Blizzard and Lightning Strike in Iowa, March 1 to 2, 2007

Name: Blizzard and Lightning Strike in Iowa, March 1 to 2, 2007
Start: 2007-03-01T04:00
End: 2007-03-02T19:00
Location: Iowa

March 1 to 2, 2007 · NWS DMX · 33 events in 32 counties and zones

S. as a strong upper level system move in on the southern jet stream.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 32 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: 1
Property damage: $3.2 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 33

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 major winter storm developed over the central U.S. as a strong upper level system move in on the southern jet stream. The system came through as a bowling ball type event as the upper low first became negatively tilted, then closed off over Iowa. Low pressure moved across Kansas into northern Missouri, then turned northeast across central into northeast Iowa as it intensified. The low dropped to about 978 mb as it moved through Iowa. The low brought a variety of weather to the state, with a blizzard over much of the west half of the state, and thunderstorms with pea to marble size hail over the east half. As the low passed to the east cold air and high winds overspread the state. Sustained winds of 30 to 40 MPH were widespread, with occasional gusts to between 50 to 60 MPH were common. Visibility in rural areas dropped to zero, remaining that way for an extended period of time. Heavy snowfall occurred over the western part of Iowa with snowfall rates approaching 4 inches per hour at times as the snow was convective in nature. A large area of Iowa northwest of a a Creston to Mason City line received in excess of 10 inches of snow. Some of the heavier totals include 18 inches at Estherville, 17 inches at Carroll, 16.8 inches in Estherville, 15.5. inches in Ringsted, and 14 inches in Pocahontas, Atlantic, and Goldfield. The combination of high winds, heavy snowfall, and the preexisting snow on the ground resulted in roads drifting shut quite rapidly. Widespread blizzard conditions resulted in numerous road closures over the northwest half of the state. Interstate 80 was closed westbound at Iowa City to the Nebraska border, and both east and westbound at Des Moines. Interstate 35 was close both north and southbound at Ankeny to the Minnesota border. Hundreds of people were stranded in their cars during the height of the blizzard. The National Guard was called out to conduct numerous SAR missions. Reports of 5 to 10 foot snow drifts were common across western and northern Iowa, with drifts of 16 feet reported in the Carroll area. The high winds and wet snow caused additional power outages over parts of the state as well. An additional 30,000 people lost power during the storm. Governor Chet Culver declared the remaining 39 counties of the state disaster areas, bringing all 99 counties under disaster declaration. In addition, a request was made to place 44 Iowa Counties into Federal Disaster Status. The request was granted, along with two additional counties. A total of 46 counties received a Presidential Disaster Declaration. The blizzard was considered the worst blizzard in decades for parts of western Iowa. In Carroll for example, the blizzard was the worst since the blizzard of 1947. During the storm in Des Moines, thunderstorms moved across the city. A woman was struck by lightning outside of Lovejoy Elementary School in Des Moines. She received minor injuries and reported pain in her arm following the strike.

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 Mar 1, 3:57 AM CST, 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 1, 3:57 AM CST, 3 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
357 AM CST THU MAR 1 2007

.SYNOPSIS...
LG WV TROUGH FINALLY ADVANCING THROUGH ROCKIES WITH 140+KT JET
UNDERNEATH INTO SRN PLAINS.  PRIMARY SHRT WV IN BASE OF TROUGH
PUSHING THROUGH SRN KS WITH SECONDARY CONVECTIVE SHRT WV INTO WRN
IL.  PLENTY OF KINEMATIC FORCING FROM NE TOWARD KMKC METRO WITH DEEP
INSTABILITY/STEEP LAPSE RATES PUSHING INTO SRN IA WITH DRY SLOT.
H85/H7 THETA-E ADVECTION/ISENT LIFT CONTINUES TO PRODUCE SHWRS/TSTMS
INTO SRN IA.  09Z SFC ANLYS PLACES SFC LOW JUST SE OF KICT WITH
WRMFNT EXTENDING THRU KMKC TO JUST S OF KUIN.  PRES FALLS CONTINUE
TO INCREASE INTO SRN IA REFLECTING STRONG WARM ADVECTION WITH STRONG
COUPLET TO PRES RISES ALONG TX/OK BORDER.

FARTHER TO THE SOUTH AND WEST THE DEFORMATION ZONE IS TAKING SHAPE.
DENDRITIC PRODUCTION ZONE IN H5/H6 LAYER SHOWS STRONG
FRONTOGENETICAL FORCING ALONG BAND FROM KHYS-KLNK-KTQE.  KLNK/KJYH
ALREADY AT OR BELOW 3/4SM SN ON NOSE OF NEGATIVE EPV SURGING INTO
WRN IA.

.DISCUSSION...
PRIMARY CONCERN OBVIOUSLY IMPENDING WINTER STORM.  EXPECT CONDITIONS
TO RAPIDLY WORSEN THROUGH 15Z AS HEAVY SNOW SPREADS INTO WRN IA.  AS
EXPECTED YESTERDAY...NAM SEEMS TO HAVE BEST HANDLE ON SYS
INITIALIZING QUITE WELL INCLUDING CONVECTION TO OUR S.  KEEPING
FOCUS IN NAM H6/H5 LAYER AND 300-305K ISENT SFCS SUGGESTS A RAPID
DEEPENING IN QG FORCING SHORTLY AS LEFT EXIT REGION OF JET ACTIVATES
AND ASSOCIATED DIVERGENCE INCREASE AHEAD OF UPPER LOW.  THIS BROADER
SYNOPTIC SCALE FORCING AND LOW STATIC STABILITY ENTERS WRN IA TODAY
AND JUST SITS OVER NWRN IA ALL NIGHT AS TROWAL WRAPS COMPLETELY
AROUND SYS...INCLUDING BAND OF FN CONVERGENCE RESPONSE.
AFOREMENTIONED INSTABILITY DIMINISHES SOMEWHAT BY TONIGHT WITH
THUNDER SNOW POTENTIAL TODAY ...BUT THIS LOOKS TO BE PROLONGED
EXTREME SNOW EVENT FOR NWRN PORTIONS OF THE STATE.  WSW PRODUCT WILL
AGAIN BE WORDED VERY STRONGLY.  STORM TOTALS ALONG AND NW OF
KDNS-KMCW LINE LOOK TO VARY FROM 12-17 INCHES BY FRIDAY.  THIS DOES
NOT EVEN INCLUDE WIND EFFECTS.  EXPECT SFC LOW TO REACH SRN IA BY
15Z WITH SLP GRADIENT REALLY INCREASING WRN PORTIONS.  ALTHOUGH
AFFECTING MO MORE THAN US...ISALLOBARIC MAX ALSO PUSHES TO MO RIVER
HELPING RAISE WINDS.  THIS ALL ADDS UP TO EXTREME BLIZZARD POTENTIAL
AND WIDESPREAD WHITE OUT CONDITIONS AND WILL CERTAINLY LEAVE CURRENT
WARNING INTACT.  ALTHOUGH A BIT FARTHER TO THE N AND W AND MORE
NEGATIVELY TILTED...THIS STORM HAS A SIMILAR LOOK AND EXPECTED
IMPACT TO THAT WHICH OCCURRED IN LATE JAN 96.

FARTHER SOUTH AND EAST IN WHAT WAS A BLIZZARD WATCH...WX NOT AS
SEVERE BUT STILL A BIT PROBLEMATIC.  CONVECTION SHOULD CONTINUE
PUSHING ACROSS REMAINDER OF STATE AND EXPECT IT TO MAINLY BE ALL
RAIN.  SFC TEMPS AT OR ABOVE FRZG IN THESE AREAS WITH PRES FALLS
INDICATING ENOUGH WARM ADVECTION TO KEEP IT AS SUCH.  ALTHOUGH SNOW
AMOUNTS SHOULD BE MUCH LIGHTER...PCPN SHOULD TRANSITION TO SNOW
ACROSS THE ENTIRE FCST AREA AFTER 21Z.  DO NOT EXPECT TO MEET
BLIZZARD CRITERIA IN THESE AREAS...AND CONFIDENCE IN SNOW IMPACT NOT
THE GREATEST AS ITS ON THE SERN EDGE OF HEAVY SNOW GRADIENT...BUT
HAVE ISSUED SNOW/BLOWING SNOW ADVISORIES JUST SE OF DSM AT
18Z...WIND ADVY KOTM AREA AT 21Z WITH LITTLE SNOW ANTICIPATED...AND
SNOW/BLOWING SNOW AROUND KGGI/KALO AT 00Z.  TOTAL SNOW AMOUNTS IN
ADVY BUFFER ZONE LOOK TO VARY FROM 2 TO 5 INCHES WITH LESS THAN AN
INCH AROUND KOTM.  ALL THESE HEADLINES CONTINUE THROUGH 00Z SAT WITH
AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF WIND.  SLP GRADIENT REMAINS STRONG WITH LOW
ONLY REACHING KMSN BY 00Z SAT.

EXPECT TEMPS TO BE RATHER FLAT TODAY FOLLOWED BY MINIMAL FALLS
TONIGHT AS CLOUDS...SNOW AND WIND CONTINUE STAYING TOWARD WARMER END
OF GUIDANCE.  FCST SOUNDINGS SUGGEST A GUIDANCE BLEND IS OK FRIDAY
ALONG WITH STEEP 0-2KM LAPSE RATES.  AS SECONDARY SHRT WV ROTATES
AROUND PARENT LOW FRI...QG FORCING SHOULD BE PERSISTENT ABOVE THIS
SHALLOW INSTABILITY SO SWITCHED WORDING TO CATEGORICAL SNOW
SHOWERS.  SNOW SHOULD THEN FINALLY DIMINISH FRI NIGHT AS SYS PULLS
AWAY WITH NO MENTION OF PCPN BY 18Z SAT.  NO CHANGES TO LATER
PERIODS.

&&

.DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

BLIZZARD WARNING FROM 12Z TODAY TO 00Z SAT ALONG AND NW OF MOUNT
AYR-DES MOINES-GRUNDY CENTER LINE.

SNOW/BLOWING SNOW ADVY KLWD-KCNC-KOXV-KTNU AND VICINITY 18Z TODAY
THROUGH 00Z SAT.  SNOW/BLOWING SNOW ADVY KMIW-KGGI-KALO AND VICINITY
00Z FRI THROUGH 00Z SAT.

WIND ADVY KOOA-KOTM AND VICINITY 21Z TODAY THROUGH 00Z SAT.

&&

SMALL/COGIL

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 28, 4:19 PM CST, 11 hours 41 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
419 PM CST WED FEB 28 2007

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>027-033>038-044>048-057>060-070>072-081-
082-092-093-011145-
EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-
POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-BUTLER-SAC-CALHOUN-WEBSTER-
HAMILTON-HARDIN-GRUNDY-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-BOONE-STORY-
AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-
RINGGOLD-
419 PM CST WED FEB 28 2007

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST
...CENTRAL...SOUTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL IOWA.

...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS EXPECTED THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY
AFTERNOON...

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

LIGHT FREEZING RAIN OR LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING
HOURS AND LAST UNTIL EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. SOME LIGHT
ACCUMULATIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITH SLICK ROADS POSSIBLE.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM FOR THE REGION
ALONG AND NORTH OF HIGHWAY 20. PLEASE REFER TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

SNOW IS EXPECTED TO MOVE IN QUICKLY BETWEEN 4 AND 6 AM THURSDAY
OVER SOUTHWEST THROUGH NORTH CENTRAL IOWA. THE SNOW SHOULD CONTINUE
THURSDAY AND BECOME WIND BLOWN WITH STORM TOTAL AMOUNTS FROM 6
INCHES SOUTHEAST TO 18 INCHES NORTHWEST BEFORE DIMINISHING TO LIGHT
SNOW OR FLURRIES LATER ON FRIDAY. HOWEVER..SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND
DRIFTING SNOW IS LIKELY TO LAST THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

NORTHWEST TO WEST WINDS WILL GUST TO 40 MPH OR MORE PRODUCING
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WITH NEAR ZERO TO ZERO VISIBILITY AND EXTREME
DRIFTING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. WINDS OF THIS STRENGTH MAY CAUSE
POWER OUTAGES...ESPECIALLY LOCATIONS STILL AFFECTED BY THE ICE STORM
LAST WEEKEND. PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THESE CONDITIONS MAY BE LIFE
THREATENING.

A BLIZZARD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA FROM 6 AM THROUGH
FRIDAY AFTERNOON. PLEASE REFER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED...BUT ANY INFORMATION REGARDING
SNOWFALL AMOUNTS AND SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS TO LIFE AND PROPERTY DUE
TO THE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

IAZ028-039-049-050-061-062-073>075-083>086-094>097-011145-
BREMER-BLACK HAWK-MARSHALL-TAMA-JASPER-POWESHIEK-WARREN-MARION-
MAHASKA-CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-DECATUR-WAYNE-APPANOOSE-DAVIS-
419 PM CST WED FEB 28 2007

HIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL...SOUTH
CENTRAL...NORTHEAST AND SOUTHEAST IOWA.

...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS POSSIBLE THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY
AFTERNOON...

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

FOR AREAS ALONG AND NORTH OF HIGHWAY 20...LIGHT FREEZING RAIN OR
LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING HOURS AND LAST UNTIL EARLY
THURSDAY MORNING. SOME LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITH SLICK
ROADS POSSIBLE.

FARTHER SOUTH...MAINLY SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 80...THUNDERSTORMS COULD
BECOME MORE PREVALENT AND MAY PRODUCE SMALL HAIL AND BRIEF HEAVY
RAINS. A FEW OF THE STORMS MAY EVEN REACH SEVERE CRITERIA WITH UP TO
PENNY SIZED HAIL DURING THE LATE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM FOR THE REGION
ALONG AND NORTH OF HIGHWAY 20. PLEASE REFER TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH UP TO PENNY SIZED HAIL...WILL OCCUR
DURING THE MORNING HOURS AND THEN TRANSITION TO WET...HEAVY SNOW
AROUND THE NOON HOUR THURSDAY. THE SNOW SHOULD CONTINUE THURSDAY
AFTERNOON AND BECOME WIND BLOWN WITH STORM TOTAL AMOUNTS FROM 2
INCHES IN THE SOUTHEAST TO NEAR 6 INCHES IN THE NORTHWEST BEFORE
DIMINISHING TO LIGHT SNOW OR FLURRIES LATER ON FRIDAY. SOME
BLOWING SNOW IS LIKELY TO LAST THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

NORTHWEST TO WEST WINDS WILL GUST TO 40 MPH OR MORE PRODUCING
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WITH NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY AND DRIFTING ESPECIALLY
THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WINDS OF THIS STRENGTH MAY CAUSE
POWER OUTAGES...ESPECIALLY LOCATIONS STILL AFFECTED BY THE ICE STORM
LAST WEEKEND. PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THESE CONDITIONS MAY BE LIFE
THREATENING.

A BLIZZARD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA FROM NOON THURSDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY AFTERNOON. PLEASE REFER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED...BUT ANY INFORMATION REGARDING
SNOWFALL AMOUNTS AND SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS TO LIFE AND PROPERTY DUE
TO THE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

REV

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 135 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:59 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

32 blizzard, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Sac

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Sac forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.386, -95.105 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Crawford

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Crawford forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.037, -95.382 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Carroll

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Carroll forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.861 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Audubon

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Audubon forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.685, -94.906 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Cass

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Cass forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.332, -94.928 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Emmet

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Emmet forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.378, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Palo Alto

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Palo Alto forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.082, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Kossuth

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Kossuth forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.204, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Pocahontas

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Pocahontas forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.734, -94.679 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Humboldt

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Humboldt forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.777, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Calhoun

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.385, -94.640 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Webster

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Webster forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.428, -94.182 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Greene

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Greene forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.397 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Guthrie

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Guthrie forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.684, -94.501 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Adair

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Adair forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.331, -94.471 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Adams

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Adams forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.029, -94.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Taylor

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Taylor forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.737, -94.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Winnebago

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Winnebago forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.378, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Worth

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Worth forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.377, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Hancock

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Hancock forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.082, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Cerro Gordo

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Cerro Gordo forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.082, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Wright

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Wright forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.733, -93.735 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Franklin

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Franklin forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.733, -93.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Hamilton

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Hardin

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Hardin forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.240 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Boone

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.037, -93.932 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Story

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Story forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.036, -93.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Dallas

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Dallas forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.685, -94.040 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Polk

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Polk forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.686, -93.573 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Madison

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.331, -94.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Union

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Union forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.028, -94.242 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Ringgold

When: March 1, 4:00 AM CST to March 2, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Ringgold forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.735, -94.244 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, Polk

When: March 1, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Polk County, Des Moines
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 41.600, -93.620

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.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Iowa in 2007 Every state in 2007 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, March 2007

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: 9990, 9991, 9992, 9993, 9994, 9995, 9996, 9997, 9998, 9999, 10000, 10001, 10002, 10003, 10004, 10005, 10006, 10007, 10008, 10009, 10010, 10011, 10012, 10013, 10014, 10015, 10016, 10017, 10018, 10019, 10020, 10021, 11194.