A low pressure system deepened and moved quickly across the central plains states during the evening hours of January 6th and the morning hours of January 7th. This spread snow across parts of northeast Iowa.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 ARX wrote it up.
A low pressure system deepened and moved quickly across the central plains states during the evening hours of January 6th and the morning hours of January 7th. This spread snow across parts of northeast Iowa. Increasing winds in the morning hours of the 7th caused blowing and drifting snow. This reduced visibilities and created hazardous travel conditions across Mitchell, Floyd, and Fayette Counties.
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 La Crosse, WI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 6, 3:12 PM CST, 2 hours 23 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
312 PM CST WED JAN 6 2010
.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY
MAIN FORECAST CONCERN IS WINTER STORM TONIGHT AND INTO THURSDAY.
LATEST WATER VAPOR SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATING VIGOROUS SHORTWAVE
TROUGH OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS STATES. LATEST MOSAIC RADAR
INDICATING SNOW FALLING OVER PORTIONS OF THE DAKOTAS...WESTERN IOWA
AND WESTERN MINNESOTA IN ASSOCIATION WITH SHORTWAVE TROUGH.
THOUGH...THE SNOW IS HAVING A HARD TIME MOVING EASTWARD...AS
NORTHEASTERLY FLOW IS EVAPORATING MOISTURE OVER FORECAST
AREA. THIS IS EVIDENT OF THE LATEST VAD WIND PROFILER FROM KARX
RADAR.
THE 06.12Z GFS AND NAM ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT IN MOVING SHORTWAVE
TROUGH OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS INTO THE FORECAST AREA TONIGHT INTO
THURSDAY. NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE DETERMINISTIC
MODEL RUNS...AS BOTH MODELS ARE IN DECENT AGREEMENT IN DEVELOPING A
SWATH OF ACCUMULATING SNOW OVER MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA...
ESPECIALLY SOUTHERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA.
TONIGHT AND THURSDAY...SHORTWAVE TROUGH OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS
MOVES SOUTHEAST AND DIGS TROUGH OVER THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY BY 00Z
FRIDAY. BOTH THE 06.00Z GFS AND NAM INDICATING STRONG/DEEP QG FORCING
AND VERTICAL MOTION PER TIME HEIGHT CROSS SECTIONS ACROSS FORECAST
AREA TONIGHT AND THURSDAY. BIG CONCERN WILL BE TIMING OF
SATURATION NEAR THE BOUNDARY LAYER THIS EVENING...AS BOTH MODELS
INDICATING SHALLOW DRY AIRMASS FROM NEAR THE SURFACE TO 825MB. AS
SOON AS SATURATION OCCURS...EXPECT SNOW TO RAPIDLY INCREASE...
ESPECIALLY OVER THE WESTERN AND SOUTHERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA.
HAVE MADE MINOR CHANGES TO DELAYING THE ONSET OF SNOW ACROSS PORTIONS
OF THE EASTERN FORECAST AREA.
THE 06.00Z GFS AND NAM BUFKIT FORECAST SOUNDINGS INDICATE DEEP OMEGA
OVER THE DENDRITE GROWTH ZONE FROM 00Z TO 06Z THURSDAY...THIS WILL
GIVE HIGH SNOWFALL RATIOS OF 15 TO 20:1 OVER THE WESTERN AND
SOUTHERN FORECAST AREA. AT THIS TIME...SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL
GENERALLY BE 5 TO 8 INCHES IN THE WARNED AREA...WITH 2 TO 6 INCHES
OVER THE ADVISORY AREA. WILL MAKE NO CHANGES TO THE HEADLINES.
NEXT CONCERN WITH IMPENDING WINTER STORM IS BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF
SNOW...ESPECIALLY IN HIGHER TERRAIN AND OPEN AREAS. BOTH MODELS ARE
INDICATING SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT FORCE OF 35 TO 40 UBARS/KM OVER
FORECAST AREA...AND FORECAST BUFKIT SOUNDINGS INDICATE MEAN ABSOLUTE
TRANSFER OF 25 TO 30 KNOTS ACROSS SOUTHERN HALF OF FORECAST AREA BY
15Z THURSDAY. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 35 KNOTS AND
CREATE BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF NEW OR FALLING SNOW IN OPEN AREAS AND
HIGHER TERRAIN.
COLDER AIR ADVECTS INTO FORECAST AREA ON BACKSIDE OF SHORTWAVE
TROUGH LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND INTO SATURDAY MORNING.
TEMPERATURES FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY WILL REMAIN WELL BELOW NORMAL
ACROSS FORECAST AREA. COMBINED WITH SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF 10 TO
20 MPH FROM THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY...APPARENT TEMPERATURES WILL
FALL INTO THE MINUS 20S ACROSS MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA. WIND
CHILL ADVISORIES WILL MOST LIKELY BE NEEDED THURSDAY NIGHT INTO
FRIDAY ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA.
.LONG TERM...SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY
MAIN FORECAST CONCERNS ARE TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE PERIOD. THE
06.00Z GFS AND ECMWF ARE IN PRETTY GOOD AGREEMENT WITH OVERALL UPPER
LEVEL PATTERN THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD...AS BOTH MODELS INDICATE
NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST AND GREAT LAKES REGION
THROUGH MONDAY...THEN BUILD UPPER LEVEL RIDGE INTO THE NORTHERN
PLAINS TUESDAY AND INTO WEDNESDAY. BOTH THE 06.00Z GFS AND ECMWF
INDICATING A WEAK SHORTWAVE TROUGH EMBEDDED IN NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT
TO TRACK ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS AND GREAT LAKES REGION SUNDAY
INTO MONDAY. BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IS ECMWF IS MORE AMPLIFIED WITH
SHORTWAVE TROUGH THAN THE GFS. THOUGH...BOTH MODELS ARE INDICATING
A LACK OF SATURATION IN ASSOCIATION WITH SHORTWAVE TROUGH. AT THIS
TIME...FLURRIES WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS FORECAST AREA AND WILL
INTRODUCE SMALL CHANCES ACROSS FORECAST AREA MONDAY. BOTH THE 06.00Z
GFS AND ECMWF ARE INDICATING WARMER AIR ADVECTING INTO THE FORECAST
AREA UNDERNEATH UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BUILDING INTO THE NORTHERN PLAINS
AND GREAT LAKES REGION TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. BOTH THE MODELS
INDICATING 850MB TEMPERATURES WARMING TO AROUND ZERO DEGREES CELSIUS
TO PLUS THREE DEGREES CELSIUS OVER FORECAST AREA BY 12Z WEDNESDAY.
THIS WILL ALLOW FOR TEMPERATURES TO MODERATE AND BE SLIGHTLY ABOVE
NORMAL TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY.
&&
.AVIATION...LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY
CURRENTLY WATCHING A STRENGTHENING AREA OF LOW PRESSURE OVER
SOUTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA AND ASSOCIATED SNOW SHIELD OUT AHEAD OF IT
ACROSS WESTERN MN THROUGH WESTERN IA/EASTERN NEB. THE LOW WILL MOVE
SOUTHEAST INTO IA THIS EVENING AND INTO IL BY THURSDAY MORNING. WITH
THIS TRACK... LIGHT SNOW IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD EAST INTO THE KRST
TAF SITE AROUND 07.00Z OR 7 PM...THEN DROP INTO MVFR CONDITIONS WITH
ACCUMULATING SNOW BY MIDNIGHT....THEN LIFR CONDITIONS AROUND 09Z AND
CONTINUING THROUGH NOON THURSDAY. CURRENT THINKING IS THAT 3-4
INCHES OF SNOWFALL IS POSSIBLE THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING. THE
ACCUMULATING SNOW IS EXPECTED TO TAPER OFF DURING THE MORNING...BUT
ARCTIC AIR RUSHING INTO THE AREA WILL PRODUCE VERY GUSTY CONDITIONS
WITH SOME BLOWING/DRIFTING SNOW EXPECTED.
FURTHER EAST AT KLSE...DUE TO THE DRIER AIR IN PLACE...ONSET OF
LIGHT SNOW WILL BE BETWEEN 9 PM AND MIDNIGHT TONIGHT...THEN DROPPING
INTO MVFR CONDITIONS. BULK OF ACCUMULATING SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BE
BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 6 AM WITH CONDITIONS DETERIORATING INTO IFR
CONDITIONS...THEN SLOWLY TAPERING OFF BY NOON. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS
TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY EXPECTED TO BE AROUND 3 INCHES. LIKE KRST...
GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25KT EXPECTED TO KICK IN 7-8 AM WITH
BLAST OF ARCTIC AIR. THIS IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE SOME LOCALIZED
DRIFTING OF THE SNOW.
&&
.ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST THURSDAY FOR WIZ053-
WIZ054-WIZ055-WIZ061.
MN...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST THURSDAY FOR MNZ086-
MNZ087-MNZ094-MNZ095.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST THURSDAY FOR MNZ096.
IA...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 PM CST THURSDAY FOR IAZ008-IAZ009-
IAZ018-IAZ019.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST THURSDAY FOR IAZ010-
IAZ011.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 PM CST THURSDAY FOR IAZ029-IAZ030.
&&
SHORT/LONG TERM...DTJ
AVIATION..........DASHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 346 PM CST WED JAN 6 2010 IAZ008-009-018-019-029-030-071200- CHICKASAW-CLAYTON-FAYETTE-FLOYD-HOWARD-MITCHELL- 346 PM CST WED JAN 6 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PARTS OF NORTHEAST IOWA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT. A POTENT WINTER WEATHER SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH IOWA AND INTO ILLINOIS TONIGHT. SNOW WILL SPREAD INTO THE AREA AND WILL PERSIST THROUGH TONIGHT. 3 TO LOCALLY 6 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY A WINTER STORM WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 6 PM THURSDAY. EXPECT SNOW TO GRADUALLY DIMINISH THURSDAY...WITH AN ADDITIONAL INCH OR TWO OF ACCUMULATION. ALTHOUGH THE SNOW WILL BE DIMINISHING...AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AS NORTHWEST WINDS INCREASE. ANOTHER PERIOD OF DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS IS POSSIBLE FROM THURSDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NO ACTION IS NECESSARY AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER...ANY SNOWFALL REPORTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... NO CALL IS SCHEDULED. IAZ010-011-MNZ086-087-094>096-WIZ053>055-061-071200- ALLAMAKEE-CRAWFORD-DODGE-FILLMORE-GRANT-HOUSTON-MOWER-OLMSTED- RICHLAND-VERNON-WINNESHIEK- 346 PM CST WED JAN 6 2010 CORRECTED TONIGHT FOR THE PROPER HEADLINE INFORMATION THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PARTS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...NORTHEAST IOWA...AND SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT. A POTENT WINTER WEATHER SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH IOWA AND INTO ILLINOIS TONIGHT. SNOW WILL SPREAD INTO THE AREA AND WILL PERSIST THROUGH TONIGHT. 2 TO LOCALLY 4 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY CONTINUES UNTIL 6 PM THURSDAY. EXPECT SNOW TO GRADUALLY DIMINISH THURSDAY...WITH AN ADDITIONAL INCH OR TWO OF ACCUMULATION. ALTHOUGH THE SNOW WILL BE DIMINISHING...AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AS NORTHWEST WINDS INCREASE. ANOTHER PERIOD OF DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS IS POSSIBLE FROM THURSDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NO ACTION IS NECESSARY AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER...ANY SNOWFALL REPORTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... NO CALL IS SCHEDULED. MNZ079-088-WIZ017-029-032>034-041>044-071200- ADAMS-BUFFALO-CLARK-JACKSON-JUNEAU-LA CROSSE-MONROE-TAYLOR- TREMPEALEAU-WABASHA-WINONA- 346 PM CST WED JAN 6 2010 CORRECTED FOR CORRECT GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PARTS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...AND SOUTHWEST INTO CENTRAL WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A POTENT WINTER WEATHER SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH IOWA AND INTO ILLINOIS TONIGHT...AND WILL SPREAD SNOW INTO THE AREA. UP TO 2 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE...WITH THE GREATEST AMOUNTS SOUTH AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 94. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY EXPECT SNOW TO GRADUALLY DIMINISH THURSDAY...WITH AN ADDITIONAL INCH OR TWO OF ACCUMULATION. IN ADDITION TO THE SNOW...PLAN ON PATCHY BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. ANOTHER PERIOD OF DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS IS POSSIBLE DURING FRIDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NO ACTION IS NECESSARY AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER...ANY SNOWFALL REPORTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FROM TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... NO CALL IS SCHEDULED. 04/DAS/AJ
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
The Charles City automated weather observing system reported a wind gust of 38 miles per hour and visibility reduced to three quarters of a mile.
The Oelwein automated weather observing system reported a wind gust of 38 miles per hour and visibility reduced to one mile.
The Charles City automated weather observing system reported a wind gust of 38 miles per hour and visibility reduced to three quarters of a mile.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, January 2010
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: 203620, 203621, 203619.