Heavy Snow in Iowa, December 28, 2000

A strong upper level low pressure dropped southeast out of the northern Rockies into Iowa. The surface low was very close to the upper low as it moved through eastern South Dakota, southeast into east central Iowa. Snow broke out during the morning hours of the 28th and was falling quite heavily by the mid day hours. Though there were a few breaks in the snow, it continued to fall well into the evening hours before diminishing to only flurries. The snow was very light and fluffy with snow to water ratios frequently between 20 and 30 to one. The heaviest snow fell in the Waterloo area, where 10.7 inches of snow was recorded. In Britt, 8.3 inches of snow was measured. There were reports of six to seven inches of new snow in a wide area extending from Hancock County, southeast into the Waterloo area. Winds were quite light during the storm, though there was some drifting occurred. As the storm pulled away from the state, winds picked up from the northwest. Visibility was reduced to one quarter mile or less at times in open areas. Traffic was hampered as roads became very icy. Reports indicated many roads were 100 percent covered with "black ice".