2022 Weather In Review

Banded snow produced 6 to 12 plus inches of snow across northern SD and west central MN on the evening of Sunday the 20th into Monday the 21st. Windy conditions with gusts of 30 to 50 mph were in place through the day on the 21st and again on the 22nd, leading to significant blowing snow and blizzard conditions. Wind chills of -25 to -45 degrees were widespread from the 20th through the morning of the 23rd as well.  More information here. 

Three large and deep low pressure systems impacted the area on April 5-7, 12-14, and 22-23, each with peak gusts of 60 to 80 mph. There were also periods of blizzard conditions, severe thunderstorms (including a tornado) and/or wildfires, which resulted in numerous impacts to high profile vehicles, schools, livestock, agriculture, and more. This was likely the windiest April since at least the mid 1990s.  More information here. 

A historic, early-season derecho impacted northeastern SD and west central MN on Thursday, May 12th with widespread 70 to 100 mph straight-line wind gusts and 16 confirmed tornadoes ( in our forecast area , more beyond), including an EF-2 which struck Castlewood, SD. Significant and widespread damage resulted.  More information here.  

A broken line of severe thunderstorms impacted the Prairie Coteau and points east (same areas as the May 12th derecho from a few weeks earlier) on Monday, May 30th with straight-line wind and several fast-moving and/or rain-wrapped tornadoes, including an EF-3 in Deuel County. 1 to 2 inches of rain on already near-saturated ground led to flooding as well.  More information here. 

A supercell produced two EF-2 tornadoes and straight-line winds estimated between 115-130 mph across Jones County on the evening of Sunday, June 12th. Non-thunderstorm wind gusts of 58 mph plus then developed overnight across northeastern SD. Additional severe storms impacted central and northeastern SD on the morning of Tuesday the 14th. Multiple personal weather stations measured wind gusts of around 120 mph in Edmunds and Brown Counties, which resulted in significant damage.  More information here.  

Severe thunderstorms intensified around daybreak on Tuesday, July 5th across northwestern SD, and eventually tracked southeast across the whole state throughout the day, reaching Sioux Falls by about 4:30 pm. This derecho produced hail up to 4 inches in diameter and wind gusts up to 90 mph, and resulted in significant damage as well as a hail scar (pulverized vegetation as seen from space) across the central SD plains.  More information here. 

D1/Moderate to D2/Severe drought conditions expanded through the spring across central SD (while areas further east experienced a very wet spring which delayed the start of the growing season) before lessening in the summer. However, more widespread D1/Moderate to D2/Severe drought conditions developed by the fall. These conditions set the stage for blowing dust, and often led to high to very high or extreme fire danger. Numerous wildfires did develop, and one of the largest occurred on Sunday, November 6th as a strong low pressure system produced wind gusts of 50 to 65 mph. Roughly 2,500 acres burned in southwestern Edmunds County.

Freezing drizzle throughout the day on Wednesday, November 9 transitioned to a swath of freezing rain during the evening and overnight into Thursday, November 10 across central and northeastern SD. Between generally a quarter and half inch of ice and 30 to 50 mph wind gusts resulted in numerous power outages and tree damage. Blizzard conditions impacted far north central SD as well, and much colder air moved in behind the system.  More information here.  

A highly impactful, major winter storm system lasted the entire work week. Freezing drizzle and freezing rain resulted in a glaze to significant ice accumulations on Monday, December 12 and Tuesday, December 13, especially across/near much of the Prairie Coteau where ice storm criteria was met (at least a quarter inch of ice). Heavy snow fell in waves across the area from the 13th through Friday, December 16th as wind gusts increased to between 40 to 60 mph, resulting in prolonged blizzard conditions.  More information here.  

On the heels of the December 12-16th winter storm, Arctic cold air settled in across the region with high temperatures at or below 5 degrees for 7 consecutive days. A reinforcing Arctic frontal passage from Tuesday, December 20 into Wednesday, December 21 was accompanied by a fresh trace to locally 2 to 3 inches of snow and strong wind gusts of 35 to 55 mph. These winds continued into Friday the 23rd, which resulted in an extended period of ground blizzard conditions and life-threatening wind chills of -35 to -60 degrees.  More information here.