Ice, Blowing Snow Make Monday Commute Tricky

The roads Monday morning are deceiving.

KELOLAND’s Kellee Azar drove Interstate 29 north from Sioux Falls to Brookings and back, checking out road conditions. Winds are high; there are slippery spots and even some fog.

Just north of Sioux Falls, it’s very icy. At times, it’s hard to maintain good traction on the road.

But farther north, near Brookings, you’ll see a lot of blowing snow due to the high winds we are experiencing.

And the temperatures have dropped throughout the morning which helps the roads to freeze, especially in the areas that received rain Sunday night.

Many people driving Monday were traveling well below the speed limit. Some vehicles even pulled off the road. Many rest areas and weight stations are full with semis and other vehicles stopping to take a break from the travel conditions.

The South Dakota Department of Transportation is out on the Interstates sanding and salting.

After speaking with the Sioux Falls Streets Department, they were able to get a head of the rain to avoid too many icy areas in the city limits. But, they are still warning drivers to take caution because some areas are still slick.

Bridges, underpasses and ramps on and off the Interstates are slick with both frost and ice in spots.

Officials say I-29 towards Brookings up to Watertown is a no travel advised area because of the Blizzard Warning the northeast is under.

For more on travel conditions in your area, call 511 or visit Safe Travel USA’s website.

Road conditions on I-29 north in Moody County around 5:30 a.m.:

Road conditions on I-29 north near Brookings around 6 a.m.: