Noem closes some state government offices for winter storm

Gov. Kristi Noem has ordered all state government executive branch offices in certain counties to be closed today, Wednesday, Feb. 22, because of the winter storms in South Dakota, her office said in a news release.

State offices are closed in the following counties: Aurora, Beadle, Brookings, Brown, Buffalo, Campbell, Clark, Codington, Davison, Day, Deuel, Douglas, Edmunds, Faulk, Grant, Hamlin, Hand, Hanson, Hutchinson, Hyde, Jerauld, Kingsbury, Lake, Lincoln, Marshall, McCook, McPherson, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Potter, Sanborn, Spink, Sully, Turner, and Walworth.

While executive branch offices in these counties are closed, state employees will work remotely.

Much of the eastern part of the state is in a blizzard warning from 6 a.m. today until 12 p.m. Thursday. The western and the southeasternmost portions of the state will be in a winter storm warning.

Snowfall of between 8 and 18 inches is expected across the state over the next two days. Winds will pick up overnight and into Wednesday, especially in the eastern part of the state. On Thursday, temperatures are expected to drop to around -20 degrees.

People should be prepared to stay home if possible, the Governor’s Office said. Many state highways already have no travel advised, and numerous roads are physically blocked. Portions of I-29 and I-90 closed on Tuesday night. If South Dakotans must travel, they should check sd511.org or the SD511 mobile app.