States › South Dakota › Mellette County › Winter
Winter in Mellette County, South Dakota
109 winter storms and snow events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Winter Storm, Winter Weather, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Lake-Effect Snow, Sleet.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
Mellette County, South Dakota, has 109 winter events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 28 different years.
March is the busiest month, with 28 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 80 events against 29 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.1% of the 10,128 winter events recorded in South Dakota; its 8.3 per 100 square miles compares with 13.4 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to winter storms and snow.
Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.
Compared with South Dakota
| Measure | Mellette County | South Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter events since 1950 | 109 | 10,128 | 287,339 |
| Per 100 square miles | 8.3 | 13.4 | 8.1 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 571.3 | 113.1 | 8.7 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 73 | 2,509 |
| Busiest month | March | December | January |
By year
Seasonality
14Feb
18Mar
28Apr
15May
1Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
3Nov
10Dec
20
Recorded events
All 109 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Mar 2025 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Mar 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2025 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Apr 2024 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Mar 2024 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2024 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Dec 2023 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Apr 2023 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Mar 2023 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 2023 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Feb 2023 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jan 2023 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jan 2023 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Jan 2023 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Dec 2022 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Dec 2022 | Blizzard | — | — | — | 1 | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Dec 2022 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Mar 2022 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Feb 2022 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2022 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Dec 2021 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Mar 2021 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Mar 2021 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Feb 2021 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Oct 2020 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Apr 2020 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Mar 2020 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2020 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Dec 2019 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Nov 2019 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Oct 2019 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Apr 2019 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Mar 2019 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Mar 2019 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Mar 2019 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Feb 2019 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2019 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Feb 2019 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Dec 2018 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Dec 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Apr 2018 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Mar 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Mar 2018 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Feb 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Apr 2017 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Feb 2017 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Feb 2017 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Jan 2017 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Dec 2016 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Nov 2016 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Nov 2016 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Dec 2015 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2015 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Dec 2015 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Nov 2015 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 May 2015 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 2015 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Dec 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Mar 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Apr 2013 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Mar 2013 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2013 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Feb 2013 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Apr 2011 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Feb 2011 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Dec 2010 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Dec 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jan 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Dec 2009 | Blizzard | — | $25K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Apr 2009 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Mar 2009 | Blizzard | — | $300K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Mar 2009 | Blizzard | — | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Feb 2009 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Dec 2008 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Nov 2008 | Blizzard | — | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Apr 2008 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Mar 2008 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2007 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Mar 2006 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Mar 2006 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Nov 2005 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Apr 2005 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Mar 2005 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jan 2005 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Feb 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Nov 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Apr 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jan 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Mar 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Feb 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Nov 2001 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Apr 2001 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jan 2001 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Nov 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Feb 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Nov 1998 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Mar 1998 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Dec 1997 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Apr 1997 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Apr 1997 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jan 1997 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jan 1997 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Mar 1996 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 1996 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 1996 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many winter events has Mellette County had?
109 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of winter storms and snow became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded winter event in Mellette County?
29 Mar 2025 (Heavy Snow). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Mellette County?
The blizzard of 30 Mar 2009, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $300K.
How does Mellette County compare with South Dakota for winter?
8.3 events per 100 square miles against 13.4 statewide; the county holds 109 of the state's 10,128 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Winter hub and the county page.