Winter Storm — Butte, South Dakota

2006-04-18 to 2006-04-19 · Butte, South Dakota

Wider weather episode

A major spring storm moved across the Central and Northern Plains, bringing significant amounts of rain and snow and gusty winds to much of western South Dakota. Snowfall was heaviest across the northern and central Black Hills, as well as far northwest South Dakota, where 1 to 2 feet fell. Favored upslope areas of the northern Black Hills received 2 to 5 feet of snow. Strong northwest winds gusting to 60 mph, created blizzard conditions across Harding, Butte, and Lawrence counties. Drifts to 15 feet high were reported across Harding and Butte counties. Power poles and trees were downed by the combination of heavy wet snow and wind, which resulted in widespread and prolonged power outages across northwest South Dakota and the Black Hills. Interstate 90 was closed from Rapid City to the Wyoming border for more than 24 hours.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5504467. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.