The First Alert Weather Team declared Monday, Nov. 2, a First Alert Weather Day as NWS winter storm warning snow and wind conditions threatened parts of western South Dakota. Rapid City, Spearfish and other communities could see damaging gusts, heavy rain, dense fog and possible snow that may make Monday morning travel slower and less predictable.
Wind gusts of 60 mph or higher were expected in portions of western South Dakota, with the strongest winds near and east of the Black Hills reaching 65 mph in some locations. Rapid City could get more than 1 inch of rain, and some guidance put totals near 2 inches there while the northern Black Hills slopes and parts of the western South Dakota plains could receive more than 2 inches.
Rapid City and I-90
Rain could begin as early as midnight, and heavier rainfall could develop along and south of I-90 as Monday got underway. Fog could reduce visibility along I-90 and other roads early Monday, with forecast guidance pointing to sharply reduced visibility around 4 a.m. near Wright, Wyoming, Ekalaka, Montana and Philip, South Dakota.
Some model projections showed visibility falling to one-eighth of a mile near Wright, about half a mile near Philip and near zero around Ekalaka. That leaves commuters and freight traffic dealing with several hazards at once: water on the road, wind and in some spots very limited visibility before sunrise.
Black Hills and Butte County
In the Black Hills, the best chance for accumulating snow appeared to be around 5,000 feet and higher, including terrain above Deadwood. Where temperatures become cold enough, an inch or 2 of snow was possible, while colder air could let rain mix with or change to snow in northeastern Wyoming, including around Gillette, Wright, Sundance and Sheridan.
The high wind watch area also included Spearfish, Rapid City, Belle Fourche, Newell, Nisland, Vale, Buffalo, Bison, Lemmon, Faith, Philip, Kadoka and Hot Springs, along with areas north of Pine Ridge toward Kyle and parts of Butte County. Winds near 5,000 feet could reach about 70 mph Monday evening before easing toward 6 a.m. Tuesday.
For readers in these communities, the practical timing matters most: the worst travel conditions may start before daylight, intensify as rain spreads and the wind builds, then ease after the overnight push into Tuesday. How much snow, rain and wind each community actually receives will depend on where the stronger bands set up.
