Blizzard Warnings are in effect for parts of South Dakota and southwest Minnesota as a strong winter storm system is forecast to bring heavy snow, strong winds, and widespread blowing snow beginning Saturday, March 14. Warning timing varies by location, with some areas entering blizzard conditions Saturday night and others later overnight into Sunday.

The National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts snowfall totals ranging from about 8 to 15 cm (3 to 6 inches) in some warning areas to 25 to 48 cm (10 to 19 inches) in others, with a few zones also facing a light glaze of ice. Wind gusts are expected to reach 80 to 90 km/h (50 to 55 mph), producing blowing snow and whiteout conditions that could make travel extremely dangerous or impossible.

South Dakota

In parts of central and east-central South Dakota served by the Sioux Falls office, Blizzard Warnings are in effect from 22:00 CDT Saturday, March 14, until 01:00 CDT Monday, March 16, with expected snowfall of about 8 to 15 cm (3 to 6 inches), locally higher in some areas, and wind gusts up to 80 km/h (50 mph).

In other eastern South Dakota counties served by Aberdeen, Winter Storm Warnings begin earlier Saturday and transition to Blizzard Warnings overnight into Sunday, with some warnings ending at 19:00 CDT Sunday.

Several counties, including Hand, Hyde, Faulk, Clark, and Spink, are forecast to experience a winter storm phase before blizzard conditions develop. A Winter Storm Warning is also in effect from 19:00 CDT on March 14 until 01:00 CDT on March 15, followed by a Blizzard Warning from 01:00 CDT until 19:00 CDT on March 15. Snowfall totals in these areas are forecast to reach up to 13–25 cm (5–10 inches), combined with wind gusts up to 80 km/h (50 mph).

In Stanley, Hughes, Jones, Lyman, and Buffalo counties, a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 22:00 CDT on March 14 until 04:00 CDT on March 15, followed by a Blizzard Warning from 04:00 to 16:00 CDT on March 15. Total snow accumulations for the event are forecast between 5 and 15 cm (2 to 6 inches), with wind gusts up to 80 km/h (50 mph).

In northeastern South Dakota, snowfall totals are expected to be highest in counties such as Day, Marshall, Roberts, Codington, Grant, Hamlin, and Deuel, where totals range from about 25 to 48 cm (10 to 19 inches), with isolated areas near 50 cm (20 inches), along with wind gusts up to 80 km/h (50 mph). Nearby counties, including Brown, Edmunds, and McPherson, are forecast to receive lower totals, generally around 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 inches), but still face whiteout conditions as winds increase.

Minnesota

Blizzard Warnings also affect parts of southwest Minnesota, including Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Cottonwood, Nobles, Jackson, and Pipestone counties. Blizzard conditions are forecast from 22:00 CDT on March 14 until 07:00 CDT on March 16 as heavy snowfall and strong winds impact the region.

Snowfall totals in these areas are forecast to range between approximately 13–28 cm (5–11 inches), with wind gusts reaching up to 90 km/h (55 mph). These conditions are expected to generate widespread blowing snow and severely reduced visibility, potentially making travel extremely dangerous or impossible at times.

Additional counties, including Big Stone and Traverse, are forecast to experience a winter storm phase beginning at 13:00 CDT on March 14 before blizzard conditions develop overnight.

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 03:00 CDT on March 15, after which a Blizzard Warning is expected to remain in place until 19:00 CDT the same day. Snowfall totals in these areas could reach approximately 25–48 cm (10–19 inches), with wind gusts up to 80 km/h (50 mph).

The NWS warns that the combination of heavy snowfall and strong winds could produce prolonged periods of whiteout conditions across affected areas, significantly disrupting travel and potentially impacting the Monday morning commute in parts of the Upper Midwest.

Reference:

¹ Blizzard Warning – NWS – March 14, 2026

• Sportsmans Cove is a family-owned outfitter in Webster, South Dakota, serving anglers and hunters.
• In addition to gear, the business offers lodging options for visiting outdoor enthusiasts.
• The store sells a wide range of products, including fishing supplies, firearms and hunting gear.

An army of anglers and hunters come to northeastern South Dakota to ply the lakes for whopper walleye or try their luck with waterfowl, big game or anything between. With so much water and so many options, having a local expert to guide you – that’s more valuable than the best lures, rods or reels.

The experts at Sportsmans Cove in Webster will dial you in on anything you might have forgotten back in Sioux Falls or Omaha, outfit you if you’re new to angling and most importantly, they know how South Dakota wind is not just a bug – it’s a feature. Or even if you are rolling in from as close as Aberdeen or Watertown.

“We’re blessed to have the fisheries we have nearby, from big lakes like Bitter to Waubay to some smaller ones. They’re all so close,” said Doug Johnson, who owns and operates Sportsmans Cove with his wife, Rhonda, and son, Dustin.

“Stop at a box store or gas station for bait, and they’re not going to be able to share the deep knowledge our team has when it comes to a good bite and where to launch or land,” he said.

Local expertise is only a single facet of this gem of an outfitter smack dab at the hub of hundreds of thousands of wet acres of fishing. People know it – Johnson said more than 1,000 people a day will stop in during peak seasons, which vary depending on the time of year and the species of fish anglers want.