South Dakota Bracing For Ice And Strong Winds Ahead

UPDATE 9:00 AM 12/9/25

Winter Storm Watch for Sioux Falls and surrounding areas from noon today through Wednesday morning.

"A winter system will move through the area today bringing periods of rain, wintry mix, light snow, and strong winds. The main story continues to be the strong westerly winds with gusts between 45 to 60+ mph could blow and/or drift our existing snowpack creating near white to white conditions at times this evening and overnight," - NWS

RELATED: Your Guide To Reliable Winter Weather Updates In Sioux Falls

"Strong winds will develop this afternoon, and intensify through the night. Wind gusts may reach or surpass the 60 mph mark overnight. These winds will lead to extreme difficulty in travel, due to the impact of the wind, but also the potential for widespread blowing and drifting snow. Blizzard conditions may be possible."  - NWS

Winter Storm Watch

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
505 AM CST Tue Dec 9 2025

MNZ071-072-097-SDZ038>040-052>056-058>062-064>066-068-069-091915-
/O.CON.KFSD.WS.A.0005.251209T1800Z-251210T1800Z/
Lincoln-Lyon-Pipestone-Beadle-Kingsbury-Brookings-Jerauld-Sanborn-
Miner-Lake-Moody-Aurora-Davison-Hanson-McCook-Minnehaha-Douglas-
Hutchinson-Turner-Bon Homme-Yankton-
Including the cities of Montrose, Marshall, Lake Preston,
Stickney, Ivanhoe, Pipestone, Alexandria, Marion, Tabor,
Mitchell, Irene, Corsica, Canistota, Alpena, Yankton, Howard,
Flandreau, Delmont, Tyndall, Emery, Armour, Hurley, Parkston,
Huron, Plankinton, Orland, Scotland, De Smet, Lake Benton, Sioux
Falls, Chancellor, Springfield, Freeman, Tyler, Clayton,
Centerville, Hendricks, Viborg, Avon, Madison, Salem, Woonsocket,
Brookings, Parker, Arlington, Bridgewater, Menno, Wessington
Springs, White Lake, and Tripp
505 AM CST Tue Dec 9 2025

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON CST TODAY THROUGH
WEDNESDAY MORNING...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions possible. Winds could gust as high as
  55 mph.

* WHERE...Portions of southwest Minnesota and central, east central,
  south central, and southeast South Dakota.

* WHEN...From noon CST today through Wednesday morning.

* IMPACTS...Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and
  blowing snow. Whiteout conditions are possible and may make travel
  treacherous and potentially life-threatening. The hazardous
  conditions could impact the Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning
  commutes. Strong winds could cause tree damage.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Prepare for possible blizzard conditions. Continue to monitor the
latest forecasts for updates on this situation.

Original Story 3:30 PM 12/8/25

Monday afternoon (December 8), the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Winter Storm Watch for parts of South Dakota, including Sioux Falls, as well as parts of Iowa and Minnesota. The Watch is in effect from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning.

The big threat with this system looks to be ice and wind. There's a chance of rain developing in Sioux Falls on Tuesday. And the wind is expected to pick up, causing blowing and drifting of the snow on the ground.

"Gusty winds will return between Tuesday and Wednesday, with wind gusts between 35-45 mph expected. With this in mind, make sure to secure any loose objects and to drive with care," - NWS

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URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
245 PM CST Mon Dec 8 2025

MNZ071-072-097-SDZ038>040-052>056-058>062-064>066-068-069-090600-
/O.NEW.KFSD.WS.A.0005.251209T1800Z-251210T1800Z/
Lincoln-Lyon-Pipestone-Beadle-Kingsbury-Brookings-Jerauld-Sanborn-
Miner-Lake-Moody-Aurora-Davison-Hanson-McCook-Minnehaha-Douglas-
Hutchinson-Turner-Bon Homme-Yankton-
Including the cities of Corsica, Scotland, Canistota, Hendricks,
Hurley, Madison, Woonsocket, Tyndall, Avon, Freeman, Tabor,
Flandreau, Salem, Marion, Brookings, Mitchell, Centerville,
Alpena, Parkston, Tripp, Chancellor, Plankinton, Yankton, Lake
Preston, Wessington Springs, Arlington, Sioux Falls, Viborg, Lake
Benton, Stickney, Ivanhoe, Parker, Alexandria, Huron, Montrose,
Menno, Marshall, Orland, Howard, White Lake, Delmont, Clayton,
Springfield, Armour, Pipestone, Emery, Bridgewater, Tyler, De
Smet, and Irene
245 PM CST Mon Dec 8 2025

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
WEDNESDAY MORNING...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions possible. Total ice accumulations
  around a light glaze possible. Winds could gust as high as 60 mph.

* WHERE...Portions of southwest Minnesota and central, east central,
  south central, and southeast South Dakota.

* WHEN...From Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning.

* IMPACTS...Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and
  blowing snow. Very slippery sidewalks, roads and bridges are
  possible. The hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday
  evening and Wednesday morning commutes. Strong winds could cause
  tree damage.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Prepare for possible blizzard conditions. Continue to monitor the
latest forecasts for updates on this situation.