Sioux Falls, SD – An early-week warm spell will give way to a dramatic temperature drop from Tuesday afternoon until Wednesday night, according to the National Weather Service Sioux Falls office. Forecasters say South Dakota residents should “enjoy the warmth ahead” as a sharp pattern change is expected to deliver an Arctic front just before Thanksgiving.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures from Thursday through Tuesday will run far above normal, reaching the 40s, 50s, and even low 60s across the Sioux Falls region. That warm stretch ends abruptly when an Arctic front arrives Tuesday night into Wednesday, pushing highs into the 20s and low 30s and likely holding those colder readings into early December.
Holiday travel may become more challenging as the front moves in. NWS warns that Wednesday and Thursday may be windy, a concern for those driving on long, exposed stretches across eastern South Dakota, northwest Iowa, southwest Minnesota, and nearby regional corridors. Gusty conditions could impact visibility and vehicle stability, especially for high-profile vehicles.
Temperature outlook maps shared by NWS show widespread below-average temperatures expanding across the Upper Midwest from November 25 to December 1, signaling a sustained cold pattern for Sioux Falls, Pierre, Brookings, and surrounding communities. The agency notes that while no major winter storm is currently forecast, the sharp drop in temperatures combined with strong winds could still create travel slowdowns.
Residents planning Thanksgiving travel are encouraged to monitor updated forecasts as the Arctic air approaches and to prepare for significantly colder conditions by midweek.
