The most significant winter storm during January started as a surge of warm advection, followed by a strong trough through the southern Rockies on Friday, January 17.  A period of moderate to heavy snowfall swept across the area, accompanied by southerly winds gusting to 35 to 45 mph. Snowfall then tapered off to a period of light freezing rain and freezing drizzle into the evening hours, before changing back to snow.  By late evening and early in the overnight, winds transitioned to northwest and increased to 35 to 45 mph, with gusts of 50 to 60 mph common as low pressure intensified across Iowa.  Strong winds persisted most of Saturday as the area of low pressure moved slowly toward the western Great Lakes.  Most areas received between 4 and 8 inches of snowfall as well as a glaze of ice, with just shy of a quarter inch of ice in the Sioux City area. As a result of expected conditions, State Offices were closed at 1300CST January 17.

Blizzard in JERAULD, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 08:30:00 to 18-JAN-20 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the morning of January 18 reaching 48 mph at Wessington Springs. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less, with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 5.0 inches at Wessington Springs.

Blizzard in AURORA, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 08:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the morning of January 18 reaching 56 mph at Plankinton and 46 mph at White Lake. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less, with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 4.5 inches 4 miles southwest of Stickney and 3.2 inches at White Lake.

Blizzard in LAKE, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 07:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the late morning of January 18 reaching 52 mph at Madison. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less, with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 7.2 inches 2 miles north of Chester and 5.4 inches at Madison.

Blizzard in MOODY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 07:30:00 to 18-JAN-20 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the midday of January 18 reaching 53 mph along Interstate 29 west of Ward and 46 mph at Flandreau.  Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less. Interstate 29 was closed from Sioux Falls to the North Dakota border at 1900CST January 17 through 1300CST January 18, with travel not recommended on other roadways. Total snowfall reached 6.0 inches at Flandreau and 4.0 inches 11 miles north of Colman.

Blizzard in DOUGLAS, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 07:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the morning of January 18 reaching 56 mph at Plankinton and 54 mph at Tripp. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less, with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 3.7 inches 10 miles west of Dimock.

Blizzard in BROOKINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 07:30:00 to 18-JAN-20 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the midday of January 18 reaching 51 mph at Volga and 46 mph at Brookings. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less. Interstate 29 was closed from Sioux Falls to the North Dakota border at 1900CST January 17 through 1300CST January 18, with travel not recommended on other roadways. Total snowfall reached 6.0 inches at Brookings, 5.8 inches 6 miles west of Bruce and 4.0 inches 2 miles south southeast of Astoria.

Blizzard in CHARLES MIX, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 06:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the morning of January 18 reaching 63 mph 11 miles west of Platte, 55 mph at Fort Randall Dam, and 47 mph at Wagner. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less, with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 5.0 inches at Platte, 4.0 inches 2 miles northeast of Academy and 3.0 inches 3 miles south of Dante and 2 miles north of Lake Andes.

Blizzard in BON HOMME, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 06:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze to a tenth of an inch, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the morning of January 18 reaching 51 mph at Tyndall. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 5.0 inches 8 miles west northwest of Springfield and 4.0 inches at Tyndall.

Blizzard in HANSON, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 07:30:00 to 18-JAN-20 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the morning of January 18 reaching 57 mph near Alexandria. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less. Interstate 90 was closed from 1900CST January 17 through 1300CST January 18, with travel not recommended on other roadways. Total snowfall reached 3.0 inches at Alexandria.

Blizzard in DAVISON, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 08:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the morning of January 18 reaching 55 mph at Mitchell. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less. Interstate 90 was closed from 1900CST January 17 through 1300CST January 18, with travel not recommended on other roadways. Total snowfall reached 6.8 inches at Mitchell.

Blizzard in SANBORN, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 08:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the morning of January 18 reaching 48 mph at Forestburg. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less, with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 4.0 inches 4 miles north northeast of Forestburg.

Blizzard in BEADLE, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 08:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 08:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the morning of January 18 reaching 59 mph at Huron, 52 mph at Wolsey and 50 mph near Cavour. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less, with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 7.8 inches at Huron and 3.0 inches 2 miles south southeast of Wessington.

Blizzard in TURNER, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 07:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze to a tenth of an inch, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the morning reaching 55 mph near Davis and 52 mph near Freeman.  Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 9.4 inches at Marion and 5.8 inches near Hurley.

Blizzard in MCCOOK, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 07:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze, before precipitation changed back to snow by evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the morning reaching 60 mph near Montrose.  Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less with travel not recommended. Interstate 90 was closed from 1900CST January 17 through 1300CST January 18. Total snowfall reached 6.5 inches 5 miles northeast of Salem, 5.0 inches at Bridgewater, 4.5 inches 6 miles northwest of Montrose, and 4.0 inches at Montrose.

Blizzard in CLAY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 05:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze to a tenth of an inch, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the morning reaching 46 mph 5 miles southeast of Centerville.  Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 3.6 inches at Vermillion and 3.5 inches 5 miles southeast of Centerville.

Blizzard in YANKTON, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 05:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze to a tenth of an inch, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the morning of January 18 reaching 59 mph at Yankton and 54 mph near Gayville. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 4.5 inches at Yankton.

Blizzard in HUTCHINSON, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 08:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze to a tenth of an inch, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the morning of January 18 reaching 54 mph at Tripp and 52 mph at Freeman. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 6.0 inches at Parkston, 5.0 inches at Menno and 4.0 inches 11 miles south of Emery.

Blizzard in MINNEHAHA, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 06:30:00 to 18-JAN-20 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze to a tenth of an inch, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the morning reaching 58 mph near Dell Rapids and 55 mph at Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls.  Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less. Interstate 29 was closed from Sioux Falls to the North Dakota border and Interstate 90 from Sioux Falls to Mitchell at 1900CST January 17 through 1300CST January 18, with travel not recommended on other roadways. Total snowfall reached 7 to 8 inches around the Sioux Falls metro area, 7.6 inches near Wall Lake and 7.1 inches near Garretson.

Blizzard in BRULE, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 08:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the morning of January 18 reaching 56 mph at Kimball and 49 mph at Chamberlain. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less, with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 2.7 inches 8 miles north northeast of Chamberlain, 2.3 inches 8 miles south southwest of Chamberlain and 2.0 inches at Chamberlain and Pukwana.

Blizzard in LINCOLN, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 06:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze to a tenth of an inch, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the morning reaching 55 mph near Davis and 45 mph at Canton.  Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 7 to 8 inches on the south side of Sioux Falls and 7.1 inches at Canton.

Blizzard in MINER, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 08:30:00 to 18-JAN-20 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during midday of January 18 of 43 mph at Canova. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less, with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 5.5 inches at Howard.

Blizzard in GREGORY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 06:30:00 to 18-JAN-20 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the morning of January 18 reaching 53 mph at Gregory and 44 mph at Fairfax. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less, with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 5.0 inches 8 miles south southwest of Herrick and 4 miles south southwest of Pickstown, 4.5 inches 5 miles northwest of Herrick and 4.0 inches at Gregory.

Blizzard in KINGSBURY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 09:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the late morning and afternoon of January 17, before tapering off to a brief period of freezing drizzle. Ice accumulations were generally a glaze, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the midday of January 18 reaching 51 mph at Arlington. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less, with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 6.5 inches at De Smet and 4.2 inches at Iroquois.

Blizzard in UNION, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-JAN-20 05:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze to a tenth of an inch, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the morning reaching 46 mph 5 miles south of Beresford.  Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 4.5 inches 6 miles north northeast of Elk Point.