Winter Weather — Minnehaha, South Dakota

2019-11-05 to 2019-11-06 · Minnehaha, South Dakota

Event narrative

Light freezing rain created a glaze of ice on roadways late in the evening of November 5. One fatality (indirect) occurred when a vehicle lost control on an ice-covered bridge on Interstate 229 in Sioux Falls, rolled down an embankment and struck a tree. A 16-year-old passenger in the vehicle was also severely injured (indirect). In total, there were 39 accidents around Sioux Falls through the morning of November 6, with several more accidents along nearby sections of Interstates 29 and 90. At least 4 additional injuries (indirect) occurred with these other accidents. Property damage costs are rough estimates.

Wider weather episode

A reinforcing jet streak dropped into a deep trough across the Northern Plains. Increasing warm advection in advance of the wave led to the development of a narrow frontal band, which was reinforced for a time during the late afternoon and evening of November 5 as the main jet streak dug into the region. The snow band dropped from 2 to 4 inch accumulations from the mid-James River Valley into southern Minnesota.

In a narrow zone on the south side of the band of snowfall, a brief period of freezing rain produced a light glaze of ice.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 863855. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.