Blizzard in Douglas, South Dakota

Snowfall varying from 4 to 15 inches combined with winds gusting over 50 mph to produce blizzard conditions. The heaviest snowfalls were mostly near and west of the James River, in the area where a severe ice storm immediately preceded the blizzard. Several reports of 6 to 8 foot drifts were received from this area. Visibilities were lowered frequently to zero and travel was made impossible in many areas. Roads, including Interstate Highways 90 and 29 were closed for extended periods of time. Most schools and businesses that were not already closed because of the ice storm were forced to close. The winds during the blizzard continued to bring down power lines and poles, most of which had been coated and weighted down by ice in the area hit by the ice storm. In addition, minor damage was caused to homes and vehicles by the strong winds and by wind blown debris, mainly from trees. A 79 year old man died from exposure three and a half miles north of Harrison in Douglas County when he became stuck in a barbed wire fence after the tractor he was driving on his farm became entangled in the fence late on the afternoon of the 28th.