Early reports starting on the 9th are in this entry, with several later reports starting on the 13th in Part II. Additionally the combination of heavy snowpack and heavy rainfall absorbed into the snow partially collapsed a horse barn roof in rural Adair County near Greenfield.
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.
Early reports starting on the 9th are in this entry, with several later reports starting on the 13th in Part II.
Additionally the combination of heavy snowpack and heavy rainfall absorbed into the snow partially collapsed a horse barn roof in rural Adair County near Greenfield.
An ice jam occurred in Ottumwa on the Des Moines River causing flash flooding were water rapidly rose several feet on the morning of the 12th. Several cars and campers were flooded.
A relatively deep and widespread snowpack existed across the region during early to mid March. Many areas in central and northern Iowa had around a foot to two feet of snow on the ground, along with many areas in upstream river basins in Minnesota and the Dakotas having similar or deeper snowpacks on the ground. Additionally, with the below normal temperatures throughout the majority of the 2019 year to date, soils were frozen to depths of a foot or more throughout the aforementioned areas. All of that primed the area for potential moderate to major flooding issues should a rapid snowmelt and/or rainfall event occur, which unfortunately came to fruition.
The primary driver was two-fold with warm air advection on the backside of a departing high pressure on the 12th, and a sizable low pressure system that moved through the region on the 13th and 14th. The event began with widespread temperatures and dew points in the upper 30s to low 40s on the 12th with the initial warm air advection, which continued through the overnight hours into the 13th. As the low pressure system developed off the Colorado Rockies, warm air advection continued to push temperatures and dew points up into the upper 40s and low 50s on the 13th and 14th, aiding the rapid snow melt. On top of the rapid snowmelt, which often went from 12 or more inches on the ground to zero in a matter of about two days, light to moderate rainfall occurred ahead of and on the backside of the low pressure system on the 13th and 14th. All combined to cause widespread overland flooding, river flooding, and ice jam issues.
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 9, 11:38 AM CST, 2 hours 22 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Des Moines IA 1138 AM CST Sat Mar 9 2019 .UPDATE... Issued at 725 AM CST Sat Mar 9 2019 Update to add another row of counties into the WW.Y until 10 am. The precipitation is outpacing the rise in temperature a bit farther south (about 20 miles south of the original weather advisory outline) and areas along US 20 will see a period of light icing before temperatures climb above 33 this morning. The winter weather advisory remains in place north of the added area as well. Winds continue to increase and have also caused some blowing snow over portions of northern and northwest Iowa - adding to some travel issues early today. /rev && .SHORT TERM.../Today through Sunday/ Issued at 356 AM CST Sat Mar 9 2019 Confidence: Medium to High Storm progressing more or less as expected. Temperatures on the rise now, but remain at the freezing mark over west-central, northwest, north central and a few sites in east central. Warm air advection is increasing over southern Iowa now and expecting that temps will warm slowly into 12z. The area of greatest threat for leading edge light freezing precipitation remains the northwest, north and north east but it continues a race between the arrival of deeper moisture and the warming temperatures at the surface. There is very little difference between the GFS/NAM/Euro with regard to the track and evolution of the system. The surface low is expected to track from northeast Kansas to about Keokuk, Iowa by 22z. The H850 low will be slightly displaced northwest, tracking from near Topeka to near Clinton, Iowa by 00z. The entire forecast area is above 0C at H850 with MaxT wetbulb also above 0C by 12z. This will keep either light freezing rain/light freezing drizzle in the offing through 16 to 17z in the far north while the south continues with liquid and foggy conditions. By 19-20z, the changeover will begin with H850 temperatures and MaxT wetbulb aloft dropping below 0C northwest. The transition to snow in the afternoon over far northern sections will track east/southeast during the evening as the entire storm progresses northeast. The best forcing will occur with the initial surge of warm air advection this morning and increasing mechanical lift from 18z to 00z as the center of the sfc/upper level low tracks into Iowa. Moderate rainfall is expected with a swath of 0.50 to 0.60 over the south this morning; then a wrap-around deformation shield of precipitation across the north this afternoon. The changeover of mid to late afternoon back to snow northwest will limit the amount of moisture remaining for snowfall, but it still looks like there will be about 2 to 4 inches over the north through 03z with the higher totals near Estherville. Winds will increase dramatically following the low this evening with a likely burst of wind between 08z and 16z Sunday. With rain falling over the snow pack first, prior to the new snow on top of that in the north, the threat for blowing snow will probably only come from the newly falling snow. But even 2 to 4 inches may cause enough impacts to travel later tonight and Sunday that the advisory may need a slight areal extension over the north through Sunday. Will let the day shift evaluate the snowfall today. Otherwise, a wind advisory may be needed for a portion of the region tonight into Sunday morning. Highs today will warm into the mid 30s in the far north to the upper 30s central, and the mid 40s southeast. Tonight we fall back to teens northwest to the upper 20s southeast. Sunday will see some sun late day which will help temperatures recover to the mid 20s northwest to the upper 30s southeast. So, despite the northwest winds, some daytime snow melt will continue. Some clouds return Sunday night with lows around 10 north and the lower 20s south as high pressure settles into the region with light winds. .LONG TERM.../Sunday Night through Friday/ Issued at 356 AM CST Sat Mar 9 2019 The active weather pattern continues throughout much of next week with a main system pulling through the region Tuesday night into Wednesday. Sunday night into Tuesday...The ECMWF/GFS and even the NAM through midday Tuesday have come in warmer with the shortwave to ride upper level ridge late Monday night into Tuesday morning ahead of the main deep trough digging into the western CONUS. Decent theta-e advection and weak isentropic lift along the 290K to 300K surfaces begins around 09z Tuesday and continues to press northeast through the rest of the morning. Soundings do take some time to saturate and have delay the onset of pops until past 06z Tuesday to just the southwest portions of the forecast area. Could even delay precip until 09z as the surface high to the east provides plenty of dry air to contend with. When soundings do become saturated, the onset of precip looks to be a wintry mix with a decent warm layer aloft to melt snow and a deep enough surface layer below freezing to provide sleet potential. However, the WAA is strong enough and looks to push temperatures fairly quickly above freezing from 12-17z Tuesday over the west to north. Certainly a short duration of sleet and possibly freezing rain mix before switching to all rain late in the morning and into the afternoon. Low confidence in any significant sleet/ice accumulations. Tuesday night into Thursday...the strong surface low tracks from the OK/TX Panhandles, through Kansas and into southeast NE and western Iowa during this time. The entire forecast area looks to remain in the warm sector and thus have all rain going until the CAA develops by around 09z to 12z Thursday on the backside of the surface low. Models are coming into good agreement with the track and timing of the surface low and northern Iowa remains the best potential for any snow accumulation on Thursday. Winds will be strong throughout the entire period, especially within the WAA regime Tuesday into Tuesday evening and even more so when the CAA develops late WEdnesday night and throughout the day Thursday. As far as temperatures go, nudged up maximum temperatures on Wednesday with the good WAA throughout the day even with the rain anticipated. The rain, plus the warm temps and dew points is going to be a snow eater providing the potential for river flooding across the forecast area. With the current snowpack already consisting of 2-4 inches of liquid, plus the precipitation anticipated today and the rain Tuesday into Wednesday, the confidence is increasing in the flood potential. Lower confidence in the severity due the uncertainly how quickly the snow melts and runs off, particularly across northern Iowa. Plus, with the cooler air filtering back into the state late in the week, this may help slow down the runoff process a bit. The other threat is ice jams. Most rivers, especially over northern Iowa, remain ice covered and with the anticipated rain, warmer temperatures through mid-week, and the snowmelt are all be factors in breaking up river ice potentially leading to ice jams. && .AVIATION.../For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday afternoon/ Issued at 1138 AM CST Sat Mar 9 2019 IFR or lower conditions will prevail through this afternoon into tonight, then improve from southwest to northeast after dark as strong winds develop, gradually sweeping out precipitation, low clouds, and fog. VFR conditions are expected by early Sunday morning and beyond. Have taken best estimate at timing improvement of conditions and changes in precipitation type and intensity, but amendments are likely. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until 1 PM CDT Sunday for IAZ004>007. && UPDATE...REV SHORT TERM...REV LONG TERM...Podrazik AVIATION...Lee
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Des Moines IA 454 AM CST Sat Mar 9 2019 IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033-101100- Emmet-Kossuth-Winnebago-Worth-Palo Alto-Hancock-Cerro Gordo- Pocahontas-Humboldt-Wright-Franklin-Butler-Bremer-Sac- 454 AM CST Sat Mar 9 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the area. Please refer to the National Weather Service website at weather.gov/desmoines for further details. Areas of dense fog are likely this morning where visibility restrictions down to one half mile at times are possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the area on Sunday. Please refer to the National Weather Service website at weather.gov/desmoines for further details. Widespread moderate rainfall is forecast Tuesday into Wednesday. Runoff from the rainfall and additional snowmelt may lead to ice jams and river flooding by late next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected, but reports of rainfall, snow and ice are encouraged and appreciated. IAZ034>039-044>050-057>062-070>075-081>086-092>097-101100- 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- 454 AM CST Sat Mar 9 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight Areas of dense fog are likely this morning where visibility restrictions down to one half mile at times are possible. A few isolated thunderstorms are possible over southern Iowa Iowa today. However, no severe storms are expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Widespread moderate rainfall is forecast Tuesday into Wednesday. Runoff from the rainfall and additional snowmelt may lead to ice jams and river flooding by late next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed but reports of rainfall, snow and ice are encouraged and appreciated. KLP
The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 79 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:00 UTC.
2 flood, 1 heavy rain, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A heated horse barn near the town of Greenfield experienced a partial roof collapse due to the snow and rainfall absorbed into the snow putting too much weight on the that part of the roof. Minor injuries to a couple of horses were reported.
Flooding was observed around the Muchakinock Creek west of Oskaloosa. Water was reported over State Highway 92.
Flash flooding occurred on the north side of Ottumwa due to an ice jam on the Des Moines River. Water rapidly rose several feet flooding a campground and a few local residences. Some cars and campers were flooded.
Localized flooding was reported in low lying areas of Murray. West of Osceola, 190th Avenue was closed due to ponding of water over the road. As the rain and snowmelt continued, numerous roads across the county began to flood and were closed as well.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, March 2019
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: 814865, 814270, 814871, 814271.