The seasons first strong push of warm air moved into Iowa during the overnight hours of the 1st into the 2nd. Temperatures rose through the night with readings soaring into the 60s to around 70 by the afternoon of the 2nd.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS DMX wrote it up.
The seasons first strong push of warm air moved into Iowa during the overnight hours of the 1st into the 2nd. Temperatures rose through the night with readings soaring into the 60s to around 70 by the afternoon of the 2nd. At the same time, dew point temperatures rose into the mid 50s across southern Iowa. Considerable snow remained on the ground before the warming took place. In addition, rivers were completely covered with ice from the cold temperatures of the preceding month. Rapid melt caused flooding over parts of central and southern Iowa as snow melt water flowed into the rivers rapidly. In addition, the rapid rise in water broke some of the ice free in the rivers and resulted in some ice jam flooding as well. Several highways were reported as having water flowing over them. Flash flooding occurred in Wapello and Marshall Counties due to ice action. There were several reports of washouts on gravel roads as soft soils were eroded by the flood waters. Considerable flooding took place in the Marion County area. Once the flooding occurred, cold temperatures and ice action caused water levels to remain high into the day on the 4th.
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 2, 2:48 PM CST, 1 hour 12 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 248 PM CST SUN MAR 2 2008 .DISCUSSION... SURFACE LOW PRESSURE OVER WEST CENTRAL IOWA WITH WARM FRONT EXTENDING EASTWARD THROUGH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST IOWA AND A COLD FRONT EXTENDING TO THE SOUTH. TEMPERATURES HAVE BECOME QUITE MILD IN THE WARM SECTOR WITH READINGS IN THE LOW TO MID 60S AND DEWPOINTS PUSHING INTO THE 50S. AIRMASS BEGINNING TO BECOME UNSTABLE IN THE WARM SECTOR AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. GOOD CONVERGENCE IS EXPECTED NEAR THE COLD FRONT AS IS SWINGS SOUTHEAST THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. THIS SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO SPARK OFF A FEW THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA WITH A FEW POSSIBLY BECOMING SEVERE. INCREASING CLOUDS AND A LINGERING SNOW FIELD MAY LIMIT THE POTENTIAL TO A DEGREE. THE PRIMARY FOCUS FOR THE FORECAST WILL BE TONIGHT WHEN THE BULK OF THE PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR. BESIDES THE SFC COLD ADVECTION ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLD FRONT...THE PRIMARY COLD ADVECTION OCCURS FROM 900-925 MB WITH A WARM LAYER REMAINING ABOVE THIS FOR SEVERAL MORE HOURS. THIS WILL CREATE PRECIPITATION TYPE CONCERNS DURING THE PERIOD WITH A TRANSITION FROM RAIN TO SLEET TO SNOW EXPECTED FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST. FREEZING RAIN IS NOT A PRIMARY CONCERN AT THE MOMENT FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS. FIRST THE MILD TEMPERATURES TODAY HAVE WARM GROUND TEMPERATURES AND SECOND ARE SURFACE TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY BE AT OR ABOVE FREEZING PRIOR TO THE TRANSITION TO SLEET AND SNOW. ANY PRECIPITATION THAT DOES OCCUR WILL BE CONVECTIVE DURING MUCH OF THE EVENT. DESPITE THIS...DO NOT EXPECT WARNING CRITERIA WINTER PRECIPITATION TO OCCUR DUE TO THE PROGRESSIVE NATURE OF THE SYSTEM AND THE DELAY OF TRANSITION TO SNOW. THE TRANSITION TIMEFRAME TO ALL SNOW LOOKS TO BE AROUND MIDNIGHT FROM WATERLOO TO DES MOINES TO CORNING. A COLD AND BREEZY MONDAY CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE WAKE OF THE SYSTEM WITH LIGHT SNOW LINGERING EARLY OVER THE FAR SOUTHEAST. THE UPPER LOW PASSING TO THE SOUTHEAST AND THROUGH THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY IS FORECAST TO REMAIN JUST FAR ENOUGH SOUTH TO NOT AFFECT THE AREA THOUGH CONTINUES TO LOOK LIKE A PRIME SEVERE WEATHER PRODUCER THROUGH THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. A CLIPPER DROPS SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE NORTHWEST FLOW TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY AND WILL BRING LOW CHANCES FOR SNOW. THE NEXT WAVE OF COLD AIR TO DROP SOUTH WILL MOVE THROUGH LATE THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT WITH THE LONG WAVE TROUGH SETTLING INTO THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PLAINS. IT WILL BE QUITE COOL ON FRIDAY BEFORE A WARMING TREND FOR THE WEEKEND WITH A TRANSITION TO ZONAL FLOW. && .HYDROLOGY... BASINS BETWEEN DSM AND OTM HAVE SNOW WATER EQUIVALENTS OF 2-4 INCHES BASED ON NOHRSC ESTIMATES THIS MORNING AND HAS GREATLY DECREASED WITH ACCELERATED MELTING TODAY. SOME ICE JAMMING IS EXPECTED IN ADDITION TO SNOW MELT RISES AND EXPECTED RAINFALL THIS EVENING. WILL CONTINUE MENTION IN THE HWO REGARDING CHARITON...S SKUNK AND DES RIVER TRIBS IN THESE AREAS. COULD BE PLENTY OF STANDING WATER TOO THAT HAS DIFFICULTY DRAINING DUE TO FULL SNOWPACKED DITCHES. && .AVIATION...02/18Z LOTS OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IS STREAMING NORTH AHEAD OF COLD FRONT...BUT IT IS SHALLOW. AFTER LONG TRACK OVER MELTING SNOW ...IT IS PRODUCING LOW CLOUDS AND FOG IN NRN IA...WITH IFR CONDITIONS. DRIZZLE AND LIGHT RAIN ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THROUGH THE AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING...PROLONGING IFR IN NORTH. FARTH S...SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOPED SE OF KDSM...WITH MVFR ASSOCIATED. AFTER THE FRONT...MAINLY 03Z-09Z A BAND OF SNOW WILL SPREAD EWD ACROSS CENTRAL IA PRODUCING IFR CIGS AND VISIBILITIES. MVFR FOLLOWING THEN CLEARING MON MORNING. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WX ADVY TONIGHT 00Z-12Z -CERRO GORDO-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN- CALHOUN-WEBSTER-HAMILTON-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE- BOONE-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE- WINTER WX ADVY TONIGHT 03Z-12Z -BLACK HAWK-BUTLER- BREMER-HARDIN-GRUNDY-STORY-MARSHALL-DALLAS-POLK-CASS-ADAIR- MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR- WINTER WX ADVY TONIGHT 06Z-15Z - TAMA-JASPER-POWESHIEK-MARION-MAHASKA-CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO- RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-APPANOOSE-DAVIS- && AVIATION...JUNGBLUTH SHORT TERM/LONG TERM...DONAVON
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 1100 AM CST SUN MAR 2 2008 IAZ004>007-015-016-023-024-033-031100- EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-POCAHONTAS- HUMBOLDT-SAC- 1100 AM CST SUN MAR 2 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST IOWA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT LIGHT RAIN WILL CHANGE TO LIGHT SNOW DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD VARY FROM A DUSTING TO TWO INCHES BEFORE THE PRECIPITATION ENDS AFTER MIDNIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. IAZ017-025>028-034>038-044>049-057>060-070>072-081-082-092-031100- CERRO GORDO-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-BUTLER-BREMER-CALHOUN-WEBSTER- HAMILTON-HARDIN-GRUNDY-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-BOONE-STORY- MARSHALL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS- UNION-TAYLOR- 1100 AM CST SUN MAR 2 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST...CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST IOWA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT RAIN DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON WILL MIX WITH SLEET...AND THEN CHANGE TO ALL SNOW THIS EVENING. ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD VARY FROM TWO TO FOUR INCHES...BUT LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE POSSIBLE. MOST OF THE SNOW WILL FALL IN JUST A FEW HOURS. WITH BRISK NORTHWEST WINDS AT SPEEDS OF 15 TO 30 MPH...VISIBILITIES MAY BE REDUCED TO A HALF MILE OR LESS DURING THE PERIODS OF MORE INTENSE SNOW. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA. PLEASE REFER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED...BUT SNOWFALL REPORTS ARE ALWAYS APPRECIATED AND ENCOURAGED. IAZ039-050-061-062-073>075-083>086-093>097-031100- BLACK HAWK-TAMA-JASPER-POWESHIEK-WARREN-MARION-MAHASKA-CLARKE- LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-APPANOOSE-DAVIS- 1100 AM CST SUN MAR 2 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN AND EASTERN IOWA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT FOR AREAS SOUTH OF I-80...ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS EVENING...WITH POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGING WINDS OR LARGE HAIL. LATER IN THE EVENING...RAIN WILL MIX WITH SLEET AND SNOW...AND THEN CHANGE TO ALL SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT. ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD VARY FROM ONE TO TWO INCHES...BUT LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS MAY OCCUR. MOST OF THE SNOW WILL FALL IN JUST A FEW HOURS...REDUCING VISIBILITY AND CAUSING SLICK CONDITIONS. IN ADDITION...WARM TEMPERATURES AGAIN TODAY ARE CAUSING SNOW MELT...SO SMALL STREAMS AND TRIBUTARIES MAY REACH BANK FULL. LOCALIZED MINOR FLOODING MAY OCCUR DUE TO PONDING OF WATER. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED FOR A SHORT TIME LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS EVENING...AND SNOWFALL REPORTS ARE ALWAYS APPRECIATED AND ENCOURAGED. JUNGBLUTH
The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 53 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:01 UTC.
8 flood, 5 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Water was reported flowing over Highway 30. In addition, water was flowing over Highway 65 near Zearing and just south of Colo. Numerous county roads have water over them.
Shallow water was flowing over county road D15. Water was forced onto highway by blocked culvert in the Alden area.
Water blocked at a culvert forced water onto Highway 14. Highway 175 also had water backed onto the road surface. Traffic was allowed to pass.
At least 3 inches of water was reported in the spotters basement, along with several other homes in Ottumwa neighborhood taking on water in basements.
Water was reported flowing over Highway 30.
Water reported over the road on county road T16. Traffic flow was not impeded however.
Wildwood Road in Ottumwa was closed from high water. Numerous other gravel roads in the county were closed due to water running over them. Some washouts were also reported.
Water was 3 feet deep with a wash out on 400th Street, at the intersection of 400th Street and Vail Ave. in southern Hamilton County. The shoulder was completely washed out as well.
Water was reported over Highway 92 due to the South River overflow at Ackworth.
The South River was over County Highway S23 southeast of Ackworth.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, March 2008
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: 73478, 73497, 73484, 73494, 73481, 73479, 73487, 73483, 73490, 73491, 73492, 73507, 73642.