textproduct: Sioux Falls

KEY MESSAGES

- Life-threatening cold temperatures move in tonight and continue into Friday morning. The coldest wind chills will average -25 to -40 during this time.

- Wind chill values Friday night into Sunday morning will average about -15 to -25.

- Precipitation chances remain fairly low for the next several days. Possibly some very light accumulations Friday night.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 230 AM CST Thu Jan 22 2026

Scattered flurries will remain possible through the morning, but impacts from them will be minimal. A slightly better chance for patchy light snow near the Missouri River in the afternoon but even if snow can develop amounts would likely be a couple tenths or less. Temperatures gradually fall colder than the dgz so snowfall production potential will drop off through the day. Otherwise, winds will increase again this afternoon into the evening as cold air advection increases in the low level as the Arctic air mass settles southward. Wind gusts could be in the 25 to 35 mph range into Friday morning. Coupling the winds with the incoming Arctic air will result in some dangerously cold conditions. Wind chill values tonight into Friday morning will average -20 to -40.

The coldest conditions end by late morning Friday as surface high pressure builds and winds diminish. Temperatures will remain very cold however with daytime highs generally below zero and Saturday morning lows about -5 to -15.

Friday night a wave moves through but snowfall may be tough to come by. Thermal profiles show temperatures generally below the dgz so while some flurries or ice crystals will be possible with the passage of this wave, any measurable snow will be minimal. The better chance for maybe half an inch will be near the Missouri River.

Sunday remains cold as a secondary area of cold air settles south. Not quite as cold as Friday and Saturday but still anticipate lows in the single digits below zero and highs mainly single digits above zero. Winds will be on the lighter side, but still allow for wind chill values of -10 to -20.

Flow turns more westerly aloft next week which will allow for less cold air to spread across the area. There will be some snow to melt so temperatures will not greatly respond to this slightly milder air mass, so still looking at temperatures a bit below normal. There is some agreement that by about Thursday next week we may see another shot of Arctic air.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 521 AM CST Thu Jan 22 2026

A few flurries and some patchy, brief MVFR ceilings will be possible through the morning. Otherwise winds will increase late this morning and turn a bit more northerly late afternoon and tonight with gusts of 25 to 35 mph. Winds will slowly decrease through the night.

FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

SD...Extreme Cold Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM CST Friday for SDZ038-053-059>062-065>071. Extreme Cold Watch Friday afternoon for SDZ038>040-052>056- 058>062-065>067-069>071. Extreme Cold Warning from 9 PM this evening to 10 AM CST Friday for SDZ039-040-054>056. Cold Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to 9 AM CST Friday for SDZ050-052-057-058-063-064. MN...Extreme Cold Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM CST Friday for MNZ098. Extreme Cold Watch Friday afternoon for MNZ071-072-080-081-089- 090-097-098. Extreme Cold Warning from 9 PM this evening to 10 AM CST Friday for MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097. IA...Extreme Cold Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM CST Friday for IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032. Extreme Cold Watch Friday afternoon for IAZ001>003-012>014- 020>022-031-032. NE...Extreme Cold Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM CST Friday for NEZ013-014. Extreme Cold Watch Friday afternoon for NEZ013-014.