Winter Storm Rages Across North-Central Plains

A major winter snowstorm will continue to grip much of the north-central Plains thanks to a strong low pressure.

Low pressure has come to a halt across the Missouri Valley, drawing Gulf moisture through the length of the Mississippi Valley and pulling cold air southward across the Rockies. The result has been a ribbon of heavy snow across parts of the central and northern Plains. As the storm continues to strengthen, blizzard conditions will impact Nebraska and South Dakota, with an ice storm pummeling North Dakota and Minnesota.

Blizzard Warnings stretch from eastern Colorado to central South Dakota, including North Platte, Neb., Sturgis, S.D., and Goodland, Kan. Ice Storm Warnings are in place across northeastern South Dakota and eastern North Dakota, including Fargo and Grand Forks, N.D., and Aberdeen, S.D.

Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories as well as High Wind Warnings are in place along the periphery of the Blizzard Warnings from the Colorado Front Range to Minnesota. This includes Colorado Springs, Colo., Hastings, Neb., Bismarck, N.D., Huron, S.D., and International Falls, Minn.

This storm will be a multi-faceted event as it spins its way through the Plains. One aspect of it will be heavy snowfall and high winds combining to produce blizzard conditions across South Dakota, Nebraska and into Colorado and Kansas. Here, a foot or more of snow could fall today into tonight, making post-Christmas travel difficult if not impossible.

Another phase of the storm will be on its northeastern edge, where the warmer and colder air will do battle. Much of the Red River Valley will be in this sector, where warm air aloft will fight the cold air at the surface, leading to an ice storm capable of producing one-quarter to one-half inch of freezing rain. The Interstate 29 corridor is likely to turn into a skating rink, so do not venture out if you do not need to.

Even the peripheries of this storm won’t be omitted from this storm. Gusty winds peaking between 50 and 60 mph will be found across the Front Range of Colorado and southeastern Wyoming, where a ground blizzard is likely to develop thanks to a fresh snowpack along with those strong winds. 

It goes without saying that travel is not recommended, so if you must leave home, have an emergency kit packed with non-perishable supplies such as food, water, batteries, blankets and a battery or solar powered radio so you can remain informed of rapidly changing weather conditions. 

Should a watch or warning be issued for your location, be sure to know the differences! A watch means that conditions are favorable for dangerous weather, and you should have a plan in place for acting. Whereas a warning means that dangerous weather conditions are imminent, and you need to act fast to protect life and property. Our WeatherBug meteorologists will continue to follow this developing storm system.