Heavy Snow in Iowa, December 7 to 9, 2009

Name: Heavy Snow in Iowa, December 7 to 9, 2009
Start: 2009-12-07T23:00
End: 2009-12-09T06:00
Location: Iowa

December 7 to 9, 2009 · NWS DMX · 44 events in 44 counties and zones

S. the surface low reached Kansas during the morning of the 8th, eastern Kansas by evening, and tracked to northern Illinois before sunrise on the 8th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 44 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: $430,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 44

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 intense low pressure system moved into southern California during the afternoon and evening of the 7th, then tracked northeast across the central U.S. the surface low reached Kansas during the morning of the 8th, eastern Kansas by evening, and tracked to northern Illinois before sunrise on the 8th. The storm intensified rapidly, reaching 975 mb by the afternoon of the 9th as it crossed Lower Michigan. Snow broke out across Iowa during the overnight hours of the 7th into the early morning hours of the 8th. The snow continued through the day on the 8th. Northeast winds of 15 to 25 MPH caused drifting snow through the day and into the evening. Snowfall reached an inch per hour at times during several heavier waves of snowfall during the afternoon and evening of the 8th. A broad band of 8 to 16 inch snowfall totals were reported across much of the northwest two thirds of the state. There were isolated reports of thundersnow over southwest into central Iowa. Some of the heavier snowfall totals included 20 inches in Sac County at Schaller, 16.2 inches in Adams County at Corning, 16 inches in Cass County at Atlantic, 15.7 inches at the Des Moines Airport, and 15.3 inches in Windsor Heights, both in Polk County. The entire CWA received at least 4-6 inches from the storm over a 36 hour period. In terms of snowfall across the state, this storm produced the greatest snowfall /10.2 inches average/ of any storm since 1971. The snow became mixed with freezing rain and ice pellets over the southeast third of the state, and even turned to all freezing rain for a few hours southeast of a Lamoni to Ottumwa line. Ice accrual was generally under one tenth of an inch. Road conditions became hazardous with most businesses and schools closing by the early to mid afternoon hours of the 8th due to the poor conditions.

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 7, 7:37 PM CST, 3 hours 23 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 7, 7:37 PM CST, 3 hours 23 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
737 PM CST MON DEC 7 2009

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT/...
STRONG SHORTWAVE ROUNDING THE BASE OF THE LARGE POSITIVE TILT
LONGWAVE TROUGH OVER THE WRN CONUS WILL MOVE OVER THE SRN ROCKIES
TONIGHT. PLUME OF MOISTURE ALREADY BEING ADVECTED NORTHWARD AHEAD OF
THIS SYSTEM ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS. THETA-E ADVECTION AND
ISENTROPIC LIFT MOVE NORTH OVER IOWA...BUT OVERALL FORCING IS WEAK
THROUGH 12Z. MODEL SOUNDINGS QUICKLY SATURATE SW TO NE AFTER
MIDNIGHT...SO EXPECT LIGHT SNOW TO BEGIN FALLING DURING THIS TIME
FRAME. ACCUMULATIONS BY MORNING WILL ONLY BE AN INCH OR SO SOUTHWEST
TO A TRACE NORTHEAST.

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
FORECAST REMAINS FOCUSED ON MAJOR WINTER STORM TO IMPACT THE STATE
BEGINNING LATE TONIGHT AND LASTING THROUGH WEDNESDAY. MODELS HAVE
BEEN IN VERY GOOD AGREEMENT WITH TIMING AND PLACEMENT OF SNOW
DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE DAY TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT.
THEN...WINDS INCREASE LATE TUESDAY NIGHT AND MUCH OF THE DAY
WEDNESDAY.

VERY GOOD ISENTROPIC LIFT AHEAD OF THE LOW WITH ABUNDANT MOISTURE
AVAILABLE. BUFKIT SOUNDINGS/CROSS SECTION DEPICTING A LONG TIME
PERIOD OF WEAK OMEGA WITH RH VALUES ABOVE 90 PERCENT FOR MOST OF
TUESDAY AND TUESDAY EVENING...BUT NOT AN IMPRESSIVE BULLS-EYE.
GFS/NAM DEPICTING SOME WEAK ELEVATED CAPE BY 00Z WEDNESDAY DURING
THE HEIGHT OF THE OMEGA FIELD LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON. CROSS
SECTIONS OF SATURATED THETA-E AND EPV SHOWING WEAK SIGNAL OF CSI
RELEASE DURING THE SAME TIME FRAME...SO CANNOT RULE OUT THE
POTENTIAL FOR SOME ISOLATED CONVECTIVE ELEMENTS LATE TUESDAY
AFTERNOON/EARLY TUESDAY NIGHT. EVEN WITHOUT THIS CONVECTIVE
ELEMENT...THE 18-24 HOURS OF SNOWFALL WILL LEAD TO 8-12 INCHES BY
LATE TUESDAY NIGHT. SNOWFALL RATIOS RANGE FROM 10-1 TO 15-1
...WITH THE LOWEST RATIO ACROSS SOUTHERN IOWA. HOWEVER THE
GREATEST QPF IS ACROSS SOUTHERN IOWA...SO A LARGE SWATH OF THE
HEAVY SNOW IS ANTICIPATED ACROSS MUCH OF THE CWA. THE LATEST ECMWF
HAS A CLOSED 500MB LOW PRESSURE BY 00Z WED AND CONTINUES TO DEEPEN
TOWARD WEDNESDAY MORNING...WITH A SURFACE LOW PROJECTED DOWN BELOW
980MB. BUFR SOUNDINGS SHOWING MIXING LAYER TO AROUND 900MB...WITH
WINDS INCREASING OVERNIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY. 40-45KTS WINDS AT THE
TOP OF THE MIXING LAYER SO POTENTIALLY MIXING DOWN TO 50MPH WINDS
OR GREATER BY WEDNESDAY MORNING. PRESSURE GRADIENT DIFFERENCE IS
ABOUT 25 TO 28 MB BY WEDNESDAY MORNING FROM EAST TO WEST ACROSS
THE STATE...SO WITH THE AMOUNT AND TYPE OF SNOW ANTICIPATED DURING
THE DAY TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT...THE POTENTIAL FOR BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS EXIST LATE TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY.

HIGH PRESSURE DOMINATES THE EXTENDED PERIOD...WITH VERY COLD AIR
MASS IN PLACE BY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. SOME BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURES
ARE EXPECTED BY THURSDAY MORNING AND MAYBE EVEN FRIDAY MORNING
WITH THE FRESH SNOW PACK. NO MAJOR CHANGES TO THE EXTENDED.

&&

.AVIATION...
08/00Z...VFR WITH AREAS OF MVFR CONDS PREVAIL THIS EVE...BUT EXPECT
THAT TO CHANGE QUICKLY.  SEVERAL WEAK IMPULSES WILL LIFT NEWD WITH
ENTIRE STATE GOING MVFR BY MIDN WITH ST AND SOME -SN.  DTRTG CONDS
THRU THE DAY TUE WITH LIFR CONDS OVERSPREADING THE AREA AS THE DRY
PROGRESSES.  PCPN WILL BE SNOW FOR THE MOST PART...BUT SOME PL MAY
MIX IN IN THE KOTM AREA BY LATE AFTN.

&&

.DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 AM TUESDAY TO NOON CST WEDNESDAY FOR
ADAIR-ADAMS-APPANOOSE-AUDUBON-BLACK HAWK-BOONE-BREMER-BUTLER-
CALHOUN-CARROLL-CASS-CERRO GORDO-CLARKE-CRAWFORD-DALLAS-DAVIS-
DECATUR-EMMET-FRANKLIN-GREENE-GRUNDY-GUTHRIE-HAMILTON-HANCOCK-
HARDIN-HUMBOLDT-JASPER-KOSSUTH-LUCAS-MADISON-MAHASKA-MARION-
MARSHALL-MONROE-PALO ALTO-POCAHONTAS-POLK-POWESHIEK-RINGGOLD-SAC-
STORY-TAMA-TAYLOR-UNION-WAPELLO-WARREN-WAYNE-WEBSTER-WINNEBAGO-
WORTH-WRIGHT.

BLIZZARD WATCH FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
FOR ADAIR-ADAMS-APPANOOSE-AUDUBON-BLACK HAWK-BOONE-BREMER-BUTLER-
CALHOUN-CARROLL-CASS-CERRO GORDO-CLARKE-CRAWFORD-DALLAS-DAVIS-
DECATUR-EMMET-FRANKLIN-GREENE-GRUNDY-GUTHRIE-HAMILTON-HANCOCK-
HARDIN-HUMBOLDT-JASPER-KOSSUTH-LUCAS-MADISON-MAHASKA-MARION-
MARSHALL-MONROE-PALO ALTO-POCAHONTAS-POLK-POWESHIEK-RINGGOLD-SAC-
STORY-TAMA-TAYLOR-UNION-WAPELLO-WARREN-WAYNE-WEBSTER-WINNEBAGO-
WORTH-WRIGHT.

&&

SHORT TERM...MOYER
LONG TERM...PODRAZIK
AVIATION...MOYER

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 7, 3:59 PM CST, 7 hours 1 minute before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
359 PM CST MON DEC 7 2009

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075-081>086-
092>097-081200-
EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-
POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-BUTLER-BREMER-SAC-CALHOUN-
WEBSTER-HAMILTON-HARDIN-GRUNDY-BLACK HAWK-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-
BOONE-STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-JASPER-
POWESHIEK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-MARION-MAHASKA-ADAMS-UNION-
CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-APPANOOSE-
DAVIS-
359 PM CST MON DEC 7 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

SNOW IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD INTO SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL IOWA LATE
TONIGHT. A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE AREA.
PLEASE REFER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT
WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

AN INTENSE WINTER STORM SYSTEM WILL AFFECT ALL OF CENTRAL IOWA
FROM TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS ARE
FORECAST FROM HEAVY SNOW AND VERY STRONG WINDS. BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. A WINTER
STORM WARNING AND A BLIZZARD WATCH ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA.
PLEASE REFER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT
WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER REPORTS OF SNOWFALL AND OTHER WINTER WEATHER IMPACTS
WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED FROM TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

44 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Taylor

When: December 7, 11:00 PM CST to December 9, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Taylor forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.737, -94.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Ringgold

When: December 7, 11:00 PM CST to December 9, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Ringgold forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.735, -94.244 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Adams

When: December 7, 11:00 PM CST to December 9, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Adams forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.029, -94.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Union

When: December 7, 11:00 PM CST to December 9, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Union forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.028, -94.242 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Cass

When: December 7, 11:00 PM CST to December 9, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Cass forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.332, -94.928 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Adair

When: December 7, 11:00 PM CST to December 9, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Adair forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.331, -94.471 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Audubon

When: December 7, 11:00 PM CST to December 9, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Audubon forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.685, -94.906 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Guthrie

When: December 7, 11:00 PM CST to December 9, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Guthrie forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.684, -94.501 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Decatur

When: December 7, 11:00 PM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Decatur forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.738, -93.786 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Wayne

When: December 7, 11:00 PM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.740, -93.327 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Clarke

When: December 7, 11:00 PM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.029, -93.785 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Lucas

When: December 7, 11:00 PM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Lucas forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.029, -93.328 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Madison

When: December 7, 11:00 PM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.331, -94.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Warren

When: December 7, 11:00 PM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Warren forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.334, -93.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Marion

When: December 7, 11:00 PM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Marion forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.334, -93.099 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Dallas

When: December 7, 11:00 PM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Dallas forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.685, -94.040 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Polk

When: December 7, 11:00 PM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Polk forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.686, -93.573 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Jasper

When: December 7, 11:00 PM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Jasper forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.686, -93.054 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Crawford

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Crawford forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.037, -95.382 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Carroll

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Carroll forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.861 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Greene

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Greene forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.397 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Sac

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Sac forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.386, -95.105 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Calhoun

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.385, -94.640 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Webster

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Webster forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.428, -94.182 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Pocahontas

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Pocahontas forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.734, -94.679 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Humboldt

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Humboldt forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.777, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Boone

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.037, -93.932 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Story

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Story forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.036, -93.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Marshall

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Marshall forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.036, -92.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Hamilton

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Hardin

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Hardin forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.240 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Grundy

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Grundy forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.402, -92.791 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Black Hawk

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Black Hawk forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.470, -92.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Wright

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Wright forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.733, -93.735 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Franklin

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Franklin forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.733, -93.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Butler

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Butler forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.732, -92.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Bremer

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Bremer forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.775, -92.318 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Tama

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Tama forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Unknown
Coordinates: 42.080, -92.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Poweshiek

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Poweshiek forecast zone
Reported by: Unknown
Coordinates: 41.686, -92.531 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Kossuth

When: December 8, 2:00 AM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Kossuth forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Unknown
Coordinates: 43.204, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Hancock

When: December 8, 4:00 AM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Hancock forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.082, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Cerro Gordo

When: December 8, 4:00 AM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Cerro Gordo forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.082, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Winnebago

When: December 8, 4:00 AM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Winnebago forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.378, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Worth

When: December 8, 4:00 AM CST to December 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Worth forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.377, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Iowa in 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, December 2009

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: 198612, 198613, 198614, 198615, 198616, 198617, 198618, 198619, 198620, 198621, 198622, 198623, 198624, 198625, 198626, 198627, 198628, 198629, 198630, 198631, 198632, 198633, 198634, 198635, 198636, 198637, 198638, 198639, 198640, 198641, 198642, 198643, 198644, 198645, 198646, 198647, 198648, 203588, 203590, 203770, and more.