SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A sharp November chill is setting the stage for the season’s first wintry mix across the northern Plains. Winds already stir the dry leaves along I-90 this morning, and by Saturday, rain could briefly turn to snow as Arctic air barrels south.
According to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, gusty southerly winds up to 40 mph will shift northwest behind a powerful cold front Friday night into Saturday. The system will deliver scattered rain showers early, changing to a rain-and-snow mix across southeast South Dakota, northwest Iowa, and southwest Minnesota. No major accumulation is expected, but brief slick spots and reduced visibility could affect Saturday afternoon travel, especially north and east of Sioux Falls.
The bigger story comes with the plunge in temperature. Highs will tumble from the upper 50s Friday to the low 40s Saturday, then into the teens by Sunday night. Wind chills could fall into the single digits — the coldest air of the season so far. Outdoor Veterans Day ceremonies and late high school playoff games may face biting cold across the region.
Residents should secure loose outdoor items today before winds peak, and prepare for sharply colder mornings next week. Farmers and ranchers are urged to protect livestock from the sudden freeze, while drivers should keep an emergency kit ready for early-season cold travel.
The region’s early taste of winter could be a preview of a colder Thanksgiving week, as long-range models hint at more snow chances sweeping from the northern Rockies into the Midwest.
Five-Day Forecast for Sioux Falls, SD:
Thu: 60/44 – Breezy; chance of light sprinkles, gusts to 40 mph.
Fri: 56/33 – Sunny early, turning cloudy; late rain possible.
Sat: 42/17 – Rain/snow mix midday; colder, windy.
Sun: 32/15 – Bright, frigid; single-digit wind chills.
Mon: 40/29 – Mostly sunny; gradual warming trend.
