Periods of heavy snowfall buried much of southeast South Dakota on January 2-3. The first band of heavy snow developed on the morning of January 2, narrowing as it lifted north and locked in along a Pickstown to Dell Rapids line. This band broadened with lesser rates through the night, but convective development resulted in a secondary period of heavier snowfall (with rates up to 2 to 3 inches per hour) within the deformation zone northwest of the upper level low across southeast South Dakota and southwest Minnesota during the early morning to midday hours on January 3.  Areas that received both heavy bands saw two-day totals of 20 to 27 inches from Lake Andes to Alexandria to Dell Rapids. Several one and two day county snowfall records were established. Roads were closed or impassable during the height of the event.

Winter Storm in CHARLES MIX, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 02-JAN-23 07:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snowfall occurred with a two-day total of 27.0 inches 2 miles north of Lake Andes, 22.5 inches at Wagner, 20.0 inches at Platte, and 19.0 inches 2 miles northeast of Academy.

Winter Storm in DOUGLAS, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 02-JAN-23 09:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Heavy snowfall occurred with a two-day total of 26.5 inches 2 miles south of Armour and 25.2 inches 10 miles west of Dimock.

Winter Storm in HUTCHINSON, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 02-JAN-23 12:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Heavy snowfall occurred with a two-day total of 26.0 inches at Parkston, 25.5 inches 5 miles east-northeast of Tripp, and 15.5 inches at Menno.

Winter Storm in BON HOMME, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 02-JAN-23 12:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snowfall occurred with a two-day total of 12.8 inches at Tyndall and 8.0 inches 8 miles west-northwest of Springfield.

Winter Storm in YANKTON, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 02-JAN-23 15:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snowfall occurred with a two-day total of 12.5 inches at Yankton.

Winter Storm in TURNER, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 02-JAN-23 13:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 22:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snowfall occurred with a two-day total of 17.2 inches at Marion, 15.5 inches 4 miles south-southwest of Parker, and 14.1 inches at Hurley.

Winter Storm in LINCOLN, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 02-JAN-23 15:00:00 to 04-JAN-23 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snowfall occurred with a two-day total of 17.0 inches at Canton, 16.5 inches 1 mile south of Tea, and 9.0 inches at Beresford.

Winter Storm in CLAY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 02-JAN-23 15:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 22:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snowfall occurred with a two-day total of 9.5 inches 6 miles south-southeast of Centerville.

Winter Weather in BEADLE, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-23 11:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Snowfall totaled 4.3 inches at Huron and 3.5 inches 2 miles southeast of Wessington.

Winter Weather in JERAULD, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-23 09:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall totaled 4.0 inches at COOP site WSPS2 at Wessington Springs.

Winter Storm in UNION, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 02-JAN-23 15:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 22:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Social Media

Heavy snowfall occurred with a two-day total of 9.0 inches at Beresford.

Winter Storm in MINNEHAHA, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 02-JAN-23 12:00:00 to 04-JAN-23 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A historic snowfall pummeled the area with two distinct periods of heavy snowfall, which totaled as much as 18 to 27 inches in the northern portion of the county, including 26.5 inches 4 miles west-northwest of Dell Rapids, 25.5 inches at Humboldt, and 23.3 inches 4 miles north-northwest of Renner. Snow fell at a rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour at times during the afternoon of January 2 and the morning of January 3. Schools and government offices were closed, and the Sioux Falls Airport ceased operations for almost 24 hours. Over 190 vehicles were stranded on Sioux Falls city streets, along with 27 non-injury accidents and 3 indirect injury accidents.

Winter Storm in MOODY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 02-JAN-23 13:00:00 to 04-JAN-23 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snowfall occurred with a two-day total of 12.2 inches at Flandreau.

Winter Storm in BROOKINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-23 09:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Heavy snowfall occurred with a two-day total of 9.0 inches 3 miles north of Volga, 8.0 inches at Aurora, Brookings, and 2 miles south-southeast of Astoria, and 7.0 inches near White.

Winter Storm in KINGSBURY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-23 10:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 22:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snow occurred with a two-day total of 10.5 inches at De Smet and 6.0 inches at Iroquois.

Winter Storm in LAKE, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 02-JAN-23 13:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snowfall occurred with a two-day total of 16.0 inches 4 miles west-southwest of Wentworth, 14.0 inches 2 miles south of Winfred, and 10.0 inches at Madison.

Winter Storm in MCCOOK, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 02-JAN-23 12:00:00 to 04-JAN-23 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snowfall occurred with a two-day total of 23.2 inches 5 miles northeast of Salem, 23.0 inches at Bridgewater, and 20.0 inches at Montrose.

Winter Storm in MINER, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 02-JAN-23 12:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Social Media

Heavy snowfall occurred with a two-day total of 14.0 inches at Canova.

Winter Storm in SANBORN, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 02-JAN-23 14:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snowfall occurred with a two-day total of 12.0 inches 4 miles north-northeast of Forestburg and 10.7 inches near Woonsocket.

Winter Storm in HANSON, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 02-JAN-23 10:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snowfall occurred with a two-day total of 27.0 inches at Fulton and 24.0 inches at Alexandria.

Winter Storm in DAVISON, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 02-JAN-23 09:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snowfall occurred with a two-day total of 25.5 inches at Ethan and 23.0 inches at Mitchell.

Winter Storm in AURORA, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 02-JAN-23 09:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snowfall occurred with a two-day total of 18.0 inches at Plankinton and 4 miles southwest of Stickney, and 14.2 inches at White Lake.

Winter Storm in BRULE, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 02-JAN-23 08:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snowfall occurred with a two-day total of 7.2 inches 5 miles south of Chamberlain.

Winter Storm in GREGORY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 02-JAN-23 06:00:00 to 03-JAN-23 13:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snowfall occurred with a two-day total of 21.0 inches 4 miles south-southwest of Pickstown, 20.0 inches 9 miles south of Dallas, and 17.0 inches at Gregory and 4 miles southwest of Burke.