Iowa, 1998

Ice Storm in Iowa, January 14, 1998

January 14, 1998 · NWS DMX · 15 events in 15 counties and zones

Arctic high pressure was located to the east of Iowa as an upper level system approached from the west. Warm air was drawn north over the top of the Arctic air in place in the lower levels of the atmosphere.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 15 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$30,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
15

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS DMX wrote it up.

Arctic high pressure was located to the east of Iowa as an upper level system approached from the west. Warm air was drawn north over the top of the Arctic air in place in the lower levels of the atmosphere. Fog and low clouds spread into the state from the southwest during the early morning hours of the 14th. Freezing drizzle developed and in the southern part of the state had increased to freezing rain before sunrise. Though amounts were not excessive, ice accretions of a few hundredths of an inch up to one tenth inch were common. The ice caused travel problems as the freezing rain fell into surface temperatures around -10 C. Roads became 100% ice covered and numerous accidents were reported. Schools were delayed or cancelled in many areas. Fortunately, the icing was not heavy enough to cause much in the way of tree limb damage.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

15 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Adair

When
January 14, 1:30 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
Where
Adair forecast zone
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
41.331, -94.471 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Adams

When
January 14, 1:30 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
Where
Adams forecast zone
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
41.029, -94.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Appanoose

When
January 14, 1:30 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
Where
Appanoose forecast zone
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
40.743, -92.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Cass

When
January 14, 1:30 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
Where
Cass forecast zone
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
41.332, -94.928 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Clarke

When
January 14, 1:30 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
Where
Clarke forecast zone
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
41.029, -93.785 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Davis

When
January 14, 1:30 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
Where
Davis forecast zone
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
40.748, -92.410 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Decatur

When
January 14, 1:30 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
Where
Decatur forecast zone
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
40.738, -93.786 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Lucas

When
January 14, 1:30 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
Where
Lucas forecast zone
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
41.029, -93.328 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Madison

When
January 14, 1:30 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
Where
Madison forecast zone
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
41.331, -94.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Monroe

When
January 14, 1:30 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
Where
Monroe forecast zone
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
41.030, -92.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Ringgold

When
January 14, 1:30 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
Where
Ringgold forecast zone
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
40.735, -94.244 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Taylor

When
January 14, 1:30 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
Where
Taylor forecast zone
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
40.737, -94.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Union

When
January 14, 1:30 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
Where
Union forecast zone
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
41.028, -94.242 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Wapello

When
January 14, 1:30 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
Where
Wapello forecast zone
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
41.031, -92.409 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Wayne

When
January 14, 1:30 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
Where
Wayne forecast zone
Coordinates
40.740, -93.327 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Ice Storm
Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Iowa in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, January 1998

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5629250, 5629251, 5629252, 5629253, 5629254, 5629255, 5629256, 5629257, 5629258, 5629259, 5629260, 5629261, 5629262, 5629263, 5629264.