After a little bit of hard work our latest Winter Weather Special was aired on November 17th at 6:30 pm.  The special will air a few more times during the holiday season on KELO-TV and on MY-UTV Cable Channel 10.  Otherwise if you missed it or want to watch it again the video is on our website here is the link for you to check it out:Click below:Winter SpecialEnjoy!

Central KELOLAND will start to fill in with rain/snow/sleet becomes all snow by sunset or shortly after.  The snow will be heavy at times and combine with strong northwest winds to give zero visisbilities!  Blizzard Warnings continue in central South Dakota this afternoon through tonight.  By 6:00 this evening, a rain/snow mix will be in northeast KELOLAND with rain mixing with snow across the southeast.Heavy snow and strong wind will continue tonight in central and northeast South Dakota as Blizzard Warnings will continue.Things will strart to wind down on Saturday, but the cold air will stay!  Highs over the weekend will stay in the 30s.

A midday update….the winter storm continues to stay on track across KELOLAND with blizzard warnings in effect for much of the region.  Here are some snowfall totals coming in from western KELOLAND.1119 PM     HEAVY SNOW       2 NE DEADWOOD           44.40N 103.70W  11/05/2008  E19.5 INCH       LAWRENCE           SD   NWS EMPLOYEE       1135 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST RAPID CITY AIRPORT      44.04N 103.06W  11/05/2008  M77.00 MPH       PENNINGTON         SD   ASOS                           VISIBILITY 1/4 MILE   1142 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST DOWNTOWN RAPID CITY     44.08N 103.23W  11/05/2008  M78.00 MPH       PENNINGTON         SD   OFFICIAL NWS OBS               HEAVY SNOW AND VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE.   1207 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST ELLSWORTH AFB           44.15N 103.10W  11/06/2008  M72.00 MPH       MEADE              SD   ASOS               1220 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 6 W PARMELEE            43.32N 101.14W  11/06/2008  M55.00 MPH       TODD               SD   MESONET            1225 AM     BLIZZARD         9 N BOX ELDER           44.25N 103.07W  11/06/2008                   MEADE              SD   NWS EMPLOYEE                   3.5 INCHES OF SNOW AND VISIBILITY WELL UNDER 1/4 MILE.   1228 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST FAITH                   45.02N 102.03W  11/06/2008  M61.00 MPH       MEADE              SD   ASOS               1230 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SE DOWNTOWN RAPID CIT 44.05N 103.20W  11/06/2008  M58.00 MPH       PENNINGTON         SD   MESONET            1230 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST LEAD                    44.35N 103.77W  11/06/2008  M56.00 MPH       LAWRENCE           SD   MESONET            1235 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 5 NNW DOWNTOWN GILLETTE 44.36N 105.54W  11/06/2008  M54.00 MPH       CAMPBELL           WY   ASOS               1240 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 13 N WRIGHT             43.94N 105.50W  11/06/2008  M57.00 MPH       CAMPBELL           WY   MESONET            1249 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST WESTON                  44.63N 105.33W  11/06/2008  M50.00 MPH       CAMPBELL           WY   MESONET            0120 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST PINNACLES RANGER STATIO 43.87N 102.23W  11/06/2008  M59.00 MPH       PENNINGTON         SD   MESONET            0129 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSW DOWNTOWN CUSTER   43.74N 103.62W  11/06/2008  M60.00 MPH       CUSTER             SD   ASOS               0133 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST PINE RIDGE              43.03N 102.56W  11/06/2008  M51.00 MPH       SHANNON            SD   ASOS               0205 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 7 WSW ROCHELLE          43.55N 105.09W  11/06/2008  M66.00 MPH       WESTON             WY   MESONET            0213 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST WIND CAVE VISITORS CENT 43.56N 103.47W  11/06/2008  M56.00 MPH       CUSTER             SD   MESONET            0220 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST LEMMON                  45.94N 102.16W  11/06/2008  M64.00 MPH       PERKINS            SD   MESONET            0225 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST PORCUPINE               43.23N 102.33W  11/06/2008  M70.00 MPH       SHANNON            SD   MESONET            0230 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 NE ROCKYPOINT         44.92N 105.07W  11/06/2008  E70.00 MPH       CROOK              WY   TRAINED SPOTTER                ESTIMATED SNOW AMOUNTS 2 TO 3 INCHES AS OF 930 AM MST.   0347 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 NE DEADWOOD           44.40N 103.70W  11/06/2008  M31.5 INCH       LAWRENCE           SD   NWS EMPLOYEE                   2.94 INCHES OF LIQUID   0500 AM     HEAVY SNOW       DOWNTOWN RAPID CITY     44.08N 103.23W  11/06/2008  M5.8 INCH        PENNINGTON         SD   OFFICIAL NWS OBS               BLIZZARD CONDITIONS   0515 AM     HEAVY SNOW       UPTON                   44.10N 104.63W  11/06/2008  E8.0 INCH        WESTON             WY   PUBLIC                         VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE   0530 AM     HEAVY SNOW       DOWNTOWN NEWCASTLE      43.85N 104.20W  11/06/2008  E7.0 INCH        WESTON             WY   LAW ENFORCEMENT    0535 AM     HEAVY SNOW       9 N BOX ELDER           44.25N 103.07W  11/06/2008  E5.5 INCH        MEADE              SD   NWS EMPLOYEE                   BLIZZARD CONDITIONS   0535 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 SSE HARDING           45.36N 103.81W  11/06/2008  E10.0 INCH       HARDING            SD   TRAINED SPOTTER                BLIZZARD CONDITIONS   0545 AM     HEAVY SNOW       SUNDANCE                44.40N 104.37W  11/06/2008  E12.0 INCH       CROOK              WY   LAW ENFORCEMENT    0600 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 WNW DOWNTOWN RAPID CI 44.09N 103.29W  11/06/2008  M11.0 INCH       PENNINGTON         SD   TRAINED SPOTTER                COCORAHS   0615 AM     BLIZZARD         5 E PORCUPINE           43.24N 102.23W  11/06/2008                   SHANNON            SD   TRAINED SPOTTER                VISIBILITY 20 FEET DRIFTS TO FOUR FEET   0615 AM     HEAVY SNOW       4 SE BISON              45.48N 102.41W  11/06/2008  M8.1 INCH        PERKINS            SD   TRAINED SPOTTER                COCORAHS   0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       4 NNW WHITEWOOD         44.51N 103.67W  11/06/2008  M12.0 INCH       LAWRENCE           SD   TRAINED SPOTTER    0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       KADOKA                  43.83N 101.51W  11/06/2008  M6.0 INCH        JACKSON            SD   MESONET                        COCORAHS   0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       10 SW DOWNTOWN RAPID CI 43.97N 103.38W  11/06/2008  M5.0 INCH        PENNINGTON         SD   MESONET                        COCORAHS   0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       6 NNW SUNDANCE          44.48N 104.42W  11/06/2008  M12.5 INCH       CROOK              WY   MESONET                        COLE CANYON SNOTEL SITE   0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       5 SW DOWNTOWN RAPID CIT 44.02N 103.30W  11/06/2008  M6.5 INCH        PENNINGTON         SD   MESONET                        COCORAHS   0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 WNW DOWNTOWN RAPID CI 44.09N 103.27W  11/06/2008  M5.8 INCH        PENNINGTON         SD   MESONET                        COCORAHS   0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       10 SW DOWNTOWN RAPID CI 43.97N 103.38W  11/06/2008  M5.0 INCH        PENNINGTON         SD   MESONET                        COCORAHS   0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       6 WNW DOWNTOWN RAPID CI 44.11N 103.34W  11/06/2008  M6.5 INCH        PENNINGTON         SD   MESONET                        COCORAHS   0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       6 SW DOWNTOWN RAPID CIT 44.01N 103.32W  11/06/2008  M7.8 INCH        PENNINGTON         SD   NWS EMPLOYEE       0700 AM     BLIZZARD         12 SSE DOWNTOWN NEWCAST 43.70N 104.13W  11/06/2008                   WESTON             WY   TRAINED SPOTTER                UNKNOWN SNOW AMOUNT. VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE.   0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       10 NW DEERFIELD         44.13N 103.98W  11/06/2008  M22.0 INCH       PENNINGTON         SD   MESONET                        BLIND PARK SNOTEL SITE   0703 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 14 SW DOWNTOWN NEWCASTL 43.71N 104.40W  11/06/2008  M73.00 MPH       WESTON             WY   TRAINED SPOTTER                OCCURRED SOMETIME OVERNIGHT. 2 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE               GROUND. LESS THAN 1/4 MILE VISIBILITY.   0703 AM     HEAVY SNOW       14 NE UPTON             44.25N 104.43W  11/06/2008  E6.0 INCH        CROOK              WY   TRAINED SPOTTER                WATER EQUIVALENT 0.67 INCHES…VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4               MILE.   0708 AM     BLIZZARD         HOOVER                  45.11N 103.27W  11/06/2008                   BUTTE              SD   TRAINED SPOTTER                DRIFTS UP TO 6 FEET HIGH BLOCKING MOST DOORWAYS. ZERO               VISIBILITY. OBSERVER SAID THIS IS THE WORST BLIZZARD SHE               HAS SEEN IN THE HER 32 YEARS OF LIVING IN HOOVER.   0712 AM     HEAVY SNOW       UPTON                   44.10N 104.63W  11/06/2008  E12.0 INCH       WESTON             WY   PUBLIC                         DRIFTS 3 FEET HIGH. VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE.   0715 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 NE DEADWOOD           44.40N 103.70W  11/06/2008  M38.5 INCH       LAWRENCE           SD   NWS EMPLOYEE       0717 AM     HEAVY SNOW       6 E RALPH               45.81N 102.93W  11/06/2008  M10.0 INCH       PERKINS            SD   TRAINED SPOTTER                DRIFTS 3 FEET HIGH. VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1.4 MILE.   0721 AM     HEAVY SNOW       7 SW DOWNTOWN RAPID CIT 44.00N 103.33W  11/06/2008  M7.8 INCH        PENNINGTON         SD   NWS EMPLOYEE                   VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE.   0725 AM     SNOW             4 ESE FAITH             44.99N 101.96W  11/06/2008  E2.0 INCH        ZIEBACH            SD   TRAINED SPOTTER                VISIBILITY LESS THAN HALF MILE   0741 AM     HEAVY SNOW       SUNDANCE                44.40N 104.37W  11/06/2008  M7.0 INCH        CROOK              WY   TRAINED SPOTTER                DRIFTS 4 FEET HIGH. VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE.   0745 AM     SNOW             8 WNW USTA              45.25N 102.31W  11/06/2008  E3.0 INCH        PERKINS            SD   TRAINED SPOTTER                VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE   0750 AM     BLIZZARD         10 WSW RED ELM          45.00N 101.98W  11/06/2008                   ZIEBACH            SD   TRAINED SPOTTER                ROUGH ESTIMATE OF 2 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE GROUND.               STARTING TO SNOW HARD AGAIN. VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4               MILE.   0750 AM     HEAVY SNOW       DOWNTOWN SPEARFISH      44.50N 103.86W  11/06/2008  M12.5 INCH       LAWRENCE           SD   NEWSPAPER                      DRIFTS 6 FEET HIGH. 35-40 MPH WINDS. VISIBILITY LESS THAN              1/4 MILE.   0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       13 WSW LEMMON           45.87N 102.41W  11/06/2008  M10.0 INCH       PERKINS            SD   MESONET                        COCORAHS   0830 AM     HEAVY SNOW       5 ESE DOWNTOWN RAPID CI 44.05N 103.14W  11/06/2008  M8.0 INCH        PENNINGTON         SD   NWS EMPLOYEE       0916 AM     HEAVY SNOW       OPAL                    44.89N 102.61W  11/06/2008  M7.0 INCH        MEADE              SD   TRAINED SPOTTER                DRIFTS 3 FEET HIGH. VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE.   0925 AM     SNOW             3 SSE MOORCROFT         44.22N 104.93W  11/06/2008  E3.0 INCH        CROOK              WY   TRAINED SPOTTER    0930 AM     HEAVY SNOW       8 S DEADWOOD            44.26N 103.73W  11/06/2008  E24.0 INCH       LAWRENCE           SD   TRAINED SPOTTER                DRIFTS 5 FEET DEEP.   0933 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 SE DEERFIELD          43.99N 103.79W  11/06/2008  E20.0 INCH       PENNINGTON         SD   TRAINED SPOTTER    0933 AM     HEAVY SNOW       DOWNTOWN SPEARFISH      44.50N 103.86W  11/06/2008  E13.0 INCH       LAWRENCE           SD   LAW ENFORCEMENT                VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE.   0935 AM     HEAVY SNOW       8 W DOWNTOWN SPEARFISH  44.50N 104.02W  11/06/2008  M19.0 INCH       LAWRENCE           SD   TRAINED SPOTTER                SNOW WATER EQUIVALENT 1.85 INCHES. VISIBILITY BELOW 1/4               MILE.   0939 AM     HEAVY SNOW       1 E RALPH               45.77N 103.04W  11/06/2008  E10.0 INCH       HARDING            SD   TRAINED SPOTTER                DRIFTS 8 TO 10 FEET HIGH. VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE.   0945 AM     HEAVY SNOW       19 SSE REVA             45.29N 102.93W  11/06/2008  M7.0 INCH        PERKINS            SD   TRAINED SPOTTER                DRIFTS 6 TO 7 FEET. VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE.   0954 AM     HEAVY SNOW       23 NE NEWELL            44.95N 103.08W  11/06/2008  E12.0 INCH       BUTTE              SD   TRAINED SPOTTER                DRIFTS 5 TO 6 FEET. VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE.   0955 AM     HEAVY SNOW       DOWNTOWN STURGIS        44.41N 103.51W  11/06/2008  E16.0 INCH       MEADE              SD   EMERGENCY MNGR                 DRIFTS UP TO 6 FEET DEEP. VISIBILITY LESS THAN 1/4 MILE.   0959 AM     HEAVY SNOW       NEWELL                  44.72N 103.42W  11/06/2008  E12.0 INCH       BUTTE   

Update from the storm center….7AM30" so far near Deadwood…with 4-5 feet possible through this evening!We continue with Blizzard warnings for central and western SD this morning as a large low pressure system continues to develop across the northern plains.  WInds have been gusting to 70mph in Rapid City with over 6" of snow on the ground.We have many watches and warnings…and these will change through the day today.  If you are planning to travel, please stay informed on the latest forecast and travel should be avoided in the Blizzard warning area.Snowfall will be blown around by very strong NW winds through the day in the warning area.  This will make it hard to measure…but as of now, here are the current snowfall projections.Look for rain and snow in Sioux Falls this evening as the northwest wind increasing by late evening and overnight.  Sioux Falls will likely see periods of snow and blowing snow through Friday with under 2" forecast at this time.   Keep monitoring KELOLAND.com and KELOLAND TV for the latest information on this stormBrian Karstens

The nice weather we’ve been enjoying lately is about to come to an end.  We’ve been watching the extended forecast data for several days and it now appears that a major storm will impact the region starting late tonight and lasting through Friday.We already have winter storm watches for Wednesday evening through Thursday in western SD.  Strong northwest winds combined with heavy snow could make difficult travel.  There is the potential for at least 6" of snow in the watch area.  Additional watches, warnings, and advisories are possible the next 48 hours.The jet stream is carving a trough now across the Rockies and this is  favorable for stormy weather across KELOLAND.  This storm system will actually stall once it arrives in the upper Midwest…which will make the weather forecast more difficult to predict late Thursday and Friday.  The bottom line it….the longer it stalls, the worse the weather will be.There will be enough warm air ahead of an advancing cold front to produce a chance of severe weather tomorrow afternoon.  The main risk will be hail and wind…but an isolated tornado can’t be ruled out given the strength of the low pressure system.  It all really depends on how much clearing we see during the middle part of the day to allow the atmosphere recover from early morning rain.Our Futurescan winds show the advancing front late tomorrow afternoon from near Pierre to Yankton by late in the afternoon.  That would be area to watch for strong thunderstorms.  Notice too how the winds increase from the northwest as shown by the arrows near Rapid City.By Thursday morning, the wind really cranks up over western SD with the potential for 40-50mph gusts from the northwest.  Any snow that falls during that time will create hazardous travel condtions.  It does appear the winds will diminish for a time Thursday in eastern KELOLAND…shown here by the arrows in white.Here’s a look at Futurecan precip and clouds.  Expect rain and thunderstorms tomorrow morning…a mild start too especially in the east.  Don’t expect any snow yet tomorrow morning…it will be too warm.The map by early afternoon shows thunderstorm potential in central KELOLAND…but a break in the rain in the southeast.  Again, the longer the break in the rain, the better the chance of strong to severe weather later in the afternoon.As the low deepens and spins across central South Dakota Thursday morning, expect areas of rain and snow west river…changing to all snow through the day as colder air arrives from the northwest.  Notice how there is a lull in the activity across eastern SD.  That will likely fill in again later in the day.Stay tuned to KELOLAND TV and right here at KELOLAND.com for the latest on this developing storm.MeteorologistBrian Karstens

Well, I have been able to make it out quite a few times so far this pheasant season.  My dog Dakota continues to learn and is becoming a better hunter with each trip afield.  I did have a fun opportunity this past weekend when I was invited on a pheasant hunt from one of our sales associates, Jay.  His family has a farm about an hour from Sioux Falls, and they were looking to clear out a few of their birds.  The hunt went very well as you can see from the picture below!  We ended up about 6 birds short of a combined limit, I was able to connect on one bird, but still have plenty of work to do on my shooting!Unfortunatly, I had to leave Dakota at home, I just wasnt sure how she would react to a large hunting group.  She was definitely disappointed as I left the house in my hunting clothes, and she 100 percent knew what was going on!  Either way we had a blast in the field and had some fun comradarie as well.