Dense Fog — Jerauld, South Dakota

2024-01-26 · Jerauld, South Dakota

Event narrative

On January 26, a young girl was crossing South Dakota Highway 34 about 10 miles west of Wessington Springs to board a school bus when she was struck by a vehicle. The vehicle engaged its breaks when flashing lights on the bus became more visible in dense fog and then slid on the icy road, hitting the young girl. The girl sustained serious, life-threatening injuries and succumbed to those injuries (indirect fatality) on February 6.

Wider weather episode

A moist boundary layer, combined with weak surface flow and a strong temperature inversion aloft resulted in areas of dense fog with visibility at times below one-quarter mile across southeast South Dakota on January 26th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1205486. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.