• * timing... the first band of moderate to heavy snow is moving through the area... with additional areas of light to moderate snow filling in behind it. Light to moderate snow should continue through this morning before the next band of potentially heavy snow sets up by early this afternoon... persisting into early this evening before gradually tapering off to flurries Monday morning.
• * Winds/visibility... north to northwest winds will increase across northeast South Dakota by 3 PM CST this afternoon to as much as 25 to 35 mph with gusts approaching 45 mph. By 6 PM CST... these strong winds will be spreading over into west central Minnesota. The rather strong winds will persist tonight into Monday before diminishing by early Monday afternoon. Widespread blowing and drifting snow this afternoon through Monday morning will produce zero visibility. Any areas that receive heavy snow accumulations are likely to experience significant drifting of snow this afternoon through Monday morning. Travel will become very hazardous... if not impossible.
• * Snow/ice accumulations... again... the first band of moderate to heavy snow is moving through and is producing anywhere from 2 to 5 inches of snow accumulation. Additional areas of light to moderate snow are filling in behind it. Between ongoing light to moderate snowfall this morning... and the moderate to heavy band of snowfall expected by early this afternoon... additional snowfall amounts for the rest of today into tonight will generally range from 4 to 10 inches... with locally higher amounts possible within any heavy banded snow. Storm total snow accumulations will range from 6 to 15 inches with locally high amounts possible. The highest totals are expected across the glacial lakes and higher terrain areas of northeast South Dakota. Convective snowfall could play a roll in snowfall intensity this morning through this evening with 1 to 2 inch an hour snowfall rates possible.
• Precautionary/preparedness actions...
• A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout conditions... making travel extremely dangerous. Do not travel. If you must travel... have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded... stay with your vehicle.