Ice Storm in Iowa, February 8 to 9, 2001

Name: Ice Storm in Iowa, February 8 to 9, 2001
Start: 2001-02-08T16:00
End: 2001-02-09T06:00
Location: Iowa

February 8 to 9, 2001 · NWS DMX · 36 events in 36 counties and zones

S. during the first and middle part of the week.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 36 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: $2.7 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 36

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.

A very intense storm system moved into the wester U.S. during the first and middle part of the week. This system began to affect the central U.S. by the middle of the week as pieces of energy lifted northeast from the main system. The weather made a turn for the worse on the evening of the 7th and early morning of the 8th as the first round of freezing precipitation began. This event was not a major event, but did cause glazing over a good part of the state and resulted in many school closings. Very warm and humid air streamed north ahead of the main system during the day on the 8th. Surface dew point temperatures rose into the 60s across southeast Kansas into central Missouri. In contrast to that, Arctic high pressure was poised to the north of Iowa. A sharp frontal boundary extended from Kansas into southeast Iowa. While the southeast corner of the state saw temperatures soar into the low 60s, northwest Iowa fell into the single digits. Warm air aloft, with a layer of air as warm as 55 degrees F., was in place over Iowa. Rain began to fall during the afternoon of the 8th and continued through the night. Thunderstorms accompanied the rain, increasing amounts of ice accumulation considerably. Nearly all of the southeast two thirds of the state picked up one quarter to one half inch of ice accumulation. There were numerous reports of fallen tree limbs and power outages. Damage occurred due to falling limbs as well as freezing damage caused by power outages. Fortunately, widespread power outages did not occur. Road surfaces became completely ice covered over all of the state. There were hundreds of reports of people falling on the ice, resulting in injury. Nearly all activities in the state were called off for the 9th. Travel became very hazardous. Reports of accidents and jack-knifed trucks were far too numerous to mention. In large part this was because of the icing, but also due to a winter storm which will be mentioned below.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Des Moines, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 8, 3:30 PM CST, 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 8, 3:30 PM CST, 30 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
330 PM CST THU FEB 8 2001

THE EVENT IS WELL UNDERWAY SO THE WINTER STORM WARNING WILL REMAIN
IN TACT FOR THE CWA TODAY.  HOWEVER THERE IS QUITE A VARIETY OF
WEATHER ELEMENTS TO AFFECT CENTRAL IOWA TODAY.  ALONG AND NORTHWEST
OF A LINE FROM MASON CITY TO DENISON SNOWFALL WILL ONLY BE 2 TO 4
INCHES OR SO AS INDICATED BY SATELLITE AND RADAR.  MAIN BAND OF
PRECIP IS WELL DEFINED AS IS THE MOVEMENT AND SHALL REMAIN SOUTH OF
THE AFOREMENTIONED LINE.  THE MORE DANGEROUS ELEMENT HERE WILL BE
THE WIND. POOR VISIBILITIES AND DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS ARE EXPECTED
OVER THE AREA WITH A NW WIND AT 20 TO 35 MPH AND FALLING
TEMPERATURES.

BETWEEN A MASON CITY TO DENSION AND A MARSHALLTOWN TO MOUNT AYR LINE
IS THE AREA WHERE THE BEST MOISTURE ADVECTION WILL BE AND AGAIN
SATELLITE AND RADAR DO SHOULD A FAIRLY SOLID WALL OF PRECIP
EXTENDING INTO KANSAS INDICATING THAT THE SNOWFALL WILL LAST AT
LEAST THROUGH THE MORNING.  THE LINE SHOULD MOVE EAST THIS MORNING
AS THE 850 TROUGH MOVES EAST BUT I DONT EXPECT THIS BEFORE 18-20Z.
QPF VALUES INDICATE ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL OF 3 TO 5 INCHES FOR A TOTAL
SNOWFALL APPROACHING 7 OR 8 INCHES IN MANY AREAS.  THE WIND WILL
AFFECT THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON PRODUCING ONCE AGAIN BLOWING SNOW AND
NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS.

SOUTHEAST OF AN OTTUMWA TO CHARITON LINE WE HAVE A RICH SUPPLY OF
MOISTURE AS WELL AS PRETTY GOOD INSTABILITY.  THEREFORE SNOWFALL
TOTALS WILL BE A LITTLE HIGHER HERE.  THUNDERSTORMS ARE A BETTER
POSSIBILITY AS WELL AND SNOWFALL TOTALS IN THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE
SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER.  AS FOR TIMING OF THUNDER...I DONT EXPECT TO
SEE MUCH TSSN UNTIL THE SFC LOW OVR MO GETS CLOSER.

BEYOND THE FIRST PERIOD...ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES IN FOR
TONIGHT AND SATURDAY AND TEMPERATURES WILL BE FRIGID.  A COUPLE OF
WEAKER SHORTWAVES WILL MOVE ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA IN THE EXTENDED
BRINGING SNOW CHANCES FOR SUNDAY AND MID WEEK BUT THEY DO NOT APPEAR
TO BE SIGNIFICANT STORMS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

.DSM...WINTER STORM WRNG TODAY FOR ALL OF CENTRAL IOWA.

FAB

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

36 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Adair

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Adair forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.331, -94.471 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Adams

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Adams forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.029, -94.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Appanoose

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Appanoose forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 40.743, -92.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Audubon

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Audubon forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.685, -94.906 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Black Hawk

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Black Hawk forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.470, -92.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Boone

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.037, -93.932 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Bremer

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Bremer forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.775, -92.318 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Butler

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Butler forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.732, -92.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Cass

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Cass forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.332, -94.928 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Clarke

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.029, -93.785 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Dallas

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Dallas forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.685, -94.040 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Davis

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Davis forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 40.748, -92.410 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Decatur

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Decatur forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 40.738, -93.786 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Franklin

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Franklin forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.733, -93.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Greene

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Greene forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.397 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Grundy

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Grundy forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.402, -92.791 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Guthrie

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Guthrie forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.684, -94.501 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Hamilton

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Hardin

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Hardin forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.240 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Jasper

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Jasper forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.686, -93.054 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Lucas

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Lucas forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.029, -93.328 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Madison

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.331, -94.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Mahaska

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Mahaska forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.335, -92.641 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Marion

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Marion forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.334, -93.099 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Marshall

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Marshall forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.036, -92.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Monroe

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Monroe forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.030, -92.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Polk

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Polk forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.686, -93.573 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Poweshiek

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Poweshiek forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.686, -92.531 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Ringgold

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Ringgold forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 40.735, -94.244 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Story

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Story forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.036, -93.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Tama

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Tama forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.080, -92.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Taylor

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Taylor forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 40.737, -94.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Union

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Union forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.028, -94.242 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Wapello

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Wapello forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.031, -92.409 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Warren

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Warren forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.334, -93.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Wayne

When: February 8, 4:00 PM CST to February 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 40.740, -93.327 (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 2001 Every state in 2001 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, February 2001

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: 5230737, 5230738, 5230739, 5230740, 5230741, 5230742, 5230743, 5230744, 5230745, 5230746, 5230747, 5230748, 5230749, 5230750, 5230751, 5230794, 5230795, 5230796, 5230797, 5230798, 5230799, 5230800, 5230801, 5230802, 5230803, 5230804, 5230805, 5230806, 5230807, 5230808, 5230809, 5230810, 5230811, 5230812, 5230813, 5230814.