Why Did It Snow in Sioux Falls This Morning? Answer: the Great Bear Effect

So many things have to be just right for this to happen, it is nearly impossible to predict.  Basically the snow making machines at Great Bear Recreation Park caused it to snow profusely in eastern Sioux Falls.

Waking up to .5 inches of snow was shocking to some and puzzling to others.  This phenomenon does occur, but very sporadically according to Todd Heitkamp at the National Weather Service.  “There was enough moisture and particles thrown into the air by the snow making machines that when we have a low cloud cover like we (had this morning) it doesn’t take much for the atmosphere to produce snow.”

• Has Sioux Falls Ever Gone An Entire Winter With No Snow?

Most times when this happens only a little snow falls, but today it was snowing so much that the City of Sioux Falls had to shut down the machines to prevent the cloud seeding effect.

According to Heitkamp around 2-3 times per year this happens and it doesn’t have to be Great Bear triggering the snow.  “Also we’ll get the Morrell (effect).  The moisture coming out of the smokestacks there will cause the occasional snow.”  Reports this morning came in with snow falling near 10th and Cliff Avenue and a dusting was detected on North Marion Road.

It’s not exactly what happens with the lake-effect snow in Buffalo, but the characteristics are similar. Thank goodness the threat of snow in multiples of feet.