Aberdeen, SD – A round of freezing rain and mixed winter precipitation is set to move into northeast South Dakota and parts of west-central Minnesota Tuesday, creating slippery roads and difficult travel during the morning hours.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS) Aberdeen, a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 6 a.m. to noon Tuesday for McPherson, Brown, Marshall, Roberts, Edmunds, Day, Spink, Clark, Codington, Grant, Hamlin, and Deuel Counties. Forecasters expect up to one-tenth of an inch of ice, with winds increasing through the morning and gusting up to 40 mph shortly after sunrise.
The NWS warns that untreated roads and bridges may become icy quickly as freezing rain develops, creating hazardous conditions for morning commuters around Aberdeen, Watertown, Britton, Webster, Milbank, and surrounding communities.
Farther east, including Traverse and Big Stone Counties in Minnesota, a separate Winter Weather Advisory runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday. Mixed precipitation is expected in Wheaton, Ortonville, and nearby towns, bringing up to one inch of snow along with a light ice glaze. Winds may gust as high as 35 mph, contributing to reduced visibility and slick road surfaces.
Even minor ice accumulations may pose travel challenges, especially on elevated surfaces and rural highways. Officials urge drivers to slow down, allow extra time, and check road condition updates through 511 or state travel websites.
Conditions are expected to improve by early afternoon in South Dakota and by mid-afternoon in west-central Minnesota as precipitation transitions or tapers.
