South Dakota – A calm, cold start across the northern Plains won’t last. A major Winter Storm Watch now blankets Marshall, Roberts, and Traverse Counties, signaling the region’s first significant early-winter event of the season.
The National Weather Service in Aberdeen warns that light rain Tuesday morning will quickly flip to heavy snow by midday. Conditions may deteriorate rapidly, especially along Highway 12 and rural stretches near Britton, Sisseton, and Wheaton. Forecasters call for a 50–70% chance of at least four inches, with locally higher totals likely across northwestern Roberts County.
Gusts reaching 40 mph could create areas of blowing and drifting snow, reducing visibility and making travel hazardous through Tuesday night. Drivers should prepare for slick roads and potential whiteout conditions, particularly during the evening commute.
Behind the system, colder air locks in for midweek, marking the region’s firm shift into early winter. Wind chills will dip into the teens by Wednesday morning as snow tapers west to east.
