Blizzard — Union, South Dakota

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

Event narrative

Snowfall only totaled 2.0 inches 10 miles north-northeast of Elk Point, and northwest winds were sustained at times from 40 to 42 mph and gusted as high as 60 mph 4 miles south of Beresford. The combination of snow and wind resulted in periodic white-out conditions, especially in rural areas. Several semi-trucks jackknifed and blocked traffic on the northbound lanes of Interstate 29 near Jefferson.

Wider weather episode

A strong negatively tilted trough lifted northeast through the Central Plains and resulted in the rapid intensification of low pressure as it moved from Kansas to northern Illinois. Conditions started on the warmer side with mainly light rain, drizzle, and a few thunderstorms on the morning of March 4, but a quick transition to snow occurred by evening and was accompanied by a drastic increase in winds to 45 to 60 mph. While snowfall ended up generally less than an inch across South Dakota, lack of existing snow cover prior to this system limited the areas for which the strong winds resulted in blizzard conditions. Much of southwest Minnesota, northwest Iowa, and far northeast Nebraska saw closed or impassible roads by the early morning of March 5.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1251666. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.