Winter Weather — Roberts, South Dakota

2025-03-04 to 2025-03-05 · Roberts, South Dakota

Event narrative

South Dakota Highway Patrol posted photos of a vehicle that had slid off the road and onto a frozen pond 2 miles north of the Summit exit.

Wider weather episode

A system to the south initially brought a wintry mix to northeast and south central South Dakota, before transitioning to a band of heavier snowfall over the Watertown area. The Watertown COOP observer would record 8.1 inches of snow through the course of the day. In addition to the ice and snow, wind gusts topped out at 58 mph at the South Dakota Department of transportation (SDDOT) weather stations at Brandt, with a peak gust of 53 mph at the SDDOT sites at Macs Corner, Wallace and Doland. Widespread winds in excess of 45 mph and falling snow resulted in hazardous travel and several slide-ins. A semi jackknifed blocking portions of Interstate 90 west of Chamberlain and another semi jackknifed blocking portions of Interstate 29 north of Watertown.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1233419. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.