Where did the snow go? Sioux Falls was in a 'snow hole,' NWS says

Makenzie Huber | Argus Leader

Update: The snow came! Here's how much Sioux Falls received.

Just wait Sioux Falls, the snow is still on its way.

While earlier forecasts this week predicted snow to start falling on Tuesday around noon with up to 9 inches of accumulation, the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls expects the snow to start falling around 5 p.m. with accumulations between 3 and 4 inches now.

"It's still coming," said Peter Rogers, warning coordination meteorologist with NWS in Sioux Falls. "We have been in a little bit of a snow hole in Sioux Falls, but we weren't expecting much until this afternoon anyways. The most accumulation will happen overnight Tuesday in Sioux Falls."

1:05 PM Radar Update: Snowfall has been limited to a narrow band so far, but more snow is still on the way this afternoon and evening. Radar is showing moderate to heavy snowfall is heading our way from central NE and western IA. We'd appreciate any reports you have so far! pic.twitter.com/eIq2ceZ4ld — NWS Sioux Falls (@NWSSiouxFalls) November 26, 2019

Southeast South Dakota, including Minnehaha and Lincoln counties, is in a winter storm warning until 9 a.m. on Wednesday. That means in addition to expected snowfall, high wind gusts will impact travel plans ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Wind gusts as high as 40 mph will cause blowing snow around the Sioux Falls area and visibility will fall as low as half a mile Tuesday night, Rogers said. Commuters inside Sioux Falls should take the roads slowly, Rogers said, since bridges and roads might be slippery.

More: Here's what travelers failed to get past Sioux Falls airport security over a span of three weeks

Anyone who was planning to travel outside of the city tonight should rethink their plans, he said.

"At this point, leaving town now there's a higher risk of encountering bad weather conditions than earlier or yesterday," Rogers said. "Even though it's not snowing yet, it will be soon. And at that point — until tomorrow morning — travel will be impacted."

Rogers said commuters and Thanksgiving travelers should check road conditions before they leave Sioux Falls — either calling 5-1-1 or checking South Dakota Safe Roads.

As for Wednesday morning's commute, Rogers said drivers should slow down and take more time getting to their destinations.

"Even for folks who've lived in this area for a long time, some of us forget how to drive in the snow at first," Rogers said. "Don't drive speed limit. Drive for the conditions. Have your headlights on, have a supply kit with you, have a charged cell phone and check conditions to know what you're driving out into."

NWS Forecast:

Tuesday: Snow. High near 34. Breezy, with a north northeast wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Snow, mainly before 3 a.m. Patchy blowing snow after 7pm. Low around 26. Blustery, with a north northwest wind around 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of around 3 inches.

Wednesday: Patchy blowing snow before 9 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 29. Blustery, with a northwest wind 15 to 25 mph decreasing to 5 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.

Wednesday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 10. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Thanksgiving Day: Snow likely, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 29. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Thursday Night: Freezing drizzle likely, possibly mixed with snow, mainly before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 25. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday: Freezing rain, possibly mixed with snow before 11 a.m., then rain, possibly mixed with snow between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., then rain after 5 p.m. High near 35. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Friday Night: Rain before 7 p.m., then rain and snow. Low around 32. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Saturday: Rain and snow likely before 11 a.m., then rain between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., then rain and snow after 4 p.m. High near 40. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Saturday Night: Snow. Patchy blowing snow after midnight. Low around 25. Blustery. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday: A chance of snow. Patchy blowing snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. Blustery. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 17.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 30.