Storm Center Update-Friday AM

We have a busy forecast ahead this weekend with big changes heading our way.  This morning, areas of fog have developed in western SD with cool northeast winds in much of KELOLAND.  The clouds today will keep temperatures cooler with highs mostly in the 40s, with lower to mid 50s in the southeast. 

Precipitation chances will be found along the North Dakota border where freezing drizzle has been reported early this morning.

The forecast calls for areas of fog and drizzle to develop overnight tonight as low pressure to our west intensifies.  Precipitation amounts look light overnight in most areas.

Tomorrow’s weather will be more complicated, so here’s what you can expect in your region on KELOLAND.

West:  Areas of light rain and light snow in the morning will transition to all snow by the afternoon as temperatures fall through the 30s.  Winds will be gusty from the northwest during the day over 40 mph.  While heavy snow is not forecast, a coating of 1-2” will be possible by Saturday evening with heavier totals in the northern Black Hills.  Watch out for slick spots on bridges and overpasses during the afternoon and evening.

Central:  Areas of fog and drizzle can be expected overnight tonight and tomorrow morning.   Pockets of showers will develop during the day, but amounts should remain in the .10”-20” range.  Showers will transition to snow during the afternoon, with accumulations mainly under 1”.  Additional forcing will coming up from Nebraska Saturday night and that may intensify the snowfall Saturday closer the Nebraska border after 6pm, so a few 1-3” amounts will be possible.

Northeast:  Areas of showers will be possible during the day, but amounts look light.  Snow and freezing rain will be possible closer to Mobridge and points north.  Those areas will have the worst travel problems.  Light rain will change to light snow in Aberdeen by late afternoon, but heavy snow is not forecast…perhaps an inch or less.  A band of 1-3” will be possible south of Aberdeen Saturday night, something we’ll watch.

Southeast:  Areas of fog and drizzle will be possible in the morning, but partly sunny skies will develop in Nebraska and western IA during the late morning.  That partial clearing will lead to mild temperatures ahead of the low, with highs near 70 in parts of NW IA.  Sioux Falls should be near 64 by 3pm.  Mitchell and Brookings will be cooler where clouds and some fog could linger.  The approaching cold front will spark showers and isolated t-storms after 4pm in areas of SE SD and NW IA.  These pockets of rain will spread northeast during the evening into SW MN.  Amounts of .25” will be possible, with locally higher amounts with t-storms.  A sharp drop in temperatures Saturday night will lead to drizzle and freezing drizzle at times after midnight.  A period of snow will be possible as well, mainly west of Sioux Falls.  A slushy 1-3” could fall through Sunday morning in the Mitchell-Huron-Gregory areas. 

Here's a closer look at rain and snow forecasts for the weekend.

Temperatures will much colder Sunday and Monday with highs in the upper 20s and lower 30s.  Wind chills could be near 0 by Monday morning.  Some warming is forecast by the middle of next week with highs back in the 40s and low 50s.