Blizzard, Black Hawk
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Black Hawk forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 42.470, -92.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard in Iowa, December 21, 2000
Deep snow cover was in place over Iowa. Though no new snow fell during the day on the 21st, a strong push of cold air moved into the state during the afternoon.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 27 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $540,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 27
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.
Deep snow cover was in place over Iowa. Though no new snow fell during the day on the 21st, a strong push of cold air moved into the state during the afternoon. Gusty northwest winds of 25 to 35 MPH and occasional gusts to 40 MPH or higher caused considerable blowing snow and zero visibilities. Roads over the north half of Iowa drifted shut quickly with numerous accidents and road closings reported. Wind Chill values once again were in the 40 to 55 degree below zero range through the afternoon and evening. Conditions improved around sunset as winds diminished to under 25 MPH. Drifting became a very serious problem due to the great amount of loose snow on the ground. In Rockwell City, drifting over the railroad tracks was so severe that a freight train was stranded just west of town.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
27 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Blizzard, Boone
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Boone forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 42.037, -93.932 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Bremer
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Bremer forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 42.775, -92.318 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Butler
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Butler forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 42.732, -92.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Calhoun
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Calhoun forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 42.385, -94.640 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Carroll
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Carroll forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 42.036, -94.861 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Cerro Gordo
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Cerro Gordo forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 43.082, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Crawford
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Crawford forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 42.037, -95.382 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Emmet
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Emmet forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 43.378, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Franklin
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Franklin forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 42.733, -93.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Greene
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Greene forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 42.036, -94.397 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Grundy
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Grundy forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 42.402, -92.791 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Hamilton
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Hamilton forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 42.384, -93.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Hancock
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Hancock forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 43.082, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Hardin
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Hardin forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 42.384, -93.240 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Humboldt
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Humboldt forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 42.777, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Kossuth
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Kossuth forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 43.204, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Marshall
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Marshall forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 42.036, -92.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Palo Alto
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Palo Alto forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 43.082, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Pocahontas
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Pocahontas forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 42.734, -94.679 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Sac
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Sac forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 42.386, -95.105 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Story
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Story forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 42.036, -93.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Tama
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Tama forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 42.080, -92.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Webster
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Webster forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 42.428, -94.182 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Winnebago
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Winnebago forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 43.378, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Worth
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Worth forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 43.377, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Wright
- When
- December 21, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Wright forecast zone
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 42.733, -93.735 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
What these are
- Blizzard
- Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Winter Storm in Oregon, December 21, 2000
- Extreme Cold in Michigan, December 21 to 29, 2000
- Winter Storm in Alabama, December 21, 2000
- Extreme Cold in Iowa, December 21 to 22, 2000
- Extreme Cold in Illinois, December 21 to 22, 2000
- Ice Storm in Mississippi, December 21, 2000
- Winter Storm in Georgia, December 21, 2000
- Winter Weather in South Carolina, December 21, 2000
- Heavy Snow in Michigan, December 21, 2000
- Heavy Snow in Wisconsin, December 21 to 22, 2000
- Winter Weather in Georgia, December 21, 2000
- Heavy Snow in Michigan, December 21 to 22, 2000
More
Every storm in Iowa in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, December 2000
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: 5166816, 5166817, 5166818, 5166819, 5166820, 5166821, 5166822, 5166823, 5166824, 5166825, 5166826, 5166827, 5166828, 5166829, 5166830, 5166831, 5166832, 5166833, 5166834, 5166835, 5166836, 5166837, 5166838, 5166839, 5166840, 5166841, 5166842.