MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) – Snow and blowing snow will affect the Mitchell area Wednesday, followed by a steep cooldown that will bring dangerous wind chills late Thursday night into Friday. Highs stay in the single digits to teens through the weekend.

According to the National Weather Service, Wednesday’s snow will be relatively light, but strong northwest winds could create periods of sharply reduced visibility, especially near and north of Interstate 90. An Extreme Cold Watch is in effect late Thursday night into Friday, with wind chills expected to drop well below zero.

Mitchell forecast

Here’s the day-by-day outlook:

Wednesday: Snow likely, mainly before 1 p.m., with patchy blowing snow. Mostly cloudy, with temperatures falling to around 22 by late afternoon. Windy, with northwest winds 20 to 25 mph increasing to 30 to 35 mph; gusts up to 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%, with less than a half-inch of snow possible.
Wednesday night: Patchy blowing snow early, then partly cloudy. Low around 6. West winds 15 to 20 mph, easing overnight; gusts up to 30 mph.

Thursday: Partly sunny and blustery. High near 15. North-northwest winds 10 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph; gusts up to 30 mph.
Thursday night: Partly cloudy and bitterly cold. Low around 17 below zero, with wind chill values as low as 32 below. North winds 10 to 15 mph; gusts up to 25 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny and cold. High near 5 below. North-northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
Friday night: A 20% chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12 below. Northeast winds around 5 mph becoming south-southeast after midnight.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. High near 9.
Saturday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 8 below.

Sunday: Mostly sunny and cold. High near 9.
Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 6 below.

Tips:

• If you must travel Wednesday, slow down and be prepared for rapid changes in visibility in blowing snow, especially on open stretches near I-90.

• Dress in layers late week; cover exposed skin and limit time outdoors as wind chills drop to dangerous levels.

• Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle: blanket, phone charger, water, snacks, and a flashlight.