Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — Faulk, South Dakota

2025-02-17 to 2025-02-20 · Faulk, South Dakota

Wider weather episode

A second, more intense surge of Arctic air moved into the Northern and Central Plains between February 16 and 19. Low temperatures on the morning of February 17 ranged from the 20s to 30s below zero. The coldest temperatures were recorded by the South Dakota State University (SDSU) mesonet station located 2 miles southeast of McLaughlin and by a personal Davis weather station 4 miles north-northwest of Wakpala. Thirty-eight additional weather stations recorded low temperatures of 25 degrees below zero or colder. This included the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) at Mobridge Regional Airport, which recorded a new record low of 27 degrees below zero. These extremely low temperatures, combined with gusty winds, led to wind chill values ranging from 45 to 50 degrees below zero. The lowest wind chills of 52 degrees below zero were observed near Eureka, McLaughlin, and Artas.

Daytime temperatures remained well below normal. The entire forecast area stayed below zero throughout the day. The coldest high temperature was 17 degrees below zero, observed at the SDSU mesonet near McIntosh. Many locations recorded high temperatures colder than 10 degrees below zero. The ASOS at Aberdeen Regional Airport reached only 6 degrees below zero, and the ASOS at Mobridge Municipal Airport reached 10 degrees below zero, which also set a record for the coldest high temperature on that date.

On the morning of February 18, temperatures dropped to 30 degrees below zero or colder across north-central South Dakota. A personal Davis weather station 4 miles north-northwest of Wakpala recorded the coldest reading at 39 degrees below zero. The Mobridge Municipal Airport ASOS fell to 30 degrees below zero, while the ASOS at Aberdeen Regional Airport dropped to 25 degrees below zero. Wind chill readings were also extremely cold, with 54 degrees below zero recorded at the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) weather station near Herreid, and 52 degrees below zero recorded at the SDSU mesonet stations 4 miles southwest of Mound City and 2 miles southeast of McLaughlin. By the afternoon, most locations remained below zero, although a few spots in central South Dakota briefly rose above the zero-degree mark. The lowest high temperatures, each reaching 11 degrees below zero, were observed at the SDSU mesonet station near McIntosh, the SDDOT station near Herreid, and the SDDOT station near Trail City. The Mobridge Municipal Airport ASOS reported a high of just 5 degrees below zero.

Temperatures dropped again overnight into the morning of February 19. The lowest reading of 37 degrees below zero was observed at both the personal Davis weather station 2 miles northwest of Shambo Ranch in far western Corson County and the SDSU mesonet station 4 miles southwest of Mound City. Thirty-five additional weather stations recorded temperatures of 25 degrees below zero or colder. Wind chills remained extremely hazardous, with a low of 55 degrees below zero recorded at the SDSU mesonet 2 miles southeast of McLaughlin. The Mobridge ASOS reported a wind chill of 47 degrees below zero, and the Aberdeen ASOS recorded 41 degrees below zero.

Although winds became lighter, which prevented wind chills from falling below the 45-degree threshold, extreme cold persisted through the evening of February 19 into the morning of February 20. Lows included 31 degrees below zero recorded 4 miles north-northwest of Wakpala and 29 degrees below zero at both the SDSU mesonet stations 4 miles southwest of Mound City and 2 miles southeast of McLaughlin. On the morning of February 20, 29 additional weather stations reported low temperatures of 20 degrees below zero or colder across north-central and northeast South Dakota.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1231043. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.