Blizzard in Iowa, December 20 to 21, 2008

Name: Blizzard in Iowa, December 20 to 21, 2008
Start: 2008-12-20T12:00
End: 2008-12-21T17:00
Location: Iowa

December 20 to 21, 2008 · NWS DMX · 20 events in 20 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 20 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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 20

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.

An inverted trough of low pressure at the surface moved through the state during the early morning of the 20th into the day on the 20th. At the same time, a strong low pressure deepened in the upper atmosphere over and just northeast of the state. The combination drew down Arctic air into the central U.S. A tight pressure gradient developed between the developing low to the east and Arctic high pressure to the northwest. Winds increased on the 20th, and continued through most of the day on the 21st. Sustained wind speeds were in the 25 to 35 MPH range, with gusts of 40 to 50 MPH. Very little snow fell with the inverted trough, generally an inch or two, however antecedent snow cover was quite high with 7 to 12 inches common. The winds caused whiteout conditions for an extended period of time as the snow that was loose blew in open areas. Much of the deeper snow had crusted over, so blizzard conditions were somewhat sporadic and not as widespread as would normally be expected. The first and second order reporting stations did not meet blizzard criteria outside of occasionally, however law enforcement officials reported visibility frequently reduced to between 10 and 100 feet in open areas. Travel was therefore not recommended across all of the northern part of Iowa north of U.S. Highway 30. Roads drifted shut quickly and snowplows were taken off of several roads during the height of the storm. In addition to the wind, temperatures fell below zero, resulting in dangerous wind chill indices in the -30 to -40 F. range.

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 Dec 20, 11:40 AM CST, 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 20, 11:40 AM CST, 20 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1140 AM CST SAT DEC 20 2008

UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION

.UPDATE...TODAY
HAVE MADE UPDATES TO TODAYS FORECAST TO INCREASE POPS TO CATEGORICAL
FOR MOST OF THE AREA...AS LIGHT SNOW EXTENDS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO
MISSOURI BORDER...AND WILL RESULT IN MINOR ACCUMULATIONS AN INCH OR
LESS SOUTH OF HWY 30. JUST ADDED 6 MORE COUNTIES IN WEST-CENTRAL
IOWA TO A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BLOWING SNOW THROUGH 6 PM
TONIGHT DUE TO REPORTS FROM WESTERN COUNTIES OF WHITEOUT CONDITIONS
AT TIMES AS NORTHWEST WINDS KICK UP. SNOW WILL COME TO END BETWEEN
NOON AND 3 PM...SAVE FOR THE FAR EAST AND NORTHEAST. WITH INVERTED
TROUGH/COLD FRONT ALREADY HALF WAY THROUGH THE CWA...EXPECT
TEMPERATURES TO FALL DRAMATICALLY DURING THE AFTERNOON. HAVE THIS
REFLECTED NOW IN THE DIGITAL DATABASE AND TEXT PRODUCTS. THE
FORECAST FOR NORTHERN IA CONCERNING THE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS EXPECTED
TONIGHT REMAINS UNCHANGED AT THIS TIME.

...FROM PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...

.SHORT TERM...TODAY
INVERTED SFC TROUGH EXTENDS FROM LOW IN WESTERN KS UP THE GREAT
PLAINS AT THIS HOUR...WITH A 500 MB LOW APPROACHING FROM SOUTHERN
CANADA. AS THE MID-LEVEL LOW MOVES INTO NORTH DAKOTA THROUGH THE DAY
THE SFC TROUGH WILL BE PUSHED EASTWARD...WITH GOOD LIFT AND MOISTURE
PRODUCING SNOW OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST. BULK OF THE SNOW IN OUR AREA
WILL BE ACROSS THE NORTH...WITH LIGHTER AMOUNTS CENTRAL AND SOUTH.
MORE SIGNIFICANTLY...AN ARCTIC HIGH SPILLING OVER THE HIGH PLAINS
AND INTO THE MIDWEST THIS AFTERNOON WILL RESULT IN A WIND SURGE ON
THE BACK SIDE OF THE INVERTED TROUGH...HAVING THE SENSIBLE EFFECT OF
A COLD FRONT WITH A GOOD PUSH OF WIND BEHIND IT. BETWEEN THE 2 TO 4
INCHES OF SNOW THAT WILL FALL ACROSS THE NORTH TODAY AND THE 7 TO 12
INCHES THAT WAS RECEIVED IN THE SAME AREA THURSDAY NIGHT/FRIDAY
MORNING...THERE WILL BE A LOT OF SNOW TO BLOW AROUND ONCE THE WINDS
PICK UP DURING THE MID/LATE AFTERNOON HOURS. BECAUSE EXPECTED NEW
SNOW AMOUNTS ARE BELOW WARNING CRITERIA AND LOWERED VSBYS IN BLOWING
SNOW ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE PREVAILING 1/4SM OR LESS...HAVE OPTED TO
ISSUE A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR THE NORTH/NORTHWEST TODAY. WHILE
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE IN THIS AREA BEFORE 00Z...IT IS
LIKELY THAT THEY WILL NOT BE WIDESPREAD. AS FAR AS THE BEGINNING
TIME OF THE ADVISORY IT IS SOMEWHAT ARBITRARY BECAUSE SNOW WILL BE
BEGINNING IN OUR NORTHWEST WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS...BUT IT
WILL BE LIGHT AND NOT BEGIN TO ACCUMULATE APPRECIABLY UNTIL LATER IN
THE MORNING...WITH THE WIND SURGE/BLOWING SNOW NOT COMING INTO PLAY
UNTIL AFTER NOON. WILL TAKE A KIND OF MIDDLE GROUND BETWEEN THESE
EFFECTS WITH AN ADVISORY BEGINNING AT 9 AM. THAT WILL GIVE PEOPLE A
COUPLE OF HOURS TO GET AROUND WHILE THE SNOW AND WINDS ARE
RELATIVELY LIGHT BEFORE THE ADVISORY KICKS IN. CONDITIONS WILL
WORSEN TONIGHT AS TEMPERATURES PLUMMET AND WINDS GRADUALLY INCREASE
FURTHER AND OVER A WIDER AREA.

.LONG TERM...TONIGHT THRU FRIDAY
ANY SNOWFALL WL TAPER OFF TO FLURRIES AND/OR A FEW SNOW SHOWERS THIS
EVENING AS FORCING PASSES TO THE EAST.  INITIAL SURGE OF COLD AIR
BEHIND FRONT WL SEE FIRST SURGE OF WINDS ACRS THE CWA.  MAY SEE A
LULL IN THE VERY STRONG WINDS FOR A PERIOD THIS EVENING WITH
CONDITIONS NOT AS BAD.  HOWEVER...A SECONDARY SURGE OF ARCTIC AIR WL
PUSH IN LATE TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING WITH VERY STRONG NORTHWEST
WINDS.  SOUNDINGS INDICATE A 3-4KFT MIXED LAYER WITH WINDS
INCREASING TO 50KTS+ AT TOP WITH 30-35KTS AT THE SFC BY 12Z ON
SUNDAY AT KMCW.  GIVEN THE FOOT OF SNOW IN NORTHERN IA ALONG WITH
THE NEW SNOW FROM TODAY AND THESE STRONG WINDS.  HAVE OPTED FOR A
BLIZZARD WARNING ACRS THE FAVORED FLAT/OPEN TERRAIN OF NORTH CENTRAL
IA TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY. EXPECT WORST CONDITIONS FROM 3 AM EARLY
SUNDAY MORNING TO 3 PM ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON WHEN WINDS SHOULD BE THE
STRONGEST.  VISIBILITIES LIKELY BE NEAR ZERO DURING THIS TIME WITH
SUBSTANTIAL DRIFTING OF SNOW ACRS HIGHWAYS WITH TRAVEL EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE. WIND CHILLS WILL ALSO BE BITTERLY COLD
WITH VALUES FROM -25 TO -40 BELOW ZERO. JUST SOUTH AND EAST OF THIS
WARNING AREA...HAVE ISSUED A BLIZZARD WATCH.  THIS AREA WAS SOMEWHAT
OF A TRANSITION LOCATIONS FROM MIXED PCPN TO SNOW DURING THE LAST
STORM.  THERE IS GENERALLY 4 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW COVER BUT IT IS A
BIT HEAVIER/CRUSTY.  REMAINDER OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN IA HAD
PRIMARILY FZRA/IP FROM LAST EVENT AND EXPECT LITTLE ADDITIONAL SNOW
TODAY...THEREFORE BLOWING SNOW MUCH MORE LIMITED.  HOWEVER...WIND
CHILLS WILL BE VERY COLD IN THESE LOCATIONS AND HAVE GONE WITH AN
ADVISORY FROM I80 CORRIDOR ON SOUTH FROM TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY FOR
PROLONGED PERIOD OF BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS.

THE WINDS ARE FORECAST TO BEGIN SUBSIDING ON SUNDAY EVENING AS HIGH
PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE STATE.  TEMPS ON SUNDAY NIGHT WILL BE WELL
BELOW ZERO WITH MOST LOCATIONS FROM -10 TO -20 FOR AIR TEMPS AS
SKIES CLEAR AND WINDS SUBSIDE.  WL SEE WAA BEGIN ON MONDAY AS
SOUTHERLY WINDS DEVELOP IN RESPONSE TO INCREASING THICKNESSES AS
WESTERN TROF DEEPENS.  INITIAL SHORTWAVE ON MONDAY NIGHT ALONG WITH
STRONG LOW LEVEL JET AND INCREASING MOISTURE HELP TO PRODUCE SOME
LGT SNOW ACRS CNTRL/NORTHERN IA BY LATE MONDAY NIGHT.  THE THREAT OF
PCPN WL PERSIST INTO TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT AS SOUTHWEST FLOW
PERSIST AHEAD OF AN EJECTING SHORTWAVE.  SOME ACCUMULATING SNOWS MAY
ONCE AGAIN VISIT THE STATE...ESPECIALLY THE SOUTHEAST HALF.  LITTLE
CHANGE IN THE FORECAST BEYOND THIS POINT AS COLD WEATHER PERSISTS.

&&

.AVIATION...20/18Z
MAIN SNOW BAND FOR THE DAY HAS A BACK EDGE ABOUT TO PASS KMCW AND
KDSM. LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE BEHIND THIS FOR A FEW MORE
HOURS...WITH IFR AND LIFR CONDITIONS POSSIBLE. NW WINDS INCREASING
WEST TO EAST BETWEEN 18-00Z WILL START KICKING SNOW INTO THE AIR.
EXPECT THAT BY TONIGHT WITH SUSTAINED WINDS 20 TO 25KT AND GUSTS 30
TO 35KT...THERE WILL BE REDUCTIONS IN VSBY AT NRN SITES DUE TO
BLOWING SNOW...WHICH COULD GO AS LOW AS 1/4 MILE. THESE CONDITIONS
WILL HOLD THROUGH 18Z.

&&

.DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY ALONG AND
NORTH OF A LINE FROM ATLANTIC TO WEBSTER CITY AND HAMPTON UNTIL 6 PM
TODAY.

BLIZZARD WARNING ALONG AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM SAC CITY TO WEBSTER
CITY AND HAMPTON 6 PM SATURDAY TO 6 PM SUNDAY.

BLIZZARD WATCH ALONG THE HIGHWAY 30 CORRIDOR AND WATERLOO AREA 6 PM
SATURDAY TO 6 PM SUNDAY.

WIND CHILL ADVISORY ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE 80 CORRIDOR 6
PM SATURDAY TO 6PM SUNDAY.

&&

UPDATE...MOYER
SHORT TERM...LEE
LONG TERM...COGIL
AVIATION...MOYER

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 20, 11:12 AM CST, 48 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1112 AM CST SAT DEC 20 2008

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>026-033>036-211715-
EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-
POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-SAC-CALHOUN-WEBSTER-HAMILTON-
1112 AM CST SAT DEC 20 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

SNOW IS FORECAST TODAY WITH MODERATE ACCUMULATIONS. NORTHWEST
WINDS WILL INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN
OVERNIGHT. CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WITH LIMITED
VISIBILITIES IS FORECAST TONIGHT. BITTER COLD WIND CHILLS ARE ALSO
EXPECTED BY TONIGHT. DANGEROUS CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED LATER
TONIGHT FROM THE COMBINATION OF VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AND NEAR
WHITEOUT CONDITIONS. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT TODAY
WITH A BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT TONIGHT. PLEASE REFER TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES FOR
FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY WITH VERY
STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS. BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS AND NEAR ZERO
VISIBILITY DUE TO BLOWING SNOW WILL PRODUCE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS.
TRAVEL WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE AS DRIFTING
WILL OCCUR QUICKLY. CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO BEGIN IMPROVING ON
SUNDAY EVENING.

A BLIZZARD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA ON SUNDAY. PLEASE REFER TO
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES FOR
FURTHER DETAILS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

A CONFERENCE CALL FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATORS WILL BE
CONDUCTED AT 2 PM TODAY.

REPORTS OF SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED AND APPRECIATED.

IAZ027-028-037>039-047>050-211715-
BUTLER-BREMER-HARDIN-GRUNDY-BLACK HAWK-BOONE-STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-
1112 AM CST SAT DEC 20 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

SNOW IS FORECAST TODAY WITH LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS. NORTHWEST WINDS
WILL INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OVERNIGHT.
CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WITH LIMITED VISIBILITIES
IS FORECAST TONIGHT. BITTER COLD WIND CHILLS ARE ALSO EXPECTED BY
TONIGHT. DANGEROUS CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED LATER TONIGHT FROM THE
COMBINATION OF VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AND NEAR WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS. A BLIZZARD WATCH IS IN EFFECT TONIGHT. PLEASE REFER TO
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES FOR
FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY WITH VERY
STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS. BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS AND LIMITED VISIBILITY
DUE TO BLOWING SNOW WILL PRODUCE NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. TRAVEL
WILL BE DIFFICULT AS DRIFTING WILL OCCUR QUICKLY ACROSS ROADS AND
HIGHWAYS. CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO BEGIN IMPROVING ON SUNDAY
EVENING.

A BLIZZARD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA ON SUNDAY. PLEASE REFER
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES
FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

A CONFERENCE CALL FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATORS WILL BE
CONDUCTED AT 2 PM TODAY.

REPORTS OF SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED AND APPRECIATED.

IAZ059>062-071>075-081>086-092>097-211715-
DALLAS-POLK-JASPER-POWESHIEK-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-MARION-MAHASKA-
ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-DECATUR-
WAYNE-APPANOOSE-DAVIS-
1112 AM CST SAT DEC 20 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

SOME LIGHT SNOW IS FORECAST TODAY AND ANY ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE
LIGHT. HOWEVER...STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS ARE FORECAST TO DEVELOP BY
LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. AS ARCTIC AIR SURGES INTO THE
AREA...WIND CHILLS WILL PLUMMET WELL BELOW ZERO TONIGHT. A WIND
CHILL ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE AREA TONIGHT. PLEASE REFER
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES
FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

THE LOW WIND CHILLS WILL PERSIST INTO SUNDAY AS STRONG NORTHWEST
WINDS MAINTAIN AT 25 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH. SOME
IMPROVEMENT IS EXPECTED BY SUNDAY EVENING AS HIGH PRESSURE MOVES
INTO THE STATE.

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA ON SUNDAY. PLEASE
REFER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT
WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

A CONFERENCE CALL FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATORS WILL BE
CONDUCTED AT 2 PM TODAY.

REPORTS OF SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED AND APPRECIATED.

IAZ044>046-211715-
CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-
1112 AM CST SAT DEC 20 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

SNOW IS FORECAST TODAY WITH LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS. NORTHWEST WINDS
WILL INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OVERNIGHT.
CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WITH LIMITED VISIBILITY IS
LIKELY THIS AFTERNOON AND IS POSSIBLE TONIGHT. BITTER COLD WIND
CHILLS ARE ALSO EXPECTED BY TONIGHT. DANGEROUS CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED LATER TONIGHT FROM THE COMBINATION OF VERY COLD
TEMPERATURES AND NEAR WHITEOUT CONDITIONS. A WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORY FOR BLOWING SNOW IS IN EFFECT FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND A BLIZZARD
WATCH IS IN EFFECT TONIGHT. PLEASE REFER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY WITH VERY
STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS. BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS AND LIMITED VISIBILITY
DUE TO BLOWING SNOW WILL PRODUCE NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. TRAVEL
WILL BE DIFFICULT AS DRIFTING WILL OCCUR QUICKLY ACROSS ROADS AND
HIGHWAYS. CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO BEGIN IMPROVING ON SUNDAY
EVENING.

A BLIZZARD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA ON SUNDAY. PLEASE REFER
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES
FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

A CONFERENCE CALL FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATORS WILL BE
CONDUCTED AT 2 PM TODAY.

REPORTS OF SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED AND APPRECIATED.

IAZ057-058-070-211715-
AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-CASS-
1112 AM CST SAT DEC 20 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

SOME LIGHT SNOW IS FORECAST TODAY AND ANY ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE
LESS THAN TWO INCHES. HOWEVER...STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS ARE FORECAST TO
DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND CAUSE AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW AND REDUCED
VISIBILITY UNDER ONE HALF MILE IN OPEN AREAS. AS ARCTIC AIR SURGES
INTO THE AREA...WIND CHILLS WILL PLUMMET WELL BELOW ZERO TONIGHT.
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BLOWING SNOW IS IN EFFECT THROUGH
THIS AFTERNOON AND A WIND CHILL ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE
AREA TONIGHT. PLEASE REFER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE
AT WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

THE LOW WIND CHILLS WILL PERSIST INTO SUNDAY AS STRONG NORTHWEST
WINDS MAINTAIN AT 25 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH. SOME
IMPROVEMENT IS EXPECTED BY SUNDAY EVENING AS HIGH PRESSURE MOVES
INTO THE STATE.

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA ON SUNDAY. PLEASE
REFER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT
WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

A CONFERENCE CALL FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATORS WILL BE
CONDUCTED AT 2 PM TODAY.

REPORTS OF SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED AND APPRECIATED.

MOYER

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 20, 10:43 AM CST, 1 hour 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1043 AM CST SAT DEC 20 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1042 AM     SNOW             CLARION                 42.73N 93.73W
12/20/2008  E0.3 INCH        WRIGHT             IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

&&

STEACHOU

Local storm report, Dec 20, 10:53 AM CST, 1 hour 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1053 AM CST SAT DEC 20 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1053 AM     SNOW             OGDEN                   42.04N 94.03W
12/20/2008  E0.5 INCH        BOONE              IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            VSBY LESS THAN 1 MILE

&&

STEACHOU

Local storm report, Dec 20, 11:09 AM CST, 51 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1109 AM CST SAT DEC 20 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1108 AM     SNOW             MASON CITY              43.15N 93.20W
12/20/2008  E0.5 INCH        CERRO GORDO        IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

STEACHOU

Local storm report, Dec 20, 11:27 AM CST, 33 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1127 AM CST SAT DEC 20 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1126 AM     SNOW             WEBSTER CITY            42.46N 93.82W
12/20/2008  E0.3 INCH        HAMILTON           IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            1 MILE VSBY

&&

STEACHOU

Local storm report, Dec 20, 11:47 AM CST, 13 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1147 AM CST SAT DEC 20 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1146 AM     SNOW             NEVADA                  42.02N 93.45W
12/20/2008  E0.5 INCH        STORY              IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

&&

STEACHOU

Local storm report, Dec 20, 11:53 AM CST, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1153 AM CST SAT DEC 20 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1151 AM     BLIZZARD         GOWRIE                  42.28N 94.29W
12/20/2008                   WEBSTER            IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            100 FEET VSBY

&&

STEACHOU

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

20 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Emmet

When: December 20, 12:00 PM CST to December 21, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Emmet forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.378, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Palo Alto

When: December 20, 12:00 PM CST to December 21, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Palo Alto forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.082, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Kossuth

When: December 20, 12:00 PM CST to December 21, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Kossuth forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.204, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Winnebago

When: December 20, 12:00 PM CST to December 21, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Winnebago forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.378, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Hancock

When: December 20, 12:00 PM CST to December 21, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Hancock forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.082, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Pocahontas

When: December 20, 12:00 PM CST to December 21, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Pocahontas forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.734, -94.679 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Humboldt

When: December 20, 12:00 PM CST to December 21, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Humboldt forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.777, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Wright

When: December 20, 12:00 PM CST to December 21, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Wright forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.733, -93.735 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Sac

When: December 20, 12:00 PM CST to December 21, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Sac forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.386, -95.105 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Calhoun

When: December 20, 12:00 PM CST to December 21, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.385, -94.640 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Webster

When: December 20, 12:00 PM CST to December 21, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Webster forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.428, -94.182 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Hamilton

When: December 20, 12:00 PM CST to December 21, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Worth

When: December 20, 2:00 PM CST to December 21, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Worth forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.377, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Cerro Gordo

When: December 20, 2:00 PM CST to December 21, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Cerro Gordo forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.082, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Franklin

When: December 20, 2:00 PM CST to December 21, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Franklin forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.733, -93.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Butler

When: December 20, 2:00 PM CST to December 21, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Butler forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.732, -92.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Bremer

When: December 20, 2:00 PM CST to December 21, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Bremer forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.775, -92.318 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Hardin

When: December 20, 2:00 PM CST to December 21, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Hardin forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.240 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Grundy

When: December 20, 2:00 PM CST to December 21, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Grundy forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.402, -92.791 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Black Hawk

When: December 20, 2:00 PM CST to December 21, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Black Hawk forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.470, -92.309 (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

Every storm in Iowa in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, December 2008

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: 138507, 138508, 138509, 138510, 138511, 138512, 138513, 138514, 138515, 138516, 138517, 138518, 138523, 138524, 138525, 138526, 138527, 138528, 138529, 138530.