Sioux Falls, SD – A major winter storm is set to sweep across the Upper Midwest beginning Friday, with heavy snow, mixed precipitation and hazardous travel expected through Saturday night. Winter Storm Warnings cover large portions of northwest Iowa, southwest Minnesota, northeast Nebraska, and central and northern South Dakota.
According to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, areas including Sioux City, Spencer, Storm Lake, Worthington, Le Mars, Cherokee, and Rock Rapids will see 6 to 10 inches of snow, along with a light ice glaze that could worsen road conditions. The warning runs from noon Friday to midnight Saturday, and the NWS says the storm may severely impact the Friday evening commute as snow and ice intensify.
Farther northwest, the National Weather Service in Aberdeen reports 5 to 7 inches of snow for central South Dakota, including Mobridge, Gettysburg, Onida, Faulkton, Ipswich and Miller. That warning is in effect from 9 a.m. Friday to noon Saturday. Blowing snow could also reduce visibility at times, adding to travel hazards.
The expansive storm zone includes Lyon, Osceola, Dickinson, Sioux, O’Brien, Clay, Plymouth, Cherokee, Buena Vista, Woodbury and Ida counties in Iowa; Murray, Nobles, Jackson, Cottonwood, Rock and Pipestone counties in Minnesota; Dakota County in Nebraska; and Dewey, Potter, Sully, Walworth, Corson, Faulk, Hyde and Edmunds counties in South Dakota.
Forecasters warn drivers across the region to avoid non-essential travel during the heaviest snowfall. Those who must be on the road are urged to carry extra food, water, and a flashlight in case of emergencies. Road condition updates are available by dialing 511 in each state.
