Much of western South Dakota is in the middle of a spring snowstorm. Four to 12 inches have been reported across the area with the highest accumulations in the Northern Hills.
Scott Rudge with the National Weather Service says besides snow this storm is also bringing unseasonably cold weather.
“Our temperatures won’t rise much more than what they are now. Upper teens maybe so out here in Western South Dakota we’re looking at a lot of places setting some record low high temperatures today,” says Rudge.
The forecast shows that anyone digging out today may find more snow to shovel by tomorrow morning. Rudge says a second wave of snow is aimed at the area tonight. He says in Western South Dakota the snow will continue to pile up until early Wednesday morning.
Rudge adds that parts of western South Dakota also saw freezing rain early in the storm. This has left layer of ice is under the snow–making driving conditions very dangerous.
The Rapid City Police Department says no travel is advised in town. Closures are widespread. Schools, city and county offices, and many businesses are taking a snow day.
On the bright side Weather Service says by the time it’s over this storm may leave behind up to an inch of precipitation to the drought stricken area.