An area of low pressure tracked across the Central Plains and spread a band of heavy snow into northeast Iowa during the afternoon of November 20th. The snow continued through much of the early morning hours of the 21st before tapering off after sunrise.
Every event with a place to put it; 7 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.
An area of low pressure tracked across the Central Plains and spread a band of heavy snow into northeast Iowa during the afternoon of November 20th. The snow continued through much of the early morning hours of the 21st before tapering off after sunrise. The heaviest snow fell primarily south of U.S. Highway 18 with amounts of 6 to 10 inches common and there were some localized amounts around a foot. The highest reported totals were across Clayton County with 12 inches near Guttenberg and 11.4 inches south of Elkader and near Volga.
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 Nov 19, 5:08 PM CST, 19 hours 22 minutes earlier.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
COOP and volunteer snow observers measured between 8 and 11 inches of snow across Fayette County. The highest reported total was 11.3 inches in the town of Fayette.
COOP and volunteer observers measured between 5 and 10 inches of snow across Floyd County. The highest reported total was 10 inches southeast of Nora Springs.
COOP and volunteer observers measured between 8 and 10 inches of snow across Chickasaw County. The highest reported total was 10 inches in New Hampton.
COOP and volunteer observers measured between 3 and 7 inches of snow across Howard County. The highest reported total was 6.5 inches in Cresco.
COOP and volunteer observers measured between 8 and 12 inches of snow across Clayton County. The highest reported total was 12 inches near Guttenberg.
COOP and volunteer observers measured between 5 and 8 inches of snow across Winneshiek County. The highest reported total was 8.5 inches in Decorah.
COOP and volunteer observers measured between 3 and 6 inches of snow across Allamakee County. The highest reported total was 5.5 inches in Harpers Ferry and south of Waterville.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, November 2015
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 603750, 603751, 603748, 603752, 603749, 603753, 603746.