Christmas blizzard winds down

The historic Christmas blizzard that closed major interstate highways and upset holiday plans throughout the Midwest is winding down, says National Weather Service meteorologist Greg Harmon, but a blizzard warning will be maintained through 11 p.m. Saturday.

Gov. Mike Rounds, speaking Saturday afternoon from the state emergency operations center in Pierre, told media representatives, "The storm is not over yet."

Rounds said he did not expect Interstate 90 to re-open completely until Sunday, but at 7 p.m. Saturday state officials decided to open the highway from Mitchell to Sioux Falls. Interstate 29 opened from Sioux Falls to the Iowa state line at 3 p.m. Saturday but will remain closed from Sioux Falls north.

The storm is not leaving quickly.

The high winds that have hampered cleanup efforts will continue through Saturday night, with 25 to 45 mph winds expected from Chamberlain to Rapid City. The good news is that only 1 inch of snow or less is expected statewide.

Conditions will be dry statewide from Sunday until Tuesday, when there is a slight chance for snow, but winds of 15-25 mph will persist Sunday in East River counties.

No major snow storms are forecast after Tuesday, said Harmon.

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