textproduct: Aberdeen

KEY MESSAGES

- Snow accumulations generally from 2 to 5 inches expected across portions of northern SD tonight into Thursday morning. Light icing possible over portions of east central SD. Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect.

- Heavier snow potentially Friday into Saturday, with amounts in excess of 6 inches over northern SD. Icing amounts around one- tenth of an inch also possible further south. Winter Storm Watch in effect for northern SD into west central MN.

- Temperatures staying below normal until perhaps Wednesday of next week.

UPDATE

Issued at 1242 AM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

The aviation discussion has been updated for the 06Z TAFS.

UPDATE Issued at 838 PM CDT Wed Apr 1 2026

Going forecast requires little in the way of adjustment. Mostly, should be dealing with areas of light to moderate snow this evening through the overnight hours, while the upper low over Colorado gets pulled out onto the Kansas plains. Should be seeing precipitation tapering off from southwest to northeast, with central South Dakota expected to be the first area of the CWA to dry out by Thursday morning.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 248 PM CDT Wed Apr 1 2026

Initial area of snow that has been affecting northern SD a good portion of the day is slowly diminishing in coverage. Awaiting the next push of moisture from the south by evening/tonight, and in fact is already showing up on regional radar mosaic across southwest SD into the NE panhandle. This will be in conjunction with the upper wave ejecting out from the Rockies while a surface low gets going over CO/KS for the overnight period. It still appears rain may be mixed in with the snow for southern portions of the CWA where surface temps are likely to be near/above freezing at precip onset. Between Watertown (KATY) and Brookings (KBKX), soundings do support a period of freezing rain or sleet later tonight into early Thursday morning and forecast continues to have icing accumulations over the southeast CWA, generally below 0.25in. As for snowfall accums tonight into Thursday morning, forecast calls for a swath of 2 to 5 inches generally along and north of Hwy 212, with some localized amounts near 6 inches in the higher elevations of the Leola and Sisseton hills.

Focus then shifts to the 2nd storm system moving in early Friday morning, then lingering over the area into the day Saturday. Latest round of model data increased snow amounts over northern SD, within area of most likely deformation given the current forecast mid-level low track. Current forecast does show an area of 6+ inches potentially across northern SD and have thus issued a Winter Storm Watch to highlight this. Soundings still supporting mixed precip and freezing rain potential as well, more so across southern areas of the CWA. Starting to see some ice accumulations around one-tenth of an inch (or slightly more) showing up over the southern two-thirds of the CWA.

Looking further ahead from Sunday through Wednesday, temperatures appear to stay on the cool side (through Tuesday) and below normal, with highs generally in the 30s and 40s, although 50s are showing up over central/south central SD. By Wednesday there are indications warmer air tries to move back into the region as highs rebound into the 50s and 60s.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1242 AM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

Terminals KABR,KATY,KPIR,KMBG

IFR CIGs and MVFR/IFR VSBYs will remain prevalent at all terminals through this forecast cycle. Cannot rule out LIFR CIGs at times as well. -SN/SN should be the more prevailing condition at KABR/KMBG. A -RASN/-SNRA situation will be possible at KPIR and KATY with the potential for even -FZRA/FZRA at times through the early to mid morning hours, although KATY will have a better chance to see this freezing precipitation versus KPIR. There will be a lull in the precipitation by midday through the afternoon at all terminals before the next wave of precipitation moves into the KPIR/KMBG areas near the end of this forecast period.

ABR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

SD...Winter Weather Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for SDZ006>008-011-018>023.

Winter Storm Watch from Friday morning through Saturday evening for SDZ006>008-011-018.

Winter Weather Advisory until 1 PM CDT /noon MDT/ this afternoon for SDZ003>005-009-010-015>017-033>037.

Winter Storm Watch from late tonight through Saturday afternoon for SDZ003>005-009-010-015>017.

MN...Winter Weather Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for MNZ039- 046.

Winter Storm Watch from Friday morning through Saturday evening for MNZ039.