Old Man Winter is just around the corner

Oct. 22 was South Dakota Winter Awareness Day.

The weather has a habit of changing pretty quickly, especially during the winter season. Powerful winter storms driven by jet streams that often exceed 200 mph can bring copious amounts of snow and ice, along with blowing snow and whiteout conditions. In some cases the temperature can drop over 50 degrees in a matter of hours. Whether it be exposure to the cold, vehicle accidents caused by slick roads, or fires resulting from the improper use of heaters, hundreds of people are injured or killed each year as a direct result of winter weather.

Winter storms range from moderate snow over a few hours to a massive blizzard with blinding, wind-driven snow that lasts for several days. Some winter storms are large enough to affect several states while others affect only a single community.

High winds, freezing rain or sleet, heavy snowfall and dangerously cold temperatures are the main hazards associated with winter storms. Impassable snow drifts can maroon people at home without utilities or other services for days after an event. Heavy snowfall and blizzards easily trap motorists in their vehicles and make walking to find help a deadly effort. Bitter cold temperatures and wind chills during and after a winter storm can lead to hypothermia and kill anyone caught outside for too long. The aftermath of a winter storm can impact a community or region for days, weeks or even months, incurring steep economic costs.

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Some definitions include:

• Snow:Frozen precipitation that never melts during its descent to the surface
• Sleet:Frozen precipitation falls through a warm layer and melts, then falls through another cold layer that is deep enough to refreeze the raindrops into pellets before hitting the ground.
• Freezing rain:Frozen precipitation falls through a warm layer and melts, then falls on surfaces that are below freezing and solidifies, resulting in an even coating of ice on streets, trees, cars, and power lines.
• Rain:Frozen precipitation that falls through a deep warm layer and melts into liquid before reaching the ground. Water droplets are classified as rain if they are 0.5 millimeters or greater in size, whereas droplets smaller than 0.5 millimeters are classified as drizzle.

How the National Weather Service keeps you informed

The weather service issues four tiers of alerts to inform you of incoming hazardous weather. Today I will cover two of those and next week continue with the other two.

Outlook

• Timing is up to seven days out
• Issued when significant winter weather is possible, but not guaranteed a heads-up
• You should monitor forecasts for additional information
• Types of outlooks are hazardous weather outlooks and weather story graphic

Hazardous weather outlook:Will there be any hazardous winter weather in the next several days? If any hazardous winter weather is expected, check back for later forecasts, information, and possible watches.

Advisory

• Timing is within 24 to 36 hours of the event
• Events not expected to pose a significant risk to life and property, but could still impact travel or other activities
• You should exercise caution when traveling and be prepared for any possible impacts
• Types of advisories are winter weather and cold weather

Winter weather advisory:Issued when any of the following criteria is expected to occur:

• Snow:3 to 6 inches in 12 hours or 5 to 8 inches in 24 hours
• Sleet:Less than 1/2 inch in the next 24 hours
• Ice:Less than 1/4 of an inch
• Blowing snow:Visibility occasionally reduced to 1/4 of a mile due to blowing snow with winds less than 35 mph.
• On the road:Unplowed/less-traveled roads may be slick, so drive with caution. If blowing snow is occurring, drive at a safe speed and leave plenty of space between you and other drivers.
• At home:Make sure you have the proper snow removing equipment to clear your sidewalks and driveways.

Cold weather advisory: Apparent temperature values are expected to be less than or equal to -25F for all areas, except Dakota and Dixon counties in Nebraska and Woodbury and Ida counties in Iowa, where values are expected to be less than or equal to -20F

• On the road:Pack extra clothes and blankets in addition to your winter survival kit in your car in case you become stranded.
• At home:If you go outdoors, dress accordingly by wearing well-insulated hats and gloves and putting on extra layers of clothing to keep warm. Frostbite could take place in as little as 30 minutes.

Next week, I will continue with the discussion focused on watches and warnings.

The following information was received from the weather service office in Sioux Falls. The NOAA/NWS released the 2025-2026 Winter Outlook, which covers the December, January, and February period. Highlights included:

• We are currently under a La Nia advisory. La Nia conditions are present and favored to persist through December 2025-February 2026, with a transition to ENSO-neutral likely in January-March 2026.
• Under a typical La Nia, the Northern Plains has a higher chance for below-normal temperatures and equal chances for precipitation (i.e., no strong signal).
• The official winter outlook (Dec-Jan-Feb) shows a slightly higher chance for below normal temperatures and equal to slightly higher chances for precipitation.

In addition, individual states will soon be holding their Winter Weather Awareness Day or Week:

• South Dakota: Oct. 22
• Minnesota: Nov. 17-21
• Iowa: Nov. 6
• Nebraska: Nov. 6

The weather service office in Sioux Falls will post weather safety information on our social media feeds during these times.

I want to thank the weather service for sharing the above information.

It is time to start dressing in layers and remember to always: Keep an eye on the sky when outdoors.