Severe storms possible today before snow returns Friday, Saturday

SIOUX FALLS — A strong weather system could bring thunderstorms to the Sioux Falls area before dropping temperatures will result in a few inches of snowfall through the rest of the week.

The National Weather Service on Thursday, March 30, issued a hazardous weather outlook for a large swathe of land across South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska, including Lincoln and Minnehaha counties.

The outlook calls for the possibility of isolated storms striking the area Thursday evening into Friday morning, with some likely to develop into strong or severe storms with high wind speeds, hail and periods of heavy rain.

While the weather system as a whole is likely capable of producing damaging storms and tornadoes, forecasters have placed the Sioux Falls area at a marginal risk of severe weather, expecting any significant weather to affect areas in central Iowa.

After a round of stormy weather Thursday night, colder air from the west will result in a swift drop of temperatures, with Friday morning rain transitioning toward snowfall during the afternoon hours.

Snowfall is expected to persist in the Sioux Falls area until midday Saturday. Uncertainty remains in exactly how much snow the city might receive, with a Thursday morning estimate calling for between a trace of snow to as many as 4 inches.

Contributed / National Weather Service

Areas to the north and west of Sioux Falls, however, are expected to see significantly more powder. In a Thursday morning update, the National Weather Service called for between 2 to 6 inches along a line running roughly from Mitchell to Brookings and as many as 16 inches in Gettysburg — approximately 60 miles northeast of Pierre.

Regardless of the actual snow totals, strong winds are expected to accompany the weather system, with gusts expected to peak in the low 50s Friday night.

While the National Weather Service expects minimal disruptions to travel within Sioux Falls, more significant impacts are likely to anyone traveling to north or west.

Up to date road conditions are available from South Dakota 511 and through social media channels for the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and South Dakota Highway Patrol.