Ice Storm in Iowa, January 4, 1998

Name: Ice Storm in Iowa, January 4, 1998
Start: 1998-01-04T06:30
End: 1998-01-04T21:00
Location: Iowa

January 4, 1998 · NWS DMX · 51 events in 51 counties and zones

Iowa was caught in the battle zone between very warm and moist air to the southeast and shallow Arctic air to the north. An Arctic cold front slipped south across the state the previous day.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 51 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $1.0 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 51

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.

Iowa was caught in the battle zone between very warm and moist air to the southeast and shallow Arctic air to the north. An Arctic cold front slipped south across the state the previous day. Temperatures across the state ranged from around 10 over the northwest to near freezing over the southeast on the morning of the 4th. An upper level system advanced northeast into Iowa, bringing with it widespread precipitation. Temperatures were well above freezing in the air that over ran the state. The result was widespread ice accretion. Much of the state received between one quarter and six tenths inch of ice accumulation. The heaviest accretion was over the northwest half of the state. Over the southeast, precipitation began as freezing rain, but changed over to rain in the afternoon as temperatures warmed above freezing. The ice caused spotty power outages with downed tree limbs in places. Automobile accidents were very numerous. In Des Moines for example, the major trauma center had to turn patients away to other hospitals for a four hour period as accident victims flooded the emergency room. Travel was difficult over the northwest half of the state, with scattered slick spots over the southeast. On the morning of the 5th, numerous school districts either began classes late or cancelled school.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

51 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Adair

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Adair forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 41.331, -94.471 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Adams

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Adams forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 41.029, -94.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Appanoose

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Appanoose forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 40.743, -92.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Audubon

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Audubon forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 41.685, -94.906 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Black Hawk

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Black Hawk forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 42.470, -92.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Boone

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 42.037, -93.932 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Bremer

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Bremer forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 42.775, -92.318 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Butler

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Butler forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 42.732, -92.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Calhoun

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 42.385, -94.640 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Carroll

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Carroll forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.861 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Cass

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Cass forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 41.332, -94.928 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Cerro Gordo

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Cerro Gordo forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 43.082, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Clarke

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 41.029, -93.785 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Crawford

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Crawford forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 42.037, -95.382 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Dallas

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Dallas forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 41.685, -94.040 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Davis

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Davis forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 40.748, -92.410 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Decatur

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Decatur forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 40.738, -93.786 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Emmet

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Emmet forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 43.378, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Franklin

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Franklin forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 42.733, -93.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Greene

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Greene forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.397 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Grundy

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Grundy forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 42.402, -92.791 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Guthrie

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Guthrie forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 41.684, -94.501 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Hamilton

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Hancock

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Hancock forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 43.082, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Hardin

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Hardin forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.240 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Humboldt

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Humboldt forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 42.777, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Jasper

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Jasper forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 41.686, -93.054 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Kossuth

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Kossuth forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 43.204, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Lucas

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Lucas forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 41.029, -93.328 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Madison

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 41.331, -94.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Mahaska

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Mahaska forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 41.335, -92.641 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Marion

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Marion forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 41.334, -93.099 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Marshall

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Marshall forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 42.036, -92.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Monroe

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Monroe forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 41.030, -92.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Palo Alto

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Palo Alto forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 43.082, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Pocahontas

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Pocahontas forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 42.734, -94.679 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Polk

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Polk forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 41.686, -93.573 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Poweshiek

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Poweshiek forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 41.686, -92.531 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Ringgold

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Ringgold forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 40.735, -94.244 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Sac

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Sac forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 42.386, -95.105 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Story

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Story forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 42.036, -93.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Tama

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Tama forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 42.080, -92.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Taylor

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Taylor forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 40.737, -94.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Union

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Union forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 41.028, -94.242 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Wapello

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Wapello forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 41.031, -92.409 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Warren

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Warren forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 41.334, -93.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Wayne

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 40.740, -93.327 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Webster

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Webster forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 42.428, -94.182 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Winnebago

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Winnebago forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 43.378, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Worth

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Worth forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 43.377, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Wright

When: January 4, 6:30 AM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Wright forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.733, -93.735 (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

Every storm in Iowa in 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history Warnings 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5629036, 5629037, 5629038, 5629039, 5629040, 5629041, 5629042, 5629043, 5629044, 5629045, 5629046, 5629047, 5629048, 5629049, 5629050, 5629051, 5629052, 5629053, 5629054, 5629055, 5629056, 5629057, 5629058, 5629059, 5629060, 5629061, 5629062, 5629063, 5629064, 5629065, 5629066, 5629067, 5629068, 5629069, 5629070, 5629071, 5629072, 5629236, 5629237, 5629238, and more.