Heavy Snow in Iowa, April 7, 2000

Only two days after temperatures were in the 70s and 80s, a winter type storm system rolled southeast out of the Rockies into the central U.S. Although moisture was limited with this system, very strong upper air dynamics were enough to overcome the shortfall in moisture. Snow began to fall during the early morning hours of the 7th, and intensified after sunrise. Snow fell at the rate of one to two inches per hour during the heaviest period of snow. Accumulation was slow due to the very warm ground temperatures. Four inch soil temperatures were in the low 50s at the time. The heaviest snow fell to the northwest of the CWA with over 10 inches reported in some areas. The north central counties of Iowa received over 6 inches of snow with a 7 to 9 inch band of snow extending from near Estherville southeast to Kanawha. Some of the heavier totals included 9 inches in Estherville and 7 inches at Graettinger, Emmetsburg, and Kanawha. Driving conditions deteriorated on secondary roads during the period of heaviest snow as some slush formed on the roads. A few school districts in north central Iowa did close early. The only problems from the storm were some scattered power outages due to tree branches breaking under the weight of the heavy snow. These were limited however.