Eastern South Dakota and North Dakota are digging out from a weekend storm that left much of the region buried under a foot or more of snow.
As of this morning, Aberdeen received 13.2 inches of snow since Saturday night, according to the National Weather Service. Emergency snow routes in Aberdeen were largely clear for motorists who can get to them. Plowing in residential areas has begun. Vehicles that have not been moved are subject to being ticketed and towed.
Scott Meints said crews responded to several rescue calls from stranded motorists Sunday evening, including one at Richmond Lake. One responding vehicle got stuck, forcing a second to be dispatched, he said,
Crews are trying to clear "impassable" roads in Dickey County in North Dakota. But there are reportedly drifts of up to 4 feet high, according to information from Charlie Russell, the county's emergency manager.
"Please assist clean up by staying off the roads," he said in a news release.
He said more than a foot of snow fell in Ellendale, N.D., with higher amounts to the east and south of the town. Schools, the county health office, social services offices and the courthouse in Dickey County are all closed today, Russell said.
All non-essential Brown County offices are closed as are many businesses. Schools across eastern South Dakota are also closed.
The Avera St. Luke's Hospital obstetrics/gynecology clinic, which was going to open today, will now remain closed the entire day, an Avera official said Monday morning.
Day and Marshall counties remain in blizzard warning until noon.
The Aberdeen Wings junior hockey team has been stranded in Watertown since early Sunday. They made it that far after playing a Saturday night game in Onalaska, Wisc.
Interstate 90 from Wall to Sioux Falls was opened Monday morning after having closed Sunday, according to state Department of Transportation officials. Interstate 29 between Sioux Falls and Grand Forks, N.D. remains closed.
Other snowfall totals from the region include:
-Sisseton: 12 inches as of 11:50 p.m. Sunday
-Big Stone City: 10 inches as of 10:11 p.m. Sunday.
-Kidder: 11.5 inches as of 8:16 p.m. Sunday.
-Pollock: 2.5 inches as of 7:06 p.m. Sunday.
-Bowdle: 7 inches as of 6 p.m. Sunday.
-Roscoe: 8.6 inches as of 5:01 p.m. Sunday
