Storm Damage and Reports from Christmas Day Storm

A powerful storm system kicked back moisture into South Dakota on Christmas Day and brought a blizzard, heavy snow, freezing rain, and just plain old rain to the region.

Temperatures at the start of the event were below freezing in eastern, South Dakota which created icy conditions. In Brookings County, the sheriff's office reported downed trees and power lines dancing in the wind.

Photo Credit: Brookings County Sheriff's Office

The precipitation continued to move westward bringing heavy wet snows and blizzard conditions to central and western regions of the state. The South Dakota Department of Transportation ended up closing Interstate 90 during the late afternoon in central, South Dakota and expanded the closure to the west by the evening hours.

Photo Credit: SDDOT of I-90 near Belvidere at 5:00am MST 12-26-2023

Photo Credit: SDDOT of I-90 near Wall at 5:09am MST 12-26-2023

Back to the east, temperatures continue to increase for the evening hours where the precipitation went from freezing rain and sleet to just rain. That rain persists through the overnight and into Tuesday morning as those temperatures remain over the freezing mark.

In Aberdeen, before warming, freezing rain coated surfaces and trees throughout the city. The National Weather Service in Aberdeen, South Dakota reported 0.25" of ice accumulation.

Photo Credit: National Weather Service in Aberdeen

Snowfall Reports:

1 Mi SSE Vermillion: 6.00"

Tyndall: 6.00"

3 Mi NNE Gann Valley: 4.10"

Kennebec: 3.70"

7 Mi N Wood: 3.60"

4 Mi ENE Reliance: 2.50"

2 Mi N Aberdeen Regional A: 2.40"

1 Mi ESE Pierre: 2.30"

1 Mi NNE Aberdeen: 2.20"

Fort Pierre: 2.00"

2 Mi NNW Pierre Regional A: 2.00"

8 Mi SSW Seneca: 2.00"

9 Mi N Holabird: 2.00"

3 Mi SSE North Sioux City: 2.00"

2 Mi SSW Norris: 2.00"

2 Mi SSE Claremont: 1.90"

4 Mi SSW Tulare: 1.90"

1 Mi SSW Aberdeen: 1.80"

Bowdle: 1.80"

Britton: 1.60"

4 Mi NNW Miranda: 1.60"

1 Mi WSW Webster: 1.60"

4 Mi W Chelsea: 1.50"

9 Mi N Cedar Butte: 1.50"

Faulkton: 1.00"

8 Mi N Vivian: 1.00"

3 Mi WNW Okaton: 1.00"

8 Mi E Martin: 1.00"

3 Mi ENE Kyle: 1.00"

3 Mi N Sioux Falls: 0.90"

Wind Reports:

Rapid City Arpt - 12/26/2023 4:50 AM - 72.00mph

Rapid City Arpt - 12/26/2023 3:44 AM - 67.00mph

1 Mi WSW Red Elm - 12/25/2023 7:25 PM - 63.00mph

8 Mi SSW Folsom - 12/26/2023 12:10 AM - 63.00mph

2 Mi SSW Custer - 12/26/2023 12:48 AM - 63.00mph

8 Mi WNW Fairburn - 12/26/2023 1:18 AM - 63.00mph

5 Mi WNW New Underwood - 12/25/2023 7:25 PM - 62.00mph

Rapid City Arpt - 12/26/2023 2:22 AM - 62.00mph

Rapid City Arpt - 12/25/2023 9:46 PM - 61.00mph

1 Mi E Dwtn Rapid City - 12/25/2023 9:48 PM - 61.00mph

Rapid City Arpt - 12/25/2023 10:20 PM - 61.00mph

2 Mi SW Bridger - 12/25/2023 10:05 PM - 61.00mph

Rapid City Arpt - 12/26/2023 1:20 AM - 61.00mph

3 Mi NW Wasta - 12/25/2023 6:55 PM - 60.00mph

8 Mi SSW Folsom - 12/25/2023 7:34 PM - 59.00mph

3 Mi NNW Scenic - 12/25/2023 7:17 PM - 59.00mph

3 Mi WSW Fairburn - 12/25/2023 7:28 PM - 59.00mph

Rapid City Arpt - 12/25/2023 8:37 PM - 59.00mph

15 Mi SSE Mission - 12/25/2023 8:11 PM - 59.00mph

Howes - 12/25/2023 7:19 PM - 57.00mph

4 Mi S Dwtn Rapid City - 12/25/2023 7:48 PM - 57.00mph

15 Mi SSE Mission - 12/25/2023 6:10 PM - 57.00mph

1 Mi E Dwtn Rapid City - 12/25/2023 8:26 PM - 57.00mph

Rapid City Arpt - 12/25/2023 7:42 PM - 56.00mph

Ellsworth Afb - 12/25/2023 10:11 PM - 56.00mph

2 Mi SSW Custer - 12/25/2023 9:14 PM - 56.00mph

Jewel Cave - 12/26/2023 4:55 AM - 56.00mph

2 Mi ENE Rockerville - 12/25/2023 7:28 PM - 55.00mph

Ellsworth Afb - 12/25/2023 9:19 PM - 55.00mph

1 Mi NNE Faith - 12/25/2023 9:56 PM - 55.00mph

1 Mi W Box Elder - 12/25/2023 9:58 PM - 55.00mph

Jewel Cave - 12/26/2023 3:25 AM - 55.00mph

1 Mi NNE Faith - 12/25/2023 7:35 PM - 54.00mph

Usta - 12/25/2023 10:40 PM - 54.00mph

Jewel Cave - 12/25/2023 11:45 PM - 54.00mph

5 Mi WNW Jewel Cave - 12/26/2023 3:55 AM - 54.00mph

2 Mi SW Bridger - 12/25/2023 6:25 PM - 53.00mph

11 Mi SW Parmelee - 12/25/2023 8:19 PM - 53.00mph

1 Mi W Box Elder - 12/25/2023 9:13 PM - 53.00mph

1 Mi E Dwtn Rapid City - 12/25/2023 7:54 PM - 52.00mph

1 Mi NE Winner - 12/25/2023 6:49 PM - 52.00mph

1 Mi W Box Elder - 12/25/2023 8:18 PM - 52.00mph

1 Mi WNW Caputa - 12/25/2023 8:20 PM - 52.00mph

Jewel Cave - 12/25/2023 11:55 PM - 52.00mph

8 Mi WNW Fairburn - 12/26/2023 12:18 AM - 52.00mph

Pringle - 12/26/2023 1:05 AM - 52.00mph

5 Mi NE Porcupine - 12/26/2023 1:41 AM - 52.00mph

10 Mi W Jewel Cave - 12/26/2023 3:00 AM - 52.00mph

1 Mi W Box Elder - 12/25/2023 7:47 PM - 51.00mph

1 Mi WNW Caputa - 12/25/2023 6:50 PM - 51.00mph

Ellsworth Afb - 12/25/2023 7:51 PM - 51.00mph

Wewela - 12/25/2023 6:15 PM - 51.00mph

8 Mi S Wall - 12/25/2023 7:20 PM - 51.00mph

11 Mi SW Parmelee - 12/25/2023 6:29 PM - 51.00mph

7 Mi ESE Rosebud - 12/25/2023 8:00 PM - 51.00mph

13 Mi NE Newell - 12/25/2023 11:51 PM - 50.00mph

8 Mi WNW Fairburn - 12/25/2023 11:18 PM - 50.00mph