SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Snowy, slick road conditions in and around Sioux Falls caused delays and 25 crashes as more than 3 inches of snow fell Tuesday morning.
Snow totals as of noon CST
Snowfall totals range from just over an inch up to four inches in some areas.
- Bonesteel 3″
- Burke 4″
- Crooks 2.3″
- Dell Rapids 4″
- 4 miles SSE Sioux Falls 3.8″
Areas of blowing snow are also possible as wind gusts are expected to pick up to above 30 miles per hour as the day continues. Those increased winds could reduce visibility for drivers.
There were nine schools that issued two-hour late starts and more than five schools in South Dakota that closed Tuesday, including Boyden-Hull (Iowa) Elk Point-Jefferson, Gayville-Volin, Irene-Wakonda, Sibley-Ocheyedan (Iowa), Vermillion, Windom (Minnesota) and Yankton.
In Sioux Falls, Sam Clemens, the public information officer for the Sioux Falls Police Department, said police responded to 25 crashes between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. Tuesday. There were no serious injuries from the crashes, Clemens said.
Snow alert?
As of 5 p.m., there was no snow alert issued for the city of Sioux Falls.
A snow alert is issued after at least two inches of snow. Plows focus on emergency snow routes first, then move into each of Sioux Falls’ three zones to clear all city streets.
All vehicles parked on emergency snow routes are subject to ticketing and towing once the snow alert is issued.
To find out what zone you live in, you can view the map on the city of Sioux Falls website.
You can signup for snow alert messages by texting “SNOWALERT” to 888777 or signup on the city’s website.
Winter weather road conditions
You can find the latest South Dakota road conditions on the South Dakota Department of Transportation 511 website online.
According to the SD511 website, conditions look to be improving on Interstate 29 and 90. Interstate 29 between Sioux Falls and the Colman/Egan Exit has scattered wet sports. From there to the north, the interstate is now described as dry. But I-29 from Sioux Falls to the Iowa State Line is still listed as slippery with scattered ice.
Interstate 90 from the Minnesota border to just west of Mitchell has scattered wet spots as of 4?25 p.m.
A number of highways in the southeastern part of the state are still described as slippery with scattered ice. Those include:
- SD Highway 34 (from Madison to Minnesota State Line)
- SD Highway 38 (from Salem to Sioux Falls)
- SD Highway 42 (from Ethan to Iowa State Line)
- SD Highway 44 (from Platte to I-29 near Worthing)
- SD Highway 18 (from Colome to Iowa State Line)
- SD Highway 46 (from Pickstown to Iowa State Line)
- SD Highway 50 (from Avon to Iowa State Line)
- SD Highway 11 (from Sioux Falls to SD 48)
- SD Highway 19 (from Madison to Vermillion)
- US Highway 81 (from I-90 to Yankton)
- SD Highway 37 (from Parkston to Nebraska State Line)
As of 8:30 a.m. the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office says deputies are responding to multiple crashes on rural county roads. Authorities asked people to slow down and stay off the roadways if possible.
KELOLAND Weather online resources
Sam Clemens, the public information officer for the Sioux Falls Police, said if people who are on a busy or main road are involved in a minor accident and there are no injuries, they can move the vehicles off the roadway to wait for police.
“If there is any injury or significant damage, they should leave the vehicles where they stopped,” Clemens said in an email to KELOLAND News.
Meteorologists in the KELOLAND Live Doppler HD Storm Center will be tracking the storm throughout the day.
You can also stay up to date on our changing weather conditions by downloading our KELOLAND Stormtracker app.
There you can see what the weather is doing across KELOLAND with our live cam network, as well as see where this snowstorm is heading with our Live Doppler HD radar.
As of 6 a.m., a little over 1″ of snow has fallen in downtown Sioux Falls.
Snow will continue this morning in much of southern and eastern KELOLAND.
Mixed precipitation is expected to be part of a storm system moving through parts of South Dakota, northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota on Tuesday.
People living in those areas could experience snow and ice throughout the day. Winds up to 35 miles per hour could reduce visibility for drivers.
The precipitation could include freezing rain and snow. That will likely make travel difficult in some areas.
Find the latest South Dakota road conditions online.
Temperatures are also expected to drop on Tuesday, with daytime highs in the 20s to low 30s.