Rapid City, South Dakota got hit with an early winter, the earliest snowfall to take place in the town since 1888.
Eight inches of snow have reportedly fallen in the Black Hills area, according to Sioux Falls Argus Leader. The most recent early snowfall prior to this year's took place on Sept. 13, 1970, when seven-tenths of an inch of snow fell onto Rapid City.
Jon Chamberlain, meteorologist with Rapid City's National Weather Service, said about one inch of snow had fallen in the downtown area by 8:30 a.m., and that two inches fell in high elevations in the town.
Eight inches of snow were reported in Downtown Custer, six inches were reported five miles south of Hill City, and four to five inches were reported in Hill City, Sioux Falls Argus Leader reported. Mount Rushmore reported seven inches of snow, and Sundance, Wyoming reported four inches.
The National Weather Service (NWS) said the Black Hills and northeast Wyoming will be hit with rain that will turn into snow early Thursday, according to The Rapid City Journal. Dangers that could take place from heavy, wet snow include power outages and damage from fallen trees.
A freeze warning has also been issued, with the NWS saying many areas in western South Dakota might experience a hard freeze until Friday morning. The weather service added that temperatures in the Black Hills could plummet into the 20s and possibly the teens.
