Winter Storm in Iowa, January 26 to 27, 1996

A winter storm system moving northeast over the Mississippi river brought nearly 10 inches of snow to portions of east central Iowa, with snowfall diminishing to 3-6 inches near the Mississippi river. Schools were cancelled due to extreme blowing and drifiting of snow. During the afternoon and evening winds of 20 to 30 mph became even stronger and the Winter Storm Warning was upgraded to a Blizzard Warning for many Iowa counties. Numerous motorists were stranded on highways and interstates and a State of Emergency was declared, by the Governor. The State of Emergency mobilized National Guard units to assist local Law Enforcement in the rescue of stranded motorists. In Cedar Rapids this Winter Storm was followed by a 3 day clean up. This effort was estimated by Don Thomas, the Cedar Rapids Commissioner of Streets, to have cost $100,000 and required 60 persons to work around the clock. Schools were either closed early or cancelled on this Friday the 26th, and despite massive clean up efforts, most schools remained closed on Monday. Those schools that did try to go on the 26th experienced significant problems. In Mount Vernon, schools were on a delayed start. The busses where then sent out but as the weather continued to worsen, the decission was made to cancel school. So before the busses made it to school they were returning children to their homes. One bus, after cancellation, about 845 am slid off the snowy road into the ditch. No children were injured and a second bus was sent out to take them home.