textproduct: Aberdeen

KEY MESSAGES

- Snow will continue across the region (especially northern SD) into the overnight hours, with additional accumulations from 3 to 9 inches possible. Lesser amounts further south.

- Northwest wind gusts increase to between 25 and 35 mph tonight through Saturday. Visibility reductions at times in falling snow, but significant impacts from low visibility and blowing snow are not expected due to the heavy/wet nature of snow.

- Below normal temperatures remaining in place through the beginning of next week.

UPDATE

Issued at 620 PM CDT Fri Apr 3 2026

See below for an aviation forecast discussion for the 00Z TAFs.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 244 PM CDT Fri Apr 3 2026

Snow continues over central/north central SD, but area web cams reveal there has been some melting/compaction going on as temps inch closer to 32 degrees and also thanks to the early April sun angle. Across the eastern CWA, much of the precip has already pushed northward into ND and there may not be much more in the way of accumulations (maybe minor accums) during the daylight hours.

The 500mb low is centered near the Black Hills and is forecast to move eastward across SD tonight. Noting the dry slot potential across the eastern CWA which could cut off some of the redevelopment of snow. Latest model QPF data, along with HREF/REFS mean composite reflectivity seems to have pushed the overnight snowfall northward a bit across far northern SD or even more into southern ND. Starting to have doubts if we reach our forecast totals if we see this northward shift, or at the very least we may be more towards the lower end of our advertised snowfall total ranges. Having said that, there are some hi-res models that do try to redevelop snow a bit further south across northern SD tonight, and if that happens there should be some accumulations due to the fact that it's nighttime and temps will drop a couple more degrees.

As for headlines, with minimal impacts noted across the southern CWA, decided to cancel the Winter Weather Advisory for Jones, Lyman and Buffalo counties. Further north, downgraded the Winter Storm Warning to a Winter Weather Advisory from Stanley county eastward to Spink. Everything else remains the same over northern SD into west central MN. Although, closely watching a band of heavy snow across Haakon county just on the northern end of the 500mb low. If this were to translate eastward across central SD over the next few hours as the low pushes east, some moderate snow accumulations are possible.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 620 PM CDT Fri Apr 3 2026

Terminals KABR,KATY,KPIR,KMBG

Expect a lot of IFR conditions in either cigs or visbies or both. Snow or freezing drizzle will happen at all four terminals through 12Z Saturday at KPIR/KMBG. After 12Z, precipitation will shut off at these two terminals. KABR/KATY are expected to continue in light precipitation through ~18Z Saturday before things start to dry out. Also, northeast winds around 5 to 15 knots will gradually become northwest winds tonight and increase to 15 to 20 knots with gusts up to 30 knots on Saturday, causing mostly ground level drifting snow.

ABR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

SD...Winter Storm Warning until 7 PM CDT Saturday for SDZ006>008-011.

Winter Weather Advisory until 7 PM CDT Saturday for SDZ018>023.

Winter Storm Warning until 1 PM CDT /noon MDT/ Saturday for SDZ003>005-009-010-015>017.

Winter Weather Advisory until 1 PM CDT /noon MDT/ Saturday for SDZ033>037.

MN...Winter Storm Warning until 7 PM CDT Saturday for MNZ039.

Winter Weather Advisory until 7 PM CDT Saturday for MNZ046.