South Dakota is closed:
Gov. Kristi Noem has ordered the closure of state government offices in all South Dakota counties Thursday (today) due to the snowstorm and flooding that continue to impact the state.
Only essential personnel within state offices in all counties should report to their work stations.
This storm now features blizzard conditions in much of the state. Interstate 90 remains closed from the Wyoming Border to Chamberlain-Oacoma. “No Travel Advisories” have been posted on other highways. Heavy rain has caused flooding in south central and southeast South Dakota with water covering some roads and highways.
Officials are monitoring the storm closely. People are being urged not to travel today. It is uncertain when many roads will be reopened.
The public is encouraged to continue monitoring updates from state and local governmental entities and the media about the changing weather and road conditions [State of South Dakota, press release, 2019.03.14].
Ben Hanten recorded this video of flood waters in Yankton yesterday at 3 p.m.:
Hanten says this morning the water has only gotten higher.
When the sun comes back out, Yankton will eventually see this snow from Gettysburg flow by in the Missouri:
The wind is strong enough that the National Weather Service in Rapid City almost launched a manned balloon last night:
Well, that was a fun balloon launch… #sdwx #wywx pic.twitter.com/re1HtbmkVA
— NWS Rapid City (@NWSRapidCity) March 13, 2019
State B Boys Basketball here in Aberdeen starts two hours late, at 2 p.m. But why go out driving on ice in sustained 30+-mile-an-hour winds? Stay home, watch the games on South Dakota Public Television… and follow your favorite Dakota Free Press comment sections on your second screen!
#sdwx #AberdeenSD pic.twitter.com/yn3v68zMRK
— CAHeidelberger (@coralhei) March 14, 2019
My Twitter feed reports that the Brookings Municipal Liquor Store is closed due to flooding. I believe there’s only logical conclusion.
Back to the basement and the shop vac.
Look at the positive side. Nine months from now the population of South Dakota will increase. There’s nothing else to do. Have fun!!
Meanwhile, we are going up to near 60 today in Wisconsin. Almost warm enough to sit outside for the first time and churn out some Vitamin D after a hellacious winter, though are sunny skies are supposed to cloud up later.
Weatherman reported strong thunderstorms and heavy rains for ussuns and he missed completely. We have had a couple days of steady rain and snow is melting fast. Temps in the mid to upper 30s. Seen first robin today and first blackbird yesterday. They are a month late.
Hang in there, guys. Spring will be here before next winter.
Listening to the scanner and it’s amazing how many people are trying to drive in this. One person went in the ditch and only had a quarter of a tank of gas left. amazing.
https://ok.ru/video/427967974055?fromTime=41
This is a tough Day for many South Dakotans!
The Song By Gloria Gaynor may apply. “I will survive!”
I will not survive Drumpf.
It’s time for high doses of Vitamin D 3 if you’re depressed like 10,000 units a day 2,000 is not enough. This is just a stupid place to live. For so many reasons!!! How long do the climate deniers hold out???
I think everybody should stay positive things like this happen before and people get by as soon as we have a couple warm days the water will sink into the ground right now it is still frozen so it has nowhere to go.stay positive gods got us :)
This is the first time I have seen 41st St. in Sioux Falls blocked off due to rain/flooding (Louise to Shirley Ave.). Even on August 25, 2015, when we received 5+ inches in two hours, 41st Street never closed. Nor did it, when we received 5 inches in a hour back on May 22, 1993. My guess is that the ice jams on the river and even the jamming of storm sewers in town are the reasons.
#Rainman ;-)
Same blizzard, different year.
When it’s boy’s basketball tournament time in South Dakota it is time for a good ole fashioned blizzard.
The Answer My Friend is Blowing in the Wind! by Peter Paul and Mary and also Bobby Dylan
https://youtu.be/Ld6fAO4idaI
Indeed, it is. Indeed, it is. Peter, Paul, and Mary held a concert for McGovern in Sioux Falls in October of 1980 at the Sioux Falls Coliseum and now it is time for us to find the answer again on March 23rd.
Fore, ( ;-) ) we must know our past, if we are going to understand the future; and in our understanding of the future, let us heed one of Dylan’s greatest works as we work to rebuild our political party:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwOfCgkyEj0
I wonder why they didn’t postpone the basketball tournaments if this big storm was being forecasted for nearly a week before it hit? It seems risky sending the young high school athletes to the tournament sites while this big winter storm was looming.
Look at the blizzard this way, the first full day of spring is only one week away.
Wayne,
Teams probably left on Tuesday to get to Rapid City.
Also, SDHSAA has had some issues with postponing or not postponing the 2018 State Oral Interpretation Festival last December and the State One Act Play Festival last month. They may have just thrown in the towel on postponements.
Temperatures around 40°, light rain, snow disappearing fast and rivers rising. It’s gonna get ugly on the Red River and the Minnesota River. The Cannon River through downtown Northfield is okay for now, but we’ll probably have some flooding here too because forecasts call for temperatures to stay above freezing, even up to 50s. Floods coming.
Or, Kal Lis, the jockocracy gets special treatment. Families will drive through blizzards to skip school and watch basketball. And all those schools that take “spring break” at tournament time can’t let everyone out again the next week for a postponed tournament.
There’s also a lot more money involved. The local hoteliers and restaurants don’t want to lose all those tournament visitor dollars. If SDHSAA postpones, they may not have the rooms and event space necessary to host a big money-making tournament.
Wade, I’d never cancel a tournament because of weather forecast seven days out. There’s just too much chance of the forecast changing.
The schools create problems for reasonable weather response by sending kids out to the tournament so early. If half (or more?) of the teams are already in town on Tuesday night, and the weather only becomes a clear threat to travel on Wednesday afternoon, it’s harder for the SDHSAA to call things off.
Roger’s right—spring is nigh! Even with the wind roaring outside my window, I can see snow melting on my sidewalk. I shoveled in sunshine in just two layers and thin gloves. Downright balmy out there.
Spring in name only people are being rescued in Sioux Falls. Christie is about to announce a state of emergency: https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/emergency-crews-rescuing-people-from-sioux-falls-neighborhood/1849292201
Memorial and Silver creeks in Madison are full, says Chuck Clement!
Mike, how does the Little Sioux River in your neighborhood look?
South Dakotans, you have my weather sympathy. I hope y’all get out of it with little or no hardship and damage. 🤞🤞🤞
They do it every year. Athletics is so big in SD that there’s no wiggle room on the calendar. You can’t postpone a tournament in SD because every weekend is taken and every arena and court and stadium and hotel is already booked for next weekend and for weekends ad infinitum. So Into The Wild, you parents, fans, players and good luck to ya all.