Storm dropping more snow across South Dakota; winter storm warning issued for Black Hills

RAPID CITY, South Dakota — Another blast of wintery weather kicked off the work week in South Dakota, but it might be the last arctic gasp.

The National Weather Service on Monday posted a winter storm warning for the Black Hills and a winter weather advisory for the rest of the southern two-thirds of the state. Forecasters said up to a foot of snow could fall in the Black Hills, with amounts up to half a foot in areas to the east. Travel promised to become hazardous in some areas.

Many schools in the western part of the state started late or called off classes on Monday. Some businesses also shut down for the day. No travel was advised in parts of southwestern South Dakota.

The weather also hindered an annual motorcycle show in Aberdeen over the weekend. More than 1,000 people attended, but only a few came on motorcycles, the American News reported. Most used alternative vehicles to travel to the event.

"If it would have been nice (weather), then there would have been well over a hundred bikes sitting out there," said Larry Nesby, a coordinator for the show.

Snowstorms have been crossing South Dakota for much of the past two weeks, dropping record amounts of snow in some areas and setting cold temperature records. A three-day ice and snow storm in the Sioux Falls region earlier this month damaged and downed trees and electrical lines, cutting power at one point to nearly 100,000 people. Xcel Energy called in crews from around the Midwest to help with infrastructure repairs.

City officials on Monday said city electrical inspectors had checked nearly 650 private electrical service repairs since the start of the storm on April 9 — nearly twice the normal number.

Weather service meteorologist Chris Janssen told KOKK radio that the Monday storm might be the last big one of the season.

"A (weather) pattern shift occurs as we head toward the weekend, especially Friday, Saturday and Sunday," he said. "Temperatures will warm actually above normal by this weekend, with 60s, near 70, especially Saturday and Sunday. And that trend looks like it's going to continue through all of next week, so hopefully this is it for winter."