Sioux Falls, SD – South Dakota is preparing for a bitter stretch of winter weather as a strong Arctic Blast sweeps across the Northern Plains from Monday, Dec. 1 through Friday, Dec. 5, ushering in a Cold December pattern featuring persistent snow showers, below-zero temperatures, and hazardous double-digit subzero wind chills.
According to the National Weather Service, repeated waves of Arctic energy will generate light snow and areas of blowing snow, particularly Monday through Wednesday. While accumulations should remain modest, the combination of gusty northwest winds and powdery snow may lead to reduced visibility, icy roads, and drifting along open stretches of I-90 and US-281.
Temperatures will fall into the single digits and below zero, especially across eastern and central South Dakota. Wind chills may plunge between –15°F and –35°F, with the coldest values expected during the late-night and early-morning hours midweek. Forecasters stress that frostbite can occur quickly in such conditions.
NOAA’s 6–10 Day Temperature Outlook places South Dakota in one of the strongest below-normal temperature anomalies in the country for Dec. 1–5, mirroring the deep Arctic air mass dominating the Northern Plains.
While a major organized winter storm is not currently expected, forecasters caution that frequent snow showers, blowing snow, and dangerous wind chills may create hazardous travel and outdoor conditions statewide through the week.
Residents should prepare for prolonged bitter cold, limit outdoor exposure, and follow updated NWS advisories.
