Sioux Falls, and much of the southeastern side of South Dakota, is expected to see a track of up to 2 inches of snowfall on Monday, according to the National Weather Service office.
The agency’s latest forecast calls for rain and snow to develop Monday morning, with a brief mix of precipitation that could lead to slippery surfaces. However, that rain will turn to snow by mid-morning and move from northwest to southeast as the system moves into Iowa in the early evening hours.
The risk of hazardous travel conditions in the area is growing, the NWS said.
When will the storm hit the area?
The onset of the storm is expected to begin around 4 a.m. Monday, but the peak time for the storm is expected between noon and 9 p.m., according to the NWS.
The system will end sometime between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. Tuesday.
When will Sioux Falls see the transition from rain to snow?
The highest snowfall amounts, possibly 2 to 4 inches or more, are expected near and west of the James Rivery Valley, the NWS said.
Most of the area will see light to moderate rain until about midday or later. The rain will then turn to snow around 3 p.m., although the exact timing is uncertain, the forecast said.
The Sioux Falls area will see a full transition to light or moderate snowfall by 6 p.m., the forecast said.
Various types of precipitation will affect the area on Monday. Light to moderate rain should dominate the afternoon hours, but cooling in the afternoon and evening will lead to a change to snow, mostly from northwest to southeast.
Have any watches or warnings been issued?
Beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday, areas west of Mitchell and Huron will be under a winter weather advisory from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday, where areas could see up to 4 inches of storm accumulation.
No warnings or watches have been issued for Minnehaha or Lincoln counties at this time.
The mild weather in late December will soon be a thing of the past as the area will see a downward trend in temperatures until 2025. A wintry mix on Monday could result in dangerous winter travel conditions at times.
What is expected after the storm?
After the storm passes, temperatures in the area will drop as the new year begins. The chance of snow showers is then expected to return by Saturday into the weekend. The average maximum temperature will be 28 degrees, while the average minimum temperature is expected to be 10 degrees.
This is what the weekend will look like after Monday, according to NWS from Sunday evening:
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 26. Northwest wind around 25 km/h, with gusts up to 40 km/h.
Tuesday evening: Partly cloudy, with a low around 11. Northwest wind 10 to 25 km/h, with gusts up to 32 km/h.
New Year’s Day: Mostly sunny, with a maximum temperature of almost 22 km/h. West-northwest wind 5 to 25 km/h, with gusts up to 32 km/h.
Wednesday evening: Partly cloudy, with a low around 9.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 17.
Thursday evening: Mostly clear, with a low around 2.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high around 13.
Friday evening: Partly cloudy, with a minimum temperature around -3.
Saturday: 30% chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high around 12.
Saturday evening: 50% chance of snow. Cloudy, with a minimum temperature around 0.
Sunday: 20% chance of snow. Partly cloudy, with a high around 9.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Mixed winter system coming to Sioux Falls on Monday: What to know
