Round 2 of winter storm packs a punch

Persons are hoping for relief from blizzard and frozen conditions that have gripped Tripp County and the state.

After Winner received 25 inches of snow and more in the rural area, plus enduring days of non stop blizzard a week ago, round two hit Dec. 22 through Christmas Eve.

This time in addition to the blizzard there were dangerous wind chills. At one time on Thursday the wind chill in Winner was at -59.  Very dangerous to be outside in these conditions.

Visibility was a major issue as the wind whipped the snow around.

Again, law enforcement officials were dealing with cars, trucks stuck on highways.

Sheriff Shawn Pettit said Friday afternoon plows are attempting to open up roads. “There are still vehicles in the roadway and  a semi that we are not able to remove,” he said.

The Tripp County Courthouse and library were closed Thursday and Friday.

Interstate 90 was closed between Sioux Falls and Rapid City. The interstate was reopened from Mitchell to Sioux Falls at 7:30 a.m. Christmas Eve.

The interstate from Mitchell to Rapid City was opened earlier.

Gov. Kristi Noem signed an executive order officially declaring an emergency for the winter storms that have been impacting South Dakota on Dec. 22.

“My administration has been assisting county and tribal governments in the local response to the ongoing winter storms across the state,” said Noem. “Under the direction of the office of emergency management, we will continue to help all of South Dakota’s communities get through these storms together.”
The state emergency declaration detailed the impact of the storms, which have resulted in multiple days of sub-zero weather conditions across the state.

As high winds moved east, low visibility and drifting snow were worsening. What Winner and Tripp County had on Thursday moved east to the Sioux Falls area on Friday. The storm caused widespread hazardous travel conditions and road closures due to zero visibility.

The emergency declaration claimed that due to these conditions the normal flow of school, mail and commerce traffic was interrupted.

The South Dakota National Guard was activated pursuant to the statewide emergency and resources are needed to provide additional assistance to the tribes.
One of the guard’s immediate missions is hauling available firewood from the Black Hills Forest Service to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Other missions helped the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Sunday afternoon into the evening Winner received strong wind. Snow was very limited in the overnight hours.