SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A quiet early December morning will give way to a fast-hitting snow system sweeping across much of eastern South Dakota and northeast Nebraska on Saturday, bringing slick roads, reduced visibility, and winter’s first widespread travel challenge for the region.
According to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Snow will begin near dawn and continue steadily through the day, dropping 2 to 5 inches from Huron to Yankton and into northeast Nebraska, including Sioux Falls and Vermillion.
Road crews are already preparing for slippery travel along I-29, I-90, and Highway 81, where early morning snow may reduce traction just as weekend traffic ramps up. Conditions will likely worsen into the afternoon as heavier bands move through. Drivers should plan extra time and keep headlights on during reduced visibility.
By late afternoon, winds will shift northwest, ushering in colder, drier air that will freeze any slush left behind. Temperatures will fall into the teens by evening, with wind chills dipping near zero by Sunday morning.
While this system moves out quickly, another weak clipper could brush the region early next week, followed by a stronger cold push by mid-December that may deliver heavier snow potential for the northern Plains and upper Midwest.
Residents are urged to prepare vehicles with blankets, phone chargers, and ice scrapers, and to check road updates via 511 South Dakota and Nebraska 511 before heading out.
How are roads looking in your area? Share your snow totals and travel updates as this December storm tracks across the Plains.
