Each and every year, the ol’ Farmers’ Almanac makes predictions – sometimes with fascinating accuracy, others not so much – for seasons and what to expect. Winter is, obviously (and maybe especially) no exception. You might be surprised about the winter predictions for South Dakota this year, though – surprised in the sense that, after last year being a bit unusual, with many areas seeing record snowfall, everything looks on track to be, for the most part, back to normal. This can be great news if you’re not a huge fan of lots of snowfall, or maybe groanworthy if you’re not – but either way, it’s kind of a relief if you ask me.

Let's be real: Winter in South Dakota can be downright brutal... but we're tough, and we can handle it.
Jenni Conrad/Flickr
According to the Farmers' Almanac, this coming winter in South Dakota (2023-2024, to be exact) is on track to be, well, mostly average: cold and snowy, but not overly so, like 2022-2023 was.
So what exactly counts as "normal" in terms of a South Dakota winter?
katie wheeler/Flickr
Well, like I said - it's definitely cold, with many winter days never reaching above freezing (especially in January).
The Almanac predicts there will likely be a few winter storm events, maybe even a blizzard - but we've pretty much come to expect that.
Christine Warner/Flickr
Plus, it's not like our state becomes some white dead zone at this time of year. There are plenty of fun things to do in the winter in South Dakota.
Driving probably isn't one of them, but hey, be careful and head outdoors anyway.
Jenni Conrad/Flickr
You can always take a short trip to the snowiest town in South Dakota, which is a great little getaway.
South Dakota is an awesome place for some excellent winter hikes, as well.
Jenni Conrad/Flickr
I mean, I personally wouldn't get down in the snow like that, but you do you. I get it. I'm not here to judge. But I digress: Visit any of the amazing South Dakota state parks that are open year-round, and if you're feeling adventurous, you might even want to check out some of the campgrounds in SD that are open year-round, too.
No matter what you choose to do, there's something incredibly magical about winter in South Dakota... and the Farmers Almanac says it ought to be an average one.
Jerry/Flickr
....which, to us, is pretty good news.

Y’know, at least it’s very unlikely that this winter will be anything like the coldest winter in South Dakota history, so we got that going for us, which is nice. And if you need something warm to wear in the cold, you might want to check out the offerings from our friends at LL Bean.

What are your favorite things to do in South Dakota during the winter? Let me know in the comments.

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