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Rapid City sees earliest snowfall since 1888

Staff and wire report
Steam and snow surround Mike Grimm waits for the engine of a vintage 1880 train to back into position in Hill City, S.D., Thursday morning, Sept. 11, 2014. Riders on the popular summertime tourist attraction got a very wintertime view as a storm brought as much as 8 inches of snow to parts of the Black Hills. Snowfall in downtown Rapid City marked the earliest such event since 1888; that was before South Dakota was even a state.

An early September winter storm in the Black Hills has dumped up to 8 inches of snow in the area, while Rapid City received its earliest snowfall in more than 120 years.

Jon Chamberlain, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Rapid City, said almost 1 inch of snow had fallen in downtown Rapid City by 8:30 a.m. Thursday while 2 inches was measured in higher elevations in town.

The snowfall in downtown Rapid City is the earliest in the city since 1888, the NWS said. The previous early snowfall mark was seven-tenths of an inch on Sept. 13, 1970.

Chamberlain said while it is unusual for Rapid City to see snowfall this early, it isn't for the Black Hills.

"It's a little on the high side, though," he said.

Downtown Custer reported 8 inches of snow, while 7 inches was reported at Mount Rushmore. Other snowfall totals: 6 inches five miles south of Hill City; 4,5 inches in HIll City and 4 inches in Sundance, Wyo.

See the radar and hourly forecast at ArgusLeader.com/weather.

A vintage 1880 Train chugs through the snow-covered hills between Hill City and Keystone, S.D., Thursday morning, Sept. 11, 2014. Riders on the popular summertime tourist attraction got a very wintertime view as a storm brought as much as 8 inches of snow to parts of the Black Hills. Snowfall in downtown Rapid City marked the earliest such event since 1888; that was before South Dakota was even a state. (AP Photo/Rapid City Journal, Chris Huber) TV OUT

The high in Rapid City will be 54 today, 64 on Saturday, 63 on Sunday and 67 on Monday.

For road conditions call 511 or visit www.safetravelusa.com/sd/.

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Sioux Falls forecast from NWS

Today: A slight chance of rain between 1 and 4 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 55. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 36. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 61. Light south wind increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. South wind around 10 mph.

Sunday: A slight chance of showers after 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. South southwest wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers, mainly before 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 65.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 68.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.