Winter storm updates: Road closures, Guard missions and more

Interstate 90 reopening from Mitchell to Sioux Falls

Interstate 90 is reopening eastbound and westbound from Mitchell to Sioux Falls at 7:30 a.m. today, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Meanwhile, I-90 eastbound from Sioux Falls exit 402 to the Minnesota state line remains closed. This section of I-90 will reopen today when the Minnesota Department of Transportation reopens I-90 at the state line.

State announces partial I-90 reopenings

Additional sections of Interstate 90 have been reopened this afternoon, according to the state Department of Transportation.

I-90 updates

• OPENED:  I-90 (eastbound and westbound) is open from Rapid City to Murdo.
• PLANNED: I-90 (eastbound and westbound) from Murdo to Mitchell will reopen at 4 p.m. today.
• PLANNED: I-90 (eastbound and westbound) from Mitchell to Sioux Falls will remain closed overnight due to ongoing blizzard conditions. The DOT anticipates reopening this section of I-90 on Saturday morning.

One portion of I-90 opens while another portion closes

One section of Interstate 90 is reopening while another section is being closed as conditions continue to change with the storm system moving east across the state, according to the Department of Transportation.

I-90 updates

• OPENED: I-90 (westbound ONLY) from Murdo to Wall has been reopened. Wall to Rapid City (westbound ONLY) opened earlier this morning.
• CLOSURE: I-90 (eastbound ONLY) from Sioux Falls (Exit 402) to the Minnesota state line has been closed, because the Minnesota Department of Transportation issued a closure for I-90 from the state line to the city of Albert Lea at 2 p.m. today.
• The following sections of I-90 remain closed: Rapid City to Murdo (eastbound), and Murdo to Sioux Falls (both eastbound and westbound).

Cleanup efforts are being slowed and delayed due to stuck vehicles and continual snow drifting. Progress will be monitored in these sections, and they’ll be reopened as soon as conditions safely allow, DOT said. The DOT anticipates additional sections of I-90 to reopen through late afternoon as conditions improve, vehicles blocking the interstate are removed, and drifting is cleared.

National Guard expands winter storm mission to Pine Ridge Reservation

The South Dakota National Guard is expanding its current winter storm mission to the Pine Ridge Reservation, Gov. Kristi Noem announced Friday afternoon in a news release.

On Thursday night, Noem authorized the Guard to haul available firewood from the Black Hills National Forest to the Rosebud Reservation.

Friday, she said the Guard will continue that effort while also helping with snow removal in support of both the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and the Oglala Sioux Tribe, which is the tribal government on Pine Ridge. The Guard will perform those missions in conjunction with the state Department of Public Safety and state Department of Transportation.

I-29 reopens from Watertown to North Dakota

Interstate 29 northbound and southbound from Watertown to the North Dakota state line has been reopened as of noon Central today, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Travel conditions

Due to the extremely cold temperatures and windy conditions, applying chemical and salt are not effective treatment options, DOT said.

• Motorists should expect low visibility through the Summit Hills area on I-29.
• Travelers should expect to encounter ice-covered roads and snow covered shoulders.
• Snow removal equipment will be working to remove ice in the driving lanes and snow remaining on shoulders.
• Please use extra caution and reduce travel speed.

No-travel advisories continue to impact state highways across South Dakota, with many highways physically impassable from blockages of large snow drifts, stranded vehicles and completely plugged bridges.

SD511 notifications

For the latest on road and weather conditions, visit https://sd511.org or dial 511. Sign up for customized notifications on https://sd511.org for a free service that allows you to receive text messages and/or email notifications about road closure updates and travel advisories along routes of your choice.

To access all the latest information, click on the “December 2022 Storm Information” graphic on the homepage of the SDDOT website at https://dot.sd.gov/.

Portions of interstates reopening

Sections of Interstate 90 and Interstate 29 will reopen today, provided conditions improve as forecasts indicate throughout the day, according to the state Department of Transportation.

I-90 updates

• I-90 (westbound only) from Wall to Rapid City has been reopened.
• The remaining section of I-90 between Wall and the Minnesota state line has significant drifting, and cleanup is ongoing. Progress will be monitored. This section will be reopened as soon as conditions safely allow. DOT anticipates additional sections of I-90 to begin reopening late morning through late afternoon, as conditions improve and visibility and drifting snow no longer present safety concerns.

I-29 updates

• I-29 (northbound and southbound) from Sioux Falls to Watertown has been reopened.
• The remaining section of I-29, between Watertown and the North Dakota state line, has significant drifting and visibility issues. Progress will be monitored. This section will be reopened as soon as conditions safely allow. DOT anticipates the remaining section of I-29 to reopen late afternoon as conditions improve and visibility and drifting no longer present safety concerns.

Travel conditions

Due to the extremely cold temperatures and windy conditions, applying chemical and salt are not effective treatment options for roads, DOT said.

• Travelers should expect to encounter ice-covered roads and snow covered shoulders.
• Snow removal equipment will be working to remove ice in the driving lanes and snow remaining on shoulders.
• Please use extra caution and reduce travel speed.

No-travel advisories continue to impact state highways across South Dakota, with many highways physically impassable from blockages of large snow drifts, stranded vehicles and completely plugged bridges.

SD511 notifications

For the latest on road and weather conditions, visit https://sd511.org or dial 511. Sign up for customized notifications on https://sd511.org for this free service, which allows you to receive text messages and/or email notifications about road closure updates and travel advisories along routes of your choice.

To access all the latest information, please click on the “December 2022 Storm Information” graphic on the homepage of the DOT website at https://dot.sd.gov/.

Governor activates Guard for firewood mission to Rosebud Reservation

Members of the South Dakota National Guard are hauling available firewood from the Black Hills National Forest to the Rosebud Reservation, pursuant to an executive order from Gov. Kristi Noem declaring an emergency related to ongoing winter storms in the state.

The Noem administration announced the order Thursday night in a news release.

“My administration has been assisting county and tribal governments in the local response to the ongoing winter storms across the state,” Noem said in the release. “Under the direction of the Office of Emergency Management, we will continue to help all of South Dakota’s communities get through these storms, together.”

The release said additional National Guard missions may be necessary as coordination between tribal and local governments and State Emergency Management continues.

The Rosebud Sioux Tribe has reported extreme difficulty clearing roads and getting propane to homes for heat. The Noem administration issued a news release Tuesday listing efforts by the state to assist.

I-29 closes from Sioux Falls to North Dakota; I-90 closure extended to Minnesota

Interstate 29 northbound and southbound closed from Sioux Falls (at the I-29/I-90 interchange) to the North Dakota state line at 6 p.m. Central on Thursday, according to the state Department of Transportation. 

Meanwhile, Interstate 90 remained closed from Rapid City to Sioux Falls, and the I-90 closure was extended to the Minnesota border at 7 p.m. Central on Thursday.

Due to the sustained strong winds causing near zero visibility and drifting snow, state officials say both I-29 and I-90 will remained closed through the night and into Friday. Officials will continually assess conditions to determine when I-90 and I-29 can be reopened safely.

Secondary state highways

In addition to the I-90 and I-29 closure, motorists are reminded that many no-travel advisories and impassable conditions are in place on state highways throughout the state.

Many secondary highways are currently listed as impassable due to high winds, drifting and blowing snow, and low visibility associated with the current winter storm system. Motorists should not use secondary roads to avoid interstate closures.

When listed as impassable, travel on the road segment is physically impossible due to widespread deep snow, drifts or stranded vehicles. Clearing these secondary roads is expected to be difficult as winds and additional snow are preventing the ability to safely and effectively plow or blow the drifted snow, especially with the added problem of stranded vehicles.

Motorists are asked to avoid travel due to the extremely serious weather conditions and rapidly deteriorating roads. Significantly reduced visibilities and blizzard-like conditions, along with extreme wind chills, make travel very dangerous.

For the latest on road and weather conditions, visit https://sd511.org or dial 511.