On This Day In

                   Weather History

December 13th

Local and Regional Events:

December 13, 2008:

An intense low-pressure area moved out of the Rockies and across the Central Plains, bringing widespread snow, blizzard conditions, and extreme wind chills to central and northeast South Dakota and west central Minnesota into the early morning hours of the 15th. Snowfall amounts of 1 to as much as 12 inches, along with winds gusting to 50 mph, caused widespread near zero visibilities and dangerous travel conditions. Wind chills fell into the 35 below to 45 below zero range. Many vehicles became stuck or stranded along highways and Interstates 29 and 90. Interstate 90 was closed from the Wyoming line to Murdo from late on the 13th until the morning of the 14th. Interstate 29 was also closed for much of the 14th. The Onida, Agar, and Gettysburg Volunteer Fire Department found it difficult to respond to a structure fire south of Gettysburg. Due to whiteout conditions, the structure was lost to the fire when the fire departments arrived. Most area schools were closed on Monday due to the road conditions and the bitterly cold wind chills. Some of the heaviest snowfall amounts included: 6 inches at Watertown, Browns Valley, Sisseton, Waubay, and Castlewood; 7 inches at Ortonville, Webster, Clear Lake, Faulkton, and Aberdeen; 8 inches at Milbank, 9 inches at Britton and Wheaton; 10 inches at Clear Lake, and 12 inches at Roscoe. Mobridge received 2 inches, and Pierre received 4 inches of snowfall with this storm

U.S.A and Global Events for December 13th:

December 13, 1997:

A freak cold snap and snowstorm struck parts of northern Mexico, leaving 12 people dead and the area paralyzed. It snowed in the city of Guadalajara for the first time since 1881, leaving amazed residents to gawk at the white stuff and make snowmen. The temperature plunged to 5 degrees in Chihuahua.

Click HERE for more This Day in Weather History from the Southeast Regional Climate Center.