No travel advisories issued Friday; Plowing to begin tonight in Watertown and Aberdeen

Kerry Kulkarni and Elisa Sand, Watertown Public Opinion
·5 min read

Snow accumulation, highwinds and drifting snow has caused several counties to issue no travel advisories and sections of I-90 and I-29 have been closed this week.

Roberts County plows were pulled at 10:25 a.m. Thursday. There are no longer plows to assist in getting to stranded motorists.

No travel is advised in Brown County Friday, according to a news release from Brown County Emergency Management. Road conditions are dangerous and worsening. This advisory is in effect through Noon Friday.

As of Thursday, I-90 from Rapid City to the Wyoming state line closed at 11 a.m. due to continued snow and sustained high winds causing low visibility and excessive drifting. Additionally, I-90 is closed from Rapid City to Mitchell.

The state Department of Transportation also closed 1-29 from Watertown to the North Dakota border Wednesday evening.

I-90 within the Rapid City metro area (exit 55 to exit 67) will be open for local travel.Motorists are reminded that many No Travel Advisories are in place on state highways throughout the state. SDDOT and Department of Public Safety note that limited long-term parking is available along the Interstates, as well as along the state highways where roads are impassable.

Several highways are currently listed as “Road Impassable” on SD511 such as portions of SD Hwy 34, 44, 45, 47, 49, 53, 63, 240, 1806 and US Hwy 14, 18 and 83. When a road is listed as “Road Impassable”, travel on the road segment is physically impossible typically due to widespread deep snow and drifts. Clearing these roads is not expected to be possible today as winds and additional snow are preventing the ability to safely and effectively plow the drifted snow.

Watertown snow alert

Watertown has four inches of snow accumulation as of Friday. Snow and ice removal for Watertown began at 4 a.m. and will continue into Saturday. The street division will be plowing and sanding highways, emergency snow routes, Willow Creek Drive, South Bypass and Lake Kampeska, and will then plow city streets.

Watertown's downtown business district snow removal will occur at 3 a.m. Saturday and will continue into city avenues.

Streets are plowed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Avenues are plowed on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

If additional accumulation and blowing occurs, and the street superintendent deems it necessary, the street division may alter this plan to re-plow high priority roadways such as highways and emergency snow routes.

The city will begin ticketing citizens if vehicles are not removed from the roadways during scheduled plow times. Parking on streets, avenues or snow routes during the days they are scheduled to be plowed will result in a $40 fine. These fines double to $80 if not paid in three days. There is also a fine for blowing snow into the street from a driveway or sidewalk.

Aberdeen snow alert

Aberdeen has four inches of snow fall and is plowing emergency routes. A snow alert has been called. Emergency routes were plowed at 6 a.m. Friday; north-south roads and all of zone three at 7 a.m. and east-west streets at 1 p.m.

Some state offices closed again Friday

State offices will remain closed across most of the state on Friday.

State offices in the southeastern part of the state originally ordered to remain open Thursday have now been ordered to close due to deteriorating weather and road conditions. These counties are Brookings, Lake, Miner and Moody counties.

Offices will close in Hanson, Hutchinson and McCook Counties.

Friday is the fourth day state offices will be closed for some state offices.

Offices will open in Bon Homme, Clay, Custer, Fall River, Lincoln, Minnehaha, Turner, Union and Yankton Counties. Offices will also remain open in the western portion of Pennington County (including Hill City, Keystone and Rapid City).

In areas where offices are open, Gov. Noem advises employees evaluate road conditions and arrange to work remotely if no travel is advised.

While executive branch offices in the rest of the state will be closed, employees will be working remotely.

Citizens are encouraged to stay home Thursday if possible. If travel is necessary, check sd511.org or the SD511 mobile app first.

Schools, other offices closed Friday - events postponed UPDATED

A comprehensive list of schools and agencies closed throughout the state can be found at KELOLAND.com.

  • Aberdeen Public, Aberdeen Catholic, Aberdeen Christian and Trinity Lutheran schools are all closed Friday as well as numerous school districts across the state.

  • Watertown Public schools are all closed Friday.

  • Aberdeen Senior Center is also closed and Meals on Wheels will not be delivered.

  • KO Lee Aberdeen Public Library is closed Friday.

  • The Cartney Retirement Celebration at Lake Area Tech has been updated to be postponed until Monday. The program will begin at 3 p.m. followed by an open house until 5 p.m.

  • The Brown County Courthouse will be closed Friday until noon.

  • Community Transit of Watertown/Sisseton is closed. This includes all 12 locations - Watertown, Sisseton, Milbank, Britton, Webster, Groton, Redfield, Faulkton, Bowdle, Eureka, Campbell County and Lennox. Regular Saturday service in Watertown is still scheduled.

  • Visitors to Market on the Plaza on Thursday for Mistletoe on Main will now arrive on Monday. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at Market on the Plaza on Monday from 4-7 p.m.

  • The Watertown Regional Landfill is closing at 1 p.m. on Thursday.

  • Prairie Lakes Specialty Clinic, Cancer Center, ENT Clinic at Mallard Pointe, Cardiac Rehab and Wound Clinic will be closed at 4 p.m. Thursday and will be opening at 10 a.m. Friday.

  • All ARCC programs for Thursday have been cancelled. Programs include all ARCC Dance Classes, Adult Classes, Art classes and Music Lessons. (605)626-7081. The YAPAtorium will not be open.

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Gov. Noem orders state offices closed Friday, area schools are closed