A strong low pressure area brought widespread heavy snow of 6 to 20 inches to most of northeast South Dakota for much of the 25th and into the early morning hours of the 26th. The precipitation began as light freezing rain in the early morning across parts of the area before changing to all snow by mid morning. As the low pressure area intensified, snowfall rates and the north winds also increased. The heavy snow combined with the strong winds created widespread visibility problems along with large snowdrifts. Snowfall amounts included, 6 inches at Andover, Britton, Gann Valley, and 15 miles south of Miller, 8 inches at Roy Lake, 9 inches at Clark, Big Stone City, Hillside Colony, and Sisseton, 10 inches 7 miles south of Bristol, and 11 inches at Hayti. Locations with a foot or more of snowfall included, 12 inches at Wilmot, Webster, and Waubay, 13 inches at Milbank, 15 inches at Castlewood, 16 inches near Victor, and near Summit, 17 inches at Clear Lake, 19 inches at Watertown, and 20 inches at Bryant.
There were a number of automobiles that went into the ditch along with many other automobiles damaged in accidents. Many stranded motorists had to abandon their vehicles in the hardest hit areas. Travel was not advised across the entire area. A school bus slid into a ditch east of Castlewood with no injuries occurring. Interstate-29 was closed from 3 pm the 25th until 3 pm on the 26th from Brookings north to the North Dakota border. In addition, South Dakota State Highway 12 was closed from Webster to the Minnesota line from the afternoon of the 25th until the late morning of the 26th. Most counties affected by the storm opened emergency shelters when Interstate 29 was closed to house stranded motorists. Also, many schools were closed across the area.
The very heavy snow set several records across the area. The 19 inches at Watertown broke its all time 24 hour snowfall record of 16 inches. Both Victor and Clear Lake had their second highest snowfall ever recorded in a 24 hour period. Watertown, along with several other locations in northeast South Dakota, received near record or record snowfall for the month of April. In fact, Watertown's 29.5 inches of snow for the month of April was almost their seasonal normal snowfall.

Winter Storm in BUFFALO, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 25-APR-08 05:00:00 to 25-APR-08 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in HAND, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 25-APR-08 06:00:00 to 25-APR-08 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in SPINK, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 25-APR-08 06:00:00 to 25-APR-08 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Winter Storm in MARSHALL, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 25-APR-08 09:00:00 to 26-APR-08 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in DAY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 25-APR-08 08:00:00 to 26-APR-08 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in CLARK, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 25-APR-08 07:00:00 to 26-APR-08 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in HAMLIN, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 25-APR-08 06:00:00 to 26-APR-08 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in CODINGTON, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 25-APR-08 06:00:00 to 26-APR-08 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in ROBERTS, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 25-APR-08 07:00:00 to 26-APR-08 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in GRANT, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 25-APR-08 06:00:00 to 26-APR-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winter Storm in DEUEL, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 25-APR-08 05:00:00 to 26-APR-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer