In South Dakota, we are always talking about the last big snowfall or storm. We all have memories of a particular storm, but how do they really compare? On February 8th and 9th, 1909, the region experienced one of the largest snowfalls on record. The storm began in Sioux Falls at about 2:00 PM on Monday and ended early Wednesday morning. Officially, the storm dropped 21” of snow in Sioux Falls. The snowfall was accompanied by high wind,s which created large drifts.
Several photographers in the region photographed the storm's aftermath. Before radio or TV, the newspaper was the principal way people tracked the storm outside of their window view.
Blizzard conditions from the Rocky Mountains to the Appalachians.
Crawford, NE -20 below
Belmont, NE -16 below
Helena, MT -30 below
Huron – no trains moving, visibility ¾ of a block.
Aberdeen – schools closed, -10 below at 1 o’clock
Vermillion- 12” of snow, high winds, no school or trains
“Sioux Falls Worst in Many Years”
“Snow piled six and eight feet high in the streets overnight. Started in Sioux Falls Monday afternoon about 2 PM- still raging at 3 PM on Tuesday. The temperature on Tuesday at noon is zero in Sioux Falls.
Reports from Sioux City and Elk Point two feet of snow on the level and some railroad cuts with 20 feet deep.
“Sioux Falls awoke this morning to find the City buried in snow. Some places the snow was four to ten feet in depth.”
Mayor Doolittle was up at 5 o’clock and had street crews and the city fire department setting the example for snow removal for the citizens in general.
Some people from outlying parts of town used skis to move around.
Oscar Solie made snapshots of different scenes about the city.
Oldtimers such as Steve Donahoe compared the storm to October, 1880 saying there was more snow.
Trains using the latest rotary snow plows took several days to clear all the lines. Trains were runing to Sioux Falls by Thursday, February 11, 1909.
OTHER MEDIA
For Teachers: Hands-On Activity