Winter Storm in Iowa, January 1 to 2, 1999

Name: Winter Storm in Iowa, January 1 to 2, 1999
Start: 1999-01-01T15:00
End: 1999-01-02T14:00
Location: Iowa

January 1 to 2, 1999 · NWS DMX · 44 events in 44 counties and zones

The seasons first winter storm struck Iowa during the New Years Weekend. A complex weather situation unfolded during the day on the first.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 44 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: 2
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $440,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 44

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.

The seasons first winter storm struck Iowa during the New Years Weekend. A complex weather situation unfolded during the day on the first. The upper level system was broken in two pieces. The southern branch swept to the south of Iowa and produced the actual surface low pressure system. Another significant upper level system moved southeast out of Canada. The two upper air features merged southeast of Iowa, however a binary interaction took place resulting in the southern system being lifted north into the central U.S. A large area of snow developed over Iowa. The heaviest snow fell over the east third of the state with the west edge of this heavier band just brushing the east part of the Des Moines County Warning Area. Snowfall amounts were generally in the six to ten inch range over most of county warning area. A small area of a foot or more of snow was reported in the Waterloo area,extending west toward Eldora. Actually, Mason City had the highest snowfall total with 13.9 inches. Eldora was close behind with a storm total of 13.5 inches. Some of the heavier totals included 12+ inches in the Waterloo area, a band of eight to twelve inches from northwest of Fort Dodge, northeast to the Mason City area. Mason City reported 12 inches from the storm as did Pocahontas. Boone also reported in excess of 8 inches of new snow, with both Story City and Steamboat Rock coming in with 10 inches. Travel was made difficult by the snow as the winds increased on the 2nd with the deepening low to the east of Iowa. Travel was not recommended across the east half of the state by mid day on the 2nd. Northerly winds of 20 to 35 MPH were common, with occasional gusts to over 40 MPH. Visibility was reduced to under one quarter of a mile at times with snow drifts of three to five feet deep reported in some areas. Conditions improved slowly during the evening of the 2nd as the snow tapered off, though considerable drifting continued into the 3rd. Even though there was some improvement in conditions, many roads were blocked by the snow. Church services were cancelled in many areas of the state, which is quite unusual for Iowa. As temperatures fell behind the storm, the winds continued to blow. Wind chill became a problem with most of the state falling to the -30 to 50 degree range. Two deaths occurred due to the storm in the Des Moines County Warning Area. A 95 year old male died in Des Moines when he slipped outside of his house, was unable to get up, and froze to death. In Beaman, in Grundy County, an 87 year old male died when his vehicle became stranded and he froze to death seeking help.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

44 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Adair

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Adair forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 41.331, -94.471 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Appanoose

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Appanoose forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 40.743, -92.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Black Hawk

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Black Hawk forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 42.470, -92.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Boone

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 42.037, -93.932 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Bremer

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Bremer forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 42.775, -92.318 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Butler

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Butler forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 42.732, -92.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Calhoun

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 42.385, -94.640 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Carroll

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Carroll forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.861 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Cass

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Cass forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 41.332, -94.928 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Cerro Gordo

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Cerro Gordo forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 43.082, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Clarke

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 41.029, -93.785 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Dallas

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Dallas forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 41.685, -94.040 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Davis

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Davis forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 40.748, -92.410 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Emmet

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Emmet forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 43.378, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Franklin

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Franklin forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 42.733, -93.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Greene

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Greene forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.397 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Grundy

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Grundy forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 42.402, -92.791 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Guthrie

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Guthrie forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 41.684, -94.501 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Hamilton

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Hancock

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Hancock forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 43.082, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Hardin

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Hardin forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.240 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Humboldt

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Humboldt forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 42.777, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Jasper

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Jasper forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 41.686, -93.054 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Kossuth

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Kossuth forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 43.204, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Lucas

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Lucas forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 41.029, -93.328 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Madison

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 41.331, -94.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Mahaska

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Mahaska forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 41.335, -92.641 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Marion

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Marion forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 41.334, -93.099 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Marshall

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Marshall forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 42.036, -92.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Monroe

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Monroe forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 41.030, -92.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Palo Alto

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Palo Alto forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 43.082, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Pocahontas

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Pocahontas forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 42.734, -94.679 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Polk

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Polk forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 41.686, -93.573 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Poweshiek

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Poweshiek forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 41.686, -92.531 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Sac

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Sac forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 42.386, -95.105 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Story

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Story forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 42.036, -93.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Tama

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Tama forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 42.080, -92.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Union

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Union forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 41.028, -94.242 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Wapello

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Wapello forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 41.031, -92.409 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Warren

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Warren forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 41.334, -93.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Webster

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Webster forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 42.428, -94.182 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Winnebago

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Winnebago forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 43.378, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Worth

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Worth forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 43.377, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Wright

When: January 1, 3:00 PM CST to January 2, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Wright forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 42.733, -93.735 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Winter Storm, Grundy	1999-01-02	87	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Direct
Winter Storm, Polk	1999-01-02	95	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Direct

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Iowa in 1999 Every state in 1999 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, January 1999

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5679045, 5679046, 5679047, 5679048, 5679049, 5679050, 5679153, 5679154, 5679155, 5679156, 5679157, 5679158, 5679159, 5679160, 5679161, 5679162, 5679163, 5679164, 5679165, 5679166, 5679167, 5679168, 5679169, 5679170, 5679171, 5679172, 5679173, 5679174, 5679175, 5679176, 5679177, 5679178, 5679179, 5679180, 5679181, 5679182, 5679183, 5679184, 5679185, 5679186, and more.