Diaz Doles out Doozy of a Winter Storm

  • While most grocery shoppers were hunkered down at home in the Jerauld County area, grocery store owner Ryan Jensen along with mom Peggi and son Sutten held down the fort, taking delivery on Thursday in the midst of blustery conditions last Thursday KRISTI HINE / TRUE DAKOTAN
    While most grocery shoppers were hunkered down at home in the Jerauld County area, grocery store owner Ryan Jensen along with mom Peggi and son Sutten held down the fort, taking delivery on Thursday in the midst of blustery conditions last Thursday KRISTI HINE / TRUE DAKOTAN
  • While some cattle hunkered down close to shelter, others were pushed away and drifted over snow covered fences with the 60 mph wind. Over two feet of snow was measured in some parts of the Jerauld/Buffalo/Hand County. After the wind quieted these cattle found themselves stranded on a hillside until a path could be plowed to get them safely to water and feed. PHOTO BY NALANI DUNSMORE
    While some cattle hunkered down close to shelter, others were pushed away and drifted over snow covered fences with the 60 mph wind. Over two feet of snow was measured in some parts of the Jerauld/Buffalo/Hand County. After the wind quieted these cattle found themselves stranded on a hillside until a path could be plowed to get them safely to water and feed. PHOTO BY NALANI DUNSMORE
  • Wessington Springs School District was forced to close school Tuesday through Friday due to quickly deteriorating road conditions that worsened to become impassable.
    Wessington Springs School District was forced to close school Tuesday through Friday due to quickly deteriorating road conditions that worsened to become impassable.
  • Wessington Springs City crews worked round the clock to keep roads cleared and attempt to stay ahead of the quickly-accumulating snow last week. KRISTI HINE / TRUE DAKOTAN
    Wessington Springs City crews worked round the clock to keep roads cleared and attempt to stay ahead of the quickly-accumulating snow last week. KRISTI HINE / TRUE DAKOTAN

    Winter Storm Diaz held its grips across the plains last week paralyzing travel, schools, government offices and more for much of four days spanning Tuesday through Friday last week. Locally, Wessington Springs’ official weather reporter Kathy Voorhees measured 14 inches of snow with 2.16” of moisture. The event began Tuesday with a winter weather advisory in effect for Jerauld County through 6 p.m. Thursday, including mixed precipitation calling for total snow accumulations of 4 to 12 inches and ice accumulations of around one tenth of an inch and winds gusting as high as 40 mph.

    By Friday, snowfall and wind speeds in Jerauld County had surpassed predictions, with folks north of town reporting over two feet of snow, wreaking havoc on livestock.

    Weather will continue to be a driving force in the lives of South Dakotans this week. At press deadline Tuesday, a wind chill warning was in effect for many portions of the state, calling for wind chills as low as 46 below zero Thursday and Friday accompanied by blizzard conditions Wednesday evening.

     

    Subscribe to the online newsletter:

    * indicates required

    Intuit Mailchimp