Blizzard — Union, South Dakota

2021-01-14 to 2021-01-15 · Union, South Dakota

Event narrative

As snow redeveloped and began to accumulate toward evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph with a few gusts as high as 62 mph at South Dakota RWIS site 3 miles south of Beresford and 55 mph near North Sioux City, resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Interstate 29 was closed in South Dakota at 2200CST January 14 and reopened at 0630CST January 15. Snowfall totaled 2.2 inches 6 miles north northeast of Elk Point. At 1820CST on January 15, a two vehicle accident 2 miles south of Elk Point resulted in the indirect fatality to the driver of a southbound pickup which slid through the median and collided with an oncoming SUV in the northbound lane. Two occupants in the other vehicle suffered indirect injury.

Wider weather episode

A strong northwesterly jet streak digging through the central Rockies produced intense and deep cyclogenesis across Iowa on January 14 and 15. Initial precipitation swept through the area as rain, but a surge of cold air into the slowing cyclone wrapped snowfall back into areas east of the James River as winds increased to 50 to 70 mph, resulting in areas of blizzard conditions, especially near and east of Interstate 29.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 938920. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.