Weather
After a series of winter storms, regulators approve new standards for power plants
Two years after Winter Storm Uri, which caused a massive power failure in Texas that caused more than 200 deaths, and just two months after another storm, Elliott, forced blackouts in parts of the South, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved new extreme cold reliability standards for power plants. However, the vote last week […]
Disaster declarations for tribes land as two-part storm looms
President Joe Biden declared major disasters for two tribal communities in South Dakota on Tuesday for a pair of deadly December storms. News of the declarations for the Rosebud and Oglala Sioux tribes arrived as snowflakes began to fall in the first of two more winter storms expected to blanket the state. This week’s storms […]
How did renewables fare during Winter Storm Elliott
A day after Christmas, as parts of the country were still digging out from Winter Storm Elliott, the Wall Street Journal’s editorial page, undeterred by the absence of much concrete data, already knew where to cast the blame for rolling blackouts implemented in parts of the South to keep the grid from collapsing. “While there […]
Spring 2022 derecho cost $2.8 billion, NOAA says. Some damage won’t be fixed until 2024.
Crews are still working to clean up damage months after the May 2022 derecho, which swept a roughly 100-mile-wide wall of dust and winds over 100 mph across South Dakota. The derecho damage has a multi-state price tag of $2.8 billion, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information’s newly updated list of billion-dollar disaster […]
Tribal chairman calls for collaboration; Noem spokesman responds with criticism
UPDATED 7:30 p.m. Central, 1/12/23 PIERRE — A tribal chairman said Thursday that better collaboration is needed among tribal and state officials on deadly storms, and Gov. Kristi Noem’s spokesman responded by describing that assertion and others as a “message of division” that perpetuated “false narratives.” Crow Creek Sioux Tribe Chairman Peter Lengkeek delivered the […]
Interstates fully reopen
Interstate 90 has reopened westbound from Sioux Falls to Mitchell as of 4:45 p.m. today, according to the state Department of Transportation. Other closed portions of I-90 and I-29 reopened earlier, which means South Dakota’s interstates are now fully open. I-90 travel conditions, as reported by the DOT: Although I-90 is now reopened eastbound and […]
Interstate 90 reopens from Chamberlain to Mitchell
Interstate 90 has reopened eastbound and westbound from Chamberlain to Mitchell as of 8 a.m. today, according to the state Department of Transportation. I-90 remains closed from Mitchell to Sioux Falls (Marion Road/exit 395). The DOT anticipates reopening I-90 from Mitchell to Sioux Falls by midday today. Meanwhile, I-29 reopened between Sioux Falls and Brookings […]
I-29 reopens from Sioux Falls to Brookings
Interstate 29 northbound and southbound has reopened from the I-29/I-90 interchange in Sioux Falls to Brookings as of 6 p.m. today, the state Department of Transportation said in a news release. Interstate 90 eastbound and westbound will remain closed overnight from Chamberlain (exit 265) to Sioux Falls (Marion Road/exit 395) due to significant snow accumulation […]
Interstates close from Sioux Falls to Chamberlain and Brookings
Due to accumulating heavy snow and sustained high winds causing blizzard-like conditions and extensive drifting, Interstate 90 has closed eastbound and westbound from Chamberlain (exit 265) to Sioux Falls (Marion Road/exit 395), while Interstate 29 northbound and southbound has closed from the I-29/I-90 interchange in Sioux Falls to Brookings (exit 132) as of 8:45 a.m. […]
Rosebud officials say at least six dead as tribe digs out from storms
ROSEBUD RESERVATION — Rosebud tribal officials say at least six people have died as a result of two winter storms that partially buried homes across the reservation, and some people remain trapped at home more than two weeks after the first snow fell. The fatalities included a 12-year-old boy with health problems who couldn’t be […]
Rosebud Tribe struggles to clear roads as blizzard contributes to at least one death
The situation is grim on the Rosebud Reservation after two rounds of severe winter weather pummeled the area, contributing to at least one death. Many people remain snowed-in and some have run out of propane for their furnaces, causing tribal residents to fear there may be more deaths from the cold. Wayne Boyd, chief of […]
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 (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 […]