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A report from the Rapid City Journal on the spring blizzard hitting the area this weekend.





Spring Blizzard of '08 shuts down region
By Journal staff
Rapid City mayor Alan Hanks is telling residents to stay home and be safe today, and authorities in the Northern Hills and Rapid City closed off traffic completely except for emergencies.
“Please, stay off the roads until the weather clears. The wind is still gusting to 50 mph with heavy snow,” he said. “There are very few businesses that are going to open, so take a day off and enjoy it.”
Meanwhile, police said they would cite any motorists who got stuck in the numerous drifts citywide and were traveling on any non-essential business.
Wind gusts in Rapid City were clocked in excess of 65 mph and are expected to continue at least through the morning and likely into the afternoon.
Some city snowplows were already on the roads. The plan is to clear main arteries, major intersections, emergency routes and other hazardous areas.
“We will be working on Rushmore Road, Omaha and Fifth St.,” Hanks said.
Private snow removal contractors out in the snow said the high winds and heavy snow made removal efforts near futile.
Meanwhile, officials in Spearfish, Belle Fourche and Butte County declared snow emergencies. All roads were closed to travel except for emergency vehicles.
At about 6:30 a.m., police were being called to help motorists whose vehicles could not make the steep hill on West Chicago just past its intersection with Deadwood Ave.
Strong winds, heavy snow and zero visibility are expected to continue to pound Rapid City and most of the Black Hills through noon.
Interstate 90 between Wall and the Wyoming border was closed as of 5:30 a.m. today. Interstate snow gates are closed and motorists will not be allowed through, state officials said.
The Highway Patrol is sweeping the stretch of interstate to assist and remove any motorists who are currently on it.
A no travel advisory is in place for the entire Black Hills. Additionally, a no travel advisory is in place for the entire stretch of Highway 85 from the North Dakota border south through the Hills.
Also, Highway 79 from Rapid City south to the Pennington County line is closed.
Cars were reported stalled on Nemo Road near Kings Road. Other vehicles were reported stalled on Highway 44 on the way to Rapid City Regional Airport.
Photo (Deb Holland/Journal staff)