SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dec. 10, 2025) — The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls is warning residents across eastern South Dakota, northeast Nebraska, and northwest Iowa to prepare for hazardous travel Thursday as a wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain moves through the region.
Forecasters say precipitation will begin before dawn, with snow spreading in around 3 a.m. Thursday before transitioning to freezing rain and sleet through the late morning and afternoon. The highest icing risk is expected between 3 a.m. and 6 p.m., with the potential for light snow accumulation before and after the freezing rain event.
The heaviest ice buildup — up to two-tenths of an inch — is expected across portions of southeastern South Dakota and northeast Nebraska, including communities near Huron, Yankton, Sioux Falls, and Sioux City. Lighter ice amounts and 1–2 inches of snow are possible farther north and west.
The NWS cautions that untreated roads, bridges, and overpasses will likely become slick and dangerous, and ice accumulation on trees and power lines could lead to isolated outages or snapped branches. “Even a light glaze of ice can make travel treacherous,” meteorologists warned in the Wednesday afternoon update.
Drivers are urged to check road conditions before heading out and to allow extra travel time Thursday morning. The storm is expected to taper off by Thursday evening as colder air moves in.
Light snow may linger in parts of southwest Minnesota, but forecasters say the main threat remains freezing rain and sleet that could cause widespread travel disruptions through Thursday afternoon.
