Blizzard in Iowa, January 26, 2014

Name: Blizzard in Iowa, January 26, 2014
Start: 2014-01-26T14:35
End: 2014-01-26T23:15
Location: Iowa

January 26, 2014 · NWS ARX · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 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: 8

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 ARX wrote it up.

Northeast Iowa was hit by a blizzard during the afternoon of January 26th. Sustained winds of 25 to 40 mph with gusts around 60 mph produced widespread whiteout conditions where the visibility was reduced to a quarter mile or less. The winds also caused severe drifting to occur, with drifts 8 to 10 feet high, making many roads impassable. Some roads remained closed into the 27th when a three mile long backup of vehicles occurred on U.S. Highway 63 in Chickasaw County. The Floyd Fire Department (Floyd County) provided shelter at its station for more than 35 stranded travelers. In both Floyd and Winneshiek Counties, over 20 vehicles became stuck in the snow. The stage was set for the blizzard to occur when a system passed across the region during the evening of the 25th and early morning of 26th and produced 2 to 3 inches of light fluffy snow. This snow then was used by the winds, along with additional falling light snow, to create the blizzard conditions behind a strong area of low pressure that moved across central Minnesota and northern Wisconsin. The highest measured wind gust was 62 mph from the automated weather observing equipment at the Charles City (Floyd County) airport.

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 La Crosse, WI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 26, 11:31 AM CST, 3 hours 4 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 26, 11:31 AM CST, 3 hours 4 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1131 AM CST SUN JAN 26 2014

.UPDATE...
ISSUED AT 959 AM CST SUN JAN 26 2014

BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IS A CAUSING SNOW COVERED AND SLIPPERY
ROADS OVER MUCH OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA INTO NORTHEAST IOWA AND FAR
SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN. VISIBILITIES HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO LESS THAN
A MILE AT TIMES IN OPEN AREAS. HAVE DECIDED TO START THE WINTER
STORM WARNING NOW ACROSS THESE AREAS. THE WORST CONDITIONS WILL BE
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...WHEN WHITE OUTS AND BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE. PLAN ON NORTHWEST WINDS INCREASING TO 25
TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 50 MPH MPH POSSIBLE. SNOW COVERED AND
SLICK ROADS HAVE BEEN REPORTED OVER MUCH OF WESTERN INTO CENTRAL
WISCONSIN...ESPECIALLY SECONDARY ROADS. LIGHT SNOW CONTINUES TO
FALL OVER NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN. HAVE STARTED THE WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORY NOW FOR THESE AREAS...BUT THE WORST CONDITIONS WILL BE
THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING AS A STRONG ARCTIC FRONT PUSHES
THROUGH THE REGION PRODUCING BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY)
ISSUED AT 345 AM CST SAT JAN 25 2014

THE IMPACTS FROM THIS STORM SYSTEM TODAY INTO TUESDAY CANNOT BE
UNDERSTATED. TRAVEL IS GOING TO BE IMPACTED...SIGNIFICANTLY FOR
SOUTHEAST MN/NORTHEAST - AND LIKELY IMPOSSIBLE IN RURAL AREAS BY
LATER IN THE AFTERNOON. THE COLD FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUE CAN
BE DEADLY IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

3 PROGGED ATTACK FROM OLD MAN WINTER IS UNDERWAY AS AN AREA OF SNOW
MAKES IT WAY SOUTHEAST ACROSS MN/IA. SOME SUB 1 MILE VISIBILITIES
WITH THE SNOW. THE SNOW WAS RESPONDING TO STRONG THERMODYNAMICS IN
THE 925-700 MB LAYER AND ISENTROPIC UPGLIDE ON THE 280-295 K SFCS.
IT ALSO HAS UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF A SHORTWAVE TROUGH
PUSHING SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS/MN WITH STRONG QG
CONVERGENCE THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE. ALL THIS LIFT IS MAXIMIZED
BETWEEN NOW AND 09-12Z. IF TRENDS CONTINUE...THE BULK OF THE
ACCUMULATING SNOWS WILL BE EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BY
12Z...EXITING INTO EASTERN WI BY 15Z. ITS MOVING PRETTY QUICK. 20
TO 1 RATIOS LOOK GOOD...AND SOME HINTS IN RAP/NAM12 BUFKIT SOUNDINGS
THAT THE DENDRITIC GROWTH ZONE COULD BE FAIRLY DEEP AT SOME
LOCATIONS. INCH PER HOUR RATES EARLY THIS MORNING ARE POSSIBLE...AND
ALREADY OCCURRING - PER MEDIA REPORT OUT OF AUSTIN. AMOUNTS FROM 2
TO 5 INCHES STILL LOOK. WILL BE ABLE TO CANCEL MOST...IF NOT ALL OF
THE ADVISORY BY 12-15Z.

WINDS WILL BE ON THE INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON AS THE SFC PRESSURE
GRADIENT TIGHTENS BETWEEN THE STORM SYSTEM/S DEPARTING SFC LOW AND
AN AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER SOUTHERN CANADA. SUBSIDENCE POST THE
SHORTWAVE AND STRONG QG DIVERGENCE WILL ACT TO MIX DOWN THE LOW
LEVEL WINDS...WITH BUFKIT SOUNDINGS MIXING DOWN UPWARD OF 45 KTS OF
WIND. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE IN THE USUAL PLACES...SOUTHEAST MN
AND NORTHEAST IA...MAXED THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THE EVENING. BLOWING
AND DRIFTING OF THE NEW SNOW WILL OCCUR...AND WHITEOUTS AND NEAR
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE ASSURED. VISIBILITIES LESS THAN 1/2 MILES
CAN BE EXPECTED...WITH ROADS DETERIORATING AND TRAVEL COULD BECOME
IMPOSSIBLE. THE QUESTION HERE IS WHETHER THE WINTER STORM WARNING
FOR SOUTHEAST MN/NORTHEAST IA SHOULD BE UPGRADED TO A BLIZZARD. IT
WILL NOT MEET THE TRADITIONAL DEFINITION AS FALLING SNOW WILL NOT BE
A FACTOR. WINDS AND VSBY RESTRICTIONS ARE LIKELY TO BE MET
THOUGH...AND IMPACTS WILL BE NEARLY AS BAD. THOUGHTS AT THE MOMENT
ARE TO HOLD WITH THE WARNING AND ADVISORY EAST OF IT AS IS...WITH
THE CAVEAT THAT THERE IS SOME POTENTIAL FOR AN UPGRADE...AND
POSSIBLE EXTENSION OF ANY WARNING EASTWARD.

THE ARCTIC...BITTER COLD ROLLS IN TONIGHT...WITH 850 MB TEMPS
BOTTOMING OUT FROM -28 TO -30 F MON MORNING. ECMWF 850 MB TEMP
ANOMALIES CONTINUE TO RUN FROM -2 TO -2.5 ON MONDAY. CLOUDS WILL
HANG AROUND MUCH OF TONIGHT...INHIBITING THE RADIATIONAL COOLING.
THAT WON/T BE THE CASE MONDAY NIGHT...AND WITH SOME FRESH SNOW
COVER...TEMPERATURES IN THE LOW 20S BELOW ZERO ARE LIKELY. THESE
WOULD BE THE COLDEST TEMPS OF THE WINTER SEASON FOR MANY LOCATIONS.
TEMPERATURES WON/T SEE ANYTHING ABOVE ZERO UNTIL LATER IN THE DAY
WED.

FACTOR IN THE WINDS FOR SUNDAY NIGHT - TUESDAY MORNING AND IT WILL
FEEL LIKE 30 TO 50 BELOW. THE WORST OF THE COLD WILL BE TUE MORNING.
HAVE ELECTED TO UPGRADE THE WIND CHILL WATCH TO WARNINGS AND
ADVISORIES. PARTS OF WESTERN WISCONSIN STAY A TAD WARMER THAN OUT
WEST...AND HAVE ELECTED TO GO WITH AN ADVISORY THERE FOR
TONIGHT/TUE. THESE COUNTIES COULD STILL TOUCH SUB -35 F WIND CHILLS
FROM A FEW HOURS MON MORNING - BUT PREDOMINANTLY THEY WILL BE WARMER
THAN THAT. A WARNING IS IN EFFECT ELSEWHERE...WITH WARNING FOR
EVERYONE AFTER 03Z TUE.

.LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY)
ISSUED AT 345 AM CST SUN JAN 26 2014

WEAK AND TEMPORARY RIDGING ON WED WILL HELP TEMPS VENTURE ABOVE
ZERO...LIKELY TOPPING OUT IN THE TEENS. NOT EXPECTING A LOT OF
IMPROVEMENT INTO THE UPCOMING WEEKEND THOUGH...WITH HIGHS LIKELY
HOLDING IN THE TEENS WITH LOWS BELOW ZERO.

MORE QUIET ON THE PRECIPITATION FRONT WITH THE GFS AND ECMWF HOLDING
A DRY FORECAST FOR MUCH OF THE WEEK. THE EXCEPTION WOULD BE A
SHORTWAVE THOUGH THAT COULD SPIN ACROSS THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
VALLEY WED NIGHT/THU MORNING. A COLD FRONT WOULD SLIP ACROSS THE
REGION...AND COULD BRING SOME LIGHT SNOW/MINOR ACCUMULATIONS. BOTH
MODELS WOULD KEEP THE STRONGER/DEEPER FORCING ACROSS CANADA.

&&

.AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY AFTERNOON)
ISSUED AT 1131 AM CST SUN JAN 26 2014

ARCTIC FRONT SLATED TO PASS THROUGH THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON
CREATING RESULTING IN WIDESPREAD IMPACTS TO KRST/KLSE.

AT KRST...FRONT WILL PASS THROUGH BETWEEN 21 AND 22Z...AND GUSTS
UP TO 45 KTS WILL ACCOMPANY IT. UPSTREAM OBS ARE AROUND 40 KTS.
THERE WILL ALSO BE VIGOROUS SNOW SHOWERS WITH ITS PASSAGE...WHICH
WILL FURTHER REDUCE VISIBILITIES AT TIMES. CONSIDERING THE
SIGNIFICANT BLOWING/DRIFTING SNOW AND FALLING SNOW...VISIBILITIES
WILL AT TIMES BE REDUCED TO 1/4 MILE. CEILINGS ARE LIKELY TO BE
MVFR...THEN IMPROVE TO VFR OVERNIGHT. BLOWING SNOW WILL BE A
PROBLEM THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING...AND WINDS SHOULD SUBSIDE TO
LESS THAN 25 KTS BY MONDAY MORNING.

AT KLSE...STILL LOOKING AT STRONG WIND GUSTS AS FRONT MOVES
THROUGH BETWEEN 22 AND 01Z AND SNOW SHOWERS TO FURTHER REDUCE
VISIBILITY. THE AIRFIELD IS A BIT MORE SHELTERED...BUT STILL WILL
HAVE IFR VISIBILITIES AT TIMES DUE TO BLOWING SNOW. CEILINGS
SHOULD LIFT TO VFR LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND THEN REMAIN SO
THROUGH THE PERIOD.

&&

.ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR WIZ061.

     WIND CHILL WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON CST TUESDAY FOR
     WIZ017-029-032>034.

     WIND CHILL WARNING FROM 9 PM MONDAY TO NOON CST TUESDAY FOR
     WIZ041>044-053>055-061.

     WIND CHILL ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 PM CST MONDAY FOR
     WIZ041>044-053>055-061.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR WIZ017-
     029-032>034-041>044-053>055.

MN...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR MNZ086-087-
     094-095.

     WIND CHILL WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON CST TUESDAY FOR
     MNZ079-086>088-094-095.

     WIND CHILL WARNING FROM 9 PM MONDAY TO NOON CST TUESDAY FOR
     MNZ096.

     WIND CHILL ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 PM CST MONDAY FOR
     MNZ096.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR MNZ079-
     088-096.

IA...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR IAZ008>011-
     018-019-029-030.

     WIND CHILL WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON CST TUESDAY FOR
     IAZ008>010-018-019-029.

     WIND CHILL WARNING FROM 9 PM MONDAY TO NOON CST TUESDAY FOR
     IAZ011-030.

     WIND CHILL ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 PM CST MONDAY FOR
     IAZ011-030.

&&

UPDATE...WETENKAMP
SHORT TERM...RIECK
LONG TERM....RIECK
AVIATION...ZT

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 26, 10:21 AM CST, 4 hours 14 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1021 AM CST SUN JAN 26 2014

IAZ008>010-018-019-029-030-MNZ086-087-094-095-WIZ061-271200-
MITCHELL-HOWARD-WINNESHIEK-FLOYD-CHICKASAW-FAYETTE-CLAYTON-DODGE-
OLMSTED-MOWER-FILLMORE-GRANT-
1021 AM CST SUN JAN 26 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST
IOWA...SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING.
CONDITIONS WILL RAPIDLY DETERIORATE THIS AFTERNOON AS STRONG
NORTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH GUSTING TO 4O TO 50 MPH WILL
CREATE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW...RESULTING IN WHITE-OUTS AND
NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. SOME ROADS ARE LIKELY TO BECOME BLOCKED
BY DRIFTING SNOW.

BRISK NORTHWEST WINDS AND TEMPERATURES HEADING WELL BELOW ZERO
WILL RESULT IN DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS OF -30 TO -40 LATE TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

WIND CHILL WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT
TONIGHT THROUGH 9 PM MONDAY...THEN A WIND CHILL WARNING FOR THE
ENTIRE AREA THROUGH NOON TUESDAY. AN ARCTIC AIRMASS COMBINED WITH
NORTHWEST WINDS WILL PRODUCE DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS OF -30 TO -50
FOR MUCH OF THE MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING PERIOD. THIS ARCTIC
OUTBREAK WILL BE COMPARABLE TO THE COLD OUTBREAK EXPERIENCED ON
JANUARY 6TH AND 7TH.

THE NEXT CHANCE OF MEASURABLE SNOW SPREADS INTO THE AREA FRIDAY
NIGHT AND SATURDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SNOW REPORTS ARE APPRECIATED...ALONG WITH REPORTS OF BLOWING AND
DRIFTING SNOW AND VISIBILITIES THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

NO WEBINAR IS SCHEDULED.

IAZ011-MNZ079-088-096-WIZ017-029-032>034-041>044-053>055-271200-
ALLAMAKEE-WABASHA-WINONA-HOUSTON-TAYLOR-CLARK-BUFFALO-TREMPEALEAU-
JACKSON-LA CROSSE-MONROE-JUNEAU-ADAMS-VERNON-CRAWFORD-RICHLAND-
1021 AM CST SUN JAN 26 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST
MINNESOTA AND WEST-CENTRAL WISCONSIN.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING.
CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE THIS AFTERNOON AS STRONG NORTHWEST
WINDS OF 20 TO 25 MPH GUSTING TO 35 TO 45 MPH WILL CREATE BLOWING
AND DRIFTING SNOW AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES. SOME ROADS ARE LIKELY
TO BE COVERED BY DRIFTING SNOW.

BRISK NORTHWEST WINDS AND TEMPERATURES HEADING WELL BELOW ZERO
WILL RESULT IN DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS OF -30 TO -40.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

WIND CHILL WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT
TONIGHT THROUGH 9 PM MONDAY...THEN A WIND CHILL WARNING FOR THE
ENTIRE AREA THROUGH NOON TUESDAY. AN ARCTIC AIRMASS COMBINED WITH
NORTHWEST WINDS WILL PRODUCE DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS OF -30 TO -50
FOR MUCH OF THE MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING PERIOD. THIS ARCTIC
OUTBREAK WILL BE COMPARABLE TO THE COLD OUTBREAK EXPERIENCED ON
JANUARY 6TH AND 7TH.

THE NEXT CHANCE OF MEASURABLE SNOW SPREADS INTO THE AREA FRIDAY
NIGHT AND SATURDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SNOW REPORTS ARE APPRECIATED...ALONG WITH REPORTS OF BLOWING AND
DRIFTING SNOW AND VISIBILITIES THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

.EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION...

NO WEBINAR IS SCHEDULED.

WETENKAMP

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 26, 8:42 AM CST, 5 hours 53 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
842 AM CST SUN JAN 26 2014

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

0826 AM     SNOW             PLEASANTVILLE           44.45N 91.30W
01/26/2014  M5.0 INCH        TREMPEALEAU        WI   PUBLIC

            SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS

0828 AM     SNOW             3 SSE CHRISTIE          44.61N 90.56W
01/26/2014  M3.0 INCH        CLARK              WI   PUBLIC

            SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS OBSERVER LOCATION
            NEILLSVILLE 4NNE

0841 AM     SNOW             LANCASTER               42.85N 90.71W
01/26/2014  M3.0 INCH        GRANT              WI   PUBLIC

            SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS

0700 AM     SNOW             1 E VIROQUA             43.56N 90.88W
01/26/2014  M2.4 INCH        VERNON             WI   COOP OBSERVER

            COOP OBSERVER STATION VIROQUA /VQAW3/ SNOW
            DURATION 24 HOURS

0700 AM     SNOW             LA FARGE                43.57N 90.64W
01/26/2014  M2.1 INCH        VERNON             WI   COOP OBSERVER

            COOP OBSERVER STATION LA FARGE /LAFW3/ SNOW
            DURATION 24 HOURS

0829 AM     SNOW             SPARTA                  43.94N 90.81W
01/26/2014  M2.0 INCH        MONROE             WI   PUBLIC

            0.2" LIQUID SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS

0800 AM     SNOW             2 NNE OWEN              44.98N 90.55W
01/26/2014  M1.7 INCH        CLARK              WI   COOP OBSERVER

            COOP OBSERVER STATION OWEN 2N /OWEW3/ SNOW
            DURATION 24 HOURS

0838 AM     SNOW             LUBLIN                  45.08N 90.72W
01/26/2014  M1.5 INCH        TAYLOR             WI   PUBLIC

            SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS OBSERVER LOCATION
            LUBLIN

0828 AM     SNOW             4 WSW HANOVER           43.34N 91.60W
01/26/2014  M1.3 INCH        ALLAMAKEE          IA   PUBLIC

            SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS OBSERVER LOCATION
            WAUKON 8NW

0840 AM     SNOW             3 NNW RIB LAKE          45.35N 90.22W
01/26/2014  M1.0 INCH        TAYLOR             WI   PUBLIC

            SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS OBSERVER LOCATION
            WESTBORO 4E

&&

NWS LA CROSSE WI
IRIS SYSTEM

Local storm report, Jan 26, 8:50 AM CST, 5 hours 45 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
850 AM CST SUN JAN 26 2014

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

0745 AM     SNOW             3 E SPRING VALLEY       43.69N 92.33W
01/26/2014  M1.5 INCH        FILLMORE           MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY. SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING
            SNOW.

&&

ZT

Local storm report, Jan 26, 9:31 AM CST, 5 hours 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
931 AM CST SUN JAN 26 2014

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

0927 AM     SNOW             NEW LISBON              43.88N 90.16W
01/26/2014  M5.8 INCH        JUNEAU             WI   PUBLIC

            SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS

0830 AM     SNOW             1 SSW BLACK RIVER FALLS 44.29N 90.85W
01/26/2014  M5.5 INCH        JACKSON            WI   COOP OBSERVER

            COOP OBSERVER STATION BLACK RIVER FALLS
            SEWAGE /BLKW3/ SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS

0700 AM     SNOW             TUNNEL CITY             44.01N 90.57W
01/26/2014  M4.3 INCH        MONROE             WI   COOP OBSERVER

            COOP OBSERVER STATION TUNNEL CITY /TUNW3/
            SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS

0700 AM     SNOW             3 W KIRBY               44.10N 90.59W
01/26/2014  M3.8 INCH        MONROE             WI   COOP OBSERVER

            COOP OBSERVER STATION WARRENS 4WSW /WRNW3/
            SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS

0846 AM     SNOW             1 WNW ARCADIA           44.25N 91.51W
01/26/2014  M3.5 INCH        TREMPEALEAU        WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS OBSERVER LOCATION
            ARCADIA

0700 AM     SNOW             3 E ONTARIO             43.72N 90.53W
01/26/2014  M3.1 INCH        VERNON             WI   COOP OBSERVER

            COOP OBSERVER STATION ONTARIO 3E /OTRW3/
            SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS

0700 AM     SNOW             LANCASTER               42.85N 90.71W
01/26/2014  M3.0 INCH        GRANT              WI   COCORAHS

            COCORAHS STATION LANCASTER /4845O/ SNOW
            DURATION 24 HOURS

0700 AM     SNOW             COLWELL                 43.16N 92.59W
01/26/2014  M3.0 INCH        FLOYD              IA   COOP OBSERVER

            COOP OBSERVER STATION COLWELL /CLWI4/ SNOW
            DURATION 24 HOURS

0700 AM     SNOW             3 NNW SHORTVILLE        44.54N 90.53W
01/26/2014  M3.0 INCH        CLARK              WI   COOP OBSERVER

            COOP OBSERVER STATION NEILLSVILLE 3ESE
            /NELW3/ SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS

0700 AM     SNOW             WEST SALEM              43.90N 91.09W
01/26/2014  M2.6 INCH        LA CROSSE          WI   COOP OBSERVER

            COOP OBSERVER STATION WEST SALEM /WSLW3/
            SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS

0800 AM     SNOW             2 ENE WILMINGTON        43.56N 91.51W
01/26/2014  M2.5 INCH        HOUSTON            MN   COCORAHS

            COCORAHS STATION 2 ENE WILMINGTON /0457B/
            SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS

0700 AM     SNOW             1 ENE MELVINA           43.81N 90.76W
01/26/2014  M2.5 INCH        MONROE             WI   COCORAHS

            COCORAHS STATION 1 ENE MELVINA /3734B/ SNOW
            DURATION 24 HOURS

0700 AM     SNOW             2 SSE HOLMEN            43.93N 91.25W
01/26/2014  M2.3 INCH        LA CROSSE          WI   COOP OBSERVER

            COOP OBSERVER STATION HOLMEN 2S /HMNW3/ SNOW
            DURATION 24 HOURS

0800 AM     SNOW             1 WNW LA CRESCENT       43.83N 91.31W
01/26/2014  M2.3 INCH        HOUSTON            MN   COOP OBSERVER

            COOP OBSERVER STATION 1 NNW LA CRESCENT
            /LCPM5/ SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS

0700 AM     SNOW             NEW HAMPTON             43.06N 92.32W
01/26/2014  M2.1 INCH        CHICKASAW          IA   COCORAHS

            COCORAHS STATION NEW HAMPTON /4233S/ SNOW
            DURATION 24 HOURS

0919 AM     SNOW             LANESBORO               43.72N 91.97W
01/26/2014  M2.0 INCH        FILLMORE           MN   PUBLIC

            SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS

0854 AM     SNOW             BOAZ                    43.33N 90.53W
01/26/2014  M2.0 INCH        RICHLAND           WI   PUBLIC

            SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS

0919 AM     SNOW             PRESTON                 43.67N 92.08W
01/26/2014  M2.0 INCH        FILLMORE           MN   PUBLIC

            SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS

0919 AM     SNOW             SPRING VALLEY           43.69N 92.39W
01/26/2014  M1.8 INCH        FILLMORE           MN   PUBLIC

            SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS

0800 AM     SNOW             1 SSE MEDFORD           45.13N 90.34W
01/26/2014  M1.5 INCH        TAYLOR             WI   COOP OBSERVER

            COOP OBSERVER STATION MEDFORD /MEDW3/ SNOW
            DURATION 24 HOURS

0926 AM     SNOW             ROCHESTER               44.01N 92.48W
01/26/2014  M1.5 INCH        OLMSTED            MN   PUBLIC

            SNOW DURATION 24 HOURS

0700 AM     SNOW             2 SSE BASSETT           43.03N 92.50W
01/26/2014  M1.0 INCH        CHICKASAW          IA   COOP OBSERVER

            COOP OBSERVER STATION IONIA 2W /IONI4/ SNOW
            DURATION 24 HOURS

&&

NWS LA CROSSE WI
IRIS SYSTEM

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Howard

When: January 26, 2:35 PM CST to 9:45 PM CST
Where: Howard forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.357, -92.317 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Northwest winds between 25 and 40 mph with gusts of 45 to 55 mph, created a period of blizzard conditions across Howard County. As a result of the blizzard, numerous roads were impassable due to severe drifting with some vehicles becoming trapped in the snow. All schools in the county were closed on the 27th from a combination of the conditions left behind by the blizzard and extremely cold wind chills.

Blizzard, Mitchell

When: January 26, 2:35 PM CST to 9:10 PM CST
Where: Mitchell forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.356, -92.789 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Northwest winds between 25 and 40 mph with gusts of 45 to 55 mph, created a period of blizzard conditions across Mitchell County. As a result of the blizzard, numerous roads were impassable due to severe drifting with some vehicles becoming trapped in the snow. All schools in the county were closed on the 27th from a combination of the conditions left behind by the blizzard and extremely cold wind chills.

Blizzard, Floyd

When: January 26, 2:55 PM CST to 11:15 PM CST
Where: Floyd forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.060, -92.789 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Northwest winds between 25 and 40 mph with gusts of 55 to 65 mph, created a period of blizzard conditions across Floyd County. As a result of the blizzard, numerous roads were impassable due to severe drifting with some vehicles becoming trapped in the snow. All schools in the county were closed on the 27th from a combination of the conditions left behind by the blizzard and extremely cold wind chills. The highest measured wind gust during the blizzard was 62 mph from the automated weather observing equipment at the Charles City airport.

Blizzard, Winneshiek

When: January 26, 2:55 PM CST to 9:30 PM CST
Where: Winneshiek forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.291, -91.844 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Northwest winds between 25 and 40 mph with gusts of 45 to 55 mph, created a period of blizzard conditions across Winneshiek County. As a result of the blizzard, numerous roads were impassable due to severe drifting with some vehicles becoming trapped in the snow. All schools in the county were closed on the 27th from a combination of the conditions left behind by the blizzard and extremely cold wind chills. The highest measured wind gust during the blizzard was 52 mph from the automated weather observing equipment at the Decorah airport.

Blizzard, Allamakee

When: January 26, 3:00 PM CST to 9:15 PM CST
Where: Allamakee forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.284, -91.378 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Northwest winds between 25 and 40 mph with gusts of 45 to 55 mph, created a period of blizzard conditions across Allamakee County. As a result of the blizzard, numerous roads were impassable due to severe drifting with some vehicles becoming trapped in the snow. All schools in the county were closed on the 27th from a combination of the conditions left behind by the blizzard and extremely cold wind chills.

Blizzard, Chickasaw

When: January 26, 3:15 PM CST to 10:55 PM CST
Where: Chickasaw forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 43.060, -92.318 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Northwest winds between 25 and 40 mph with gusts of 45 to 55 mph, created a period of blizzard conditions across Chickasaw County. As a result of the blizzard, numerous roads were impassable due to severe drifting with some vehicles becoming trapped in the snow. All schools in the county were closed on the 27th from a combination of the conditions left behind by the blizzard and extremely cold wind chills. The highest measured wind gust during the blizzard was 52 mph from a mesonet weather observing equipment near Ionia.

Blizzard, Fayette

When: January 26, 3:35 PM CST to 10:35 PM CST
Where: Fayette forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.863, -91.844 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Northwest winds between 25 and 40 mph with gusts of 45 to 55 mph, created a period of blizzard conditions across Fayette County. As a result of the blizzard, numerous roads were impassable due to severe drifting with some vehicles becoming trapped in the snow. All schools in the county were closed on the 27th from a combination of the conditions left behind by the blizzard and extremely cold wind chills. The highest measured wind gust during the blizzard was 54 mph from the automated weather observing equipment at the Oelwein airport.

Blizzard, Clayton

When: January 26, 3:45 PM CST to 10:35 PM CST
Where: Clayton forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.845, -91.341 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Northwest winds between 25 and 40 mph with gusts of 45 to 55 mph, created a period of blizzard conditions across Clayton County. As a result of the blizzard, numerous roads were impassable due to severe drifting with some vehicles becoming trapped in the snow. All schools in the county were closed on the 27th from a combination of the conditions left behind by the blizzard and extremely cold wind chills.

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 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, January 2014

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: 491305, 491306, 491304, 491307, 491300, 491301, 491303, 491302.