTER MILE AT TIMES. * IMPACTS...MIXED PRECIPITATION...TRANSITIONING TO FALLING SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW...WILL LEAD TO DIFFICULT TRAVEL CONDITIONS... INCLUDING DURING THE EVENING COMMUTE. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS...AND VISIBILITIES WILL BE LIMITED FURTHER DUE TO STRONG WINDS BLOWING SNOW AROUND. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
