National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Weather History - April 12th

Local and Regional Events:

April 12th, 1970:

A strong spring storm affected the northern and western two-thirds of South Dakota. Heavy snow fell throughout the morning, dumping over a foot of snow over a large area of the state. Winds whipped the snow into 2 to 4-foot drifts across much of northern South Dakota. The Aberdeen area was the hardest hit, with around 17 inches reported. While southeast South Dakota, southwest Minnesota, and northwest Iowa did not feel the storm's effects, east-central South Dakota was not as fortunate. Freezing drizzle and freezing rain resulted in heavy icing in east central South Dakota, causing extensive damage. The ice storm caused power outages to 20 to 80% of the rural electric service in the area.