Ice Storm — Sully, South Dakota

2022-11-09 to 2022-11-10 · Sully, South Dakota

Wider weather episode

A low pressure system tracked from Colorado through southeast South Dakota. Initially, a period of freezing drizzle resulted in hazardous travel conditions and at least one request for No Travel Advised early on the morning of the 9th between the Missouri and James River Valleys. Temperatures briefly moderated during the day for a few locations, but then fell back to near or below freezing during the course of the afternoon and evening on the 9th. The main push of moisture, which involved a mix of steady freezing rain and occasional sleet, developed during the evening of the 9th and moved north through the overnight hours. Thunder was noted in several areas, including the cities of Pierre, Aberdeen, and Miller. Widespread accumulations of freezing drizzle and freezing rain totaled at between a quarter inch and one half inch of ice, with an estimated one inch of total ice accumulation in Gettysburg. Winds were also gusty behind the system, with peak winds of 56 mph in Altamont, 50 mph at Brandt, and 49 mph at Summit.

The combination of ice and strong winds that followed resulted in widespread tree damage and power interruptions between the Missouri and James River Valleys. According to the Brown County Emergency Manager, approximately 1,000 customers were without power in just Brown County at one time, and around 80 remained without power on the morning of the 12th. Well below average temperatures moved in behind this system, which only prolonged impacts as temperatures remained below 32 F for many days, preventing a natural thaw of the ice and snow.

The surface observing system at the Aberdeen regional airport lost power on the 10th at 14:00 CST and remained inoperable through the afternoon of the 11th of November. The city forester in Aberdeen estimates 1000 manhours devoted to storm damage cleanup, with about 35 percent of trees damaged from the storm.

Additionally, freezing drizzle changed over to heavy snow in far north central South Dakota, with 13 inches of total snow reported 6 miles southeast of McIntosh, and 6 inches in Pollock.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1062751. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.