Winter

Pike Electric service trucks line up after a snow storm on Feb. 16, 2021, in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

After a series of winter storms, regulators approve new standards for power plants

BY: - February 22, 2023

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 […]

(Image courtesy of S.D. DOT)

Interstates fully reopen

BY: - January 4, 2023

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 […]

(Image courtesy of SD DOT)

I-29 reopens from Sioux Falls to Brookings

BY: - January 3, 2023

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 […]

The view from O.J. Semans' rural Mission home during two rounds of extreme winter weather in December 2022. (Courtesy of O.J. Semans)

Rosebud Tribe struggles to clear roads as blizzard contributes to at least one death

BY: and - December 23, 2022

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 […]

(Image courtesy of SD Department of Transportation)

Portions of interstates reopening

BY: - December 23, 2022

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 […]

Conditions on Interstate 90 on Dec. 22, 2022, between Wall and Rapid City. (Photo courtesy of Pennington County Sheriff's Office)

Governor activates Guard for firewood mission to Rosebud Reservation

BY: - December 22, 2022

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 […]

(Image courtesy of South Dakota Department of Transportation)

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

BY: - December 22, 2022

UPDATED 9:30 p.m. Central, 12/22/22 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 […]

(Image courtesy of SD Department of Transportation)

Interstate 90 closure extends to Sioux Falls

BY: - December 22, 2022

An Interstate 90 closure eastbound and westbound from Rapid City to Chamberlain will be extended to Sioux Falls at 5 p.m. Central today, due to sustained high winds causing blizzard-like conditions, the state Department of Transportation announced. As high winds move east, low visibility and drifting snow are worsening. The National Weather Service has issued […]

COMMENTARY
Snow piles up under an interstate bridge during a December 2022 winter storm in South Dakota. (Photo courtesy of SD Department of Transportation)

Blizzard therapy: Find solace in reading about storms that were even worse

BY: - December 15, 2022

What better is there to do during a four-day snowstorm than to think about past snowstorms? “Blizzard therapy” is what author Carey Goldberg called such behavior after he read Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “The Long Winter” during a 2015 snowstorm. My blizzard therapy caused me to stumble across several little-known historical writings.  One comes from the […]

Gov. Kristi Noem presents her fiscal year 2024 budget proposal to legislators on Dec. 6, 2022, at the Capitol in Pierre. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

Noem closes state offices ahead of winter storm

BY: - December 12, 2022

Gov. Kristi Noem has ordered all state government executive branch offices statewide to be closed Tuesday because of the winter storm expected in South Dakota. The National Weather Service forecast calls for freezing rain, heavy snow and high winds to occur throughout South Dakota. Travel will be impacted in those areas. Officials continue to closely […]

The regulatory body that sets and enforces reliability standards in parts of the U.S. power system warns that if certain regions experience extreme weather this winter they may not have sufficient energy supplies. (Photo by iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Reliability watchdog warns of potential electric shortfalls this winter

BY: - December 2, 2022

The nonprofit regulator charged with helping ensure the reliability of the North American electric grid is warning of potential electric supply shortfalls during severe weather this winter in several regions of the country. Earlier this month, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, which sets and enforces reliability standards for the bulk power system in the […]

(Getty Images)

State regulators warn of high natural gas bills this winter

BY: - October 26, 2022

South Dakota’s Public Utilities Commission is advising natural gas customers to prepare for rising prices in the coming months. Experts have identified high global demand, growth in the consumption of natural gas that outpaces production, and record exports of liquified natural gas as reasons for rising prices expected this winter, the commission said in a […]