A strong northwesterly jet streak digging through the central Rockies produced intense and deep cyclogenesis across Iowa on January 14 and 15. Initial precipitation swept through the area as rain, but a surge of cold air into the slowing cyclone wrapped snowfall back into northeast Nebraska as winds increased to 40 to 60 mph, resulting in periods of blizzard conditions.
Every event with a place to put it; 11 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 FSD wrote it up.
A strong northwesterly jet streak digging through the central Rockies produced intense and deep cyclogenesis across Iowa on January 14 and 15. Initial precipitation swept through the area as rain, but a surge of cold air into the slowing cyclone wrapped snowfall back into northeast Nebraska as winds increased to 40 to 60 mph, resulting in periods of blizzard conditions.
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 Sioux Falls, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 14, 5:07 PM CST, 1 hour 53 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
507 PM CST Thu Jan 14 2021
.SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Friday)
Issued at 402 PM CST Thu Jan 14 2021
A strong winter storm is currently impacting Siouxland and will
continue to affect the area through Friday evening. A deep longwave
trough over Plains is deepening this evening as a robust jet streak
plunges southward across the Rockies. Within this longwave, multiple
shortwave troughs are acting to increase local positive vorticity
advection, thus producing enhanced lift in a synoptic environment
already supportive of vertical motion.
The surface low pressure center is currently located over eastern
Iowa. During the overnight hours, this pivot point will retrograde
westward slightly as a shortwave moves around the northwest edge
of the upper- level cut-off low pressure center. This serves to
further tighten the pressure gradient, leading to winds increasing
slightly from the already high values observed today. Wind gusts
of 55 to 65 mph are expected, with some locations perhaps hitting
70 mph. These winds are strong enough to cause localized damage,
and will be the most intense in the midnight to 9am Friday
timeframe, after which time winds slowly subside throughout the
day.
Central to northwest Iowa is likely to be one of the areas receiving
the highest snowfall rates and totals in this weather setup. Recent
high-resolution model guidance gives consensus snowfall totals in
the 4 to 7 inch range for northwest Iowa, including Spencer, Storm
Lake, and Sioux City. The Buffalo Ridge in southwest Minnesota is
also likely to see enhanced snow totals due to orographic lift
assisting the already conductive synoptic forcing. Snow totals here
forecast to be in the 5 to 8 inch range. Blizzard Warnings cover the
combined wind and snow threats for these regions, and last through
much of the day Friday.
Further west, for locations such as Madison SD, Sioux Falls, and
Yankton SD, snow rates and totals will be much lower. Intermittent
blizzard conditions are still expected overnight, but snow totals
are likely to be more in the 1 to 3 inch range. This is largely due
to the southward shift in the low center and northeasterly winds
causing downsloping (and therefore sinking motion) off the Buffalo
Ridge. With snow mostly ending by the mid-morning for these areas,
have opted to transition the Blizzard Warning to a strongly-worded
Winter Weather Advisory at 6am CST. Winds will remain strong later
Friday morning, with gusts of 45 to 55 mph, but the lack of new snow
is expected to improve visibility and prevent true blizzard
conditions. Nevertheless, remain vigilant if driving Friday, as
isolated snow showers could still cause reduced visibility and
dangerous travel conditions.
.LONG TERM...(Friday Night through Thursday)
Issued at 402 PM CST Thu Jan 14 2021
By Friday night the bulk of the system moves off to the east, and
winds subside after sunset. Behind this weather system,
weekend temperatures are surprisingly mild due to a robust ridge
moving through the northwesterly flow pattern. Highs on Saturday
and Sunday should be near or slightly above normal (upper 20s to
low 30s).
On Monday into Tuesday, another longwave trough deepens over the
Rockies and Plains. The lift associated with this wave forces a re-
introduction of slight PoPs into the forecast; however, there is
considerable uncertainty with this system with the EC being notably
quicker and less wrapped up than the GFS.
The middle of next week looks mostly dry under weak upper level
flow and a continental air mass.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Friday evening)
Issued at 500 PM CST Thu Jan 14 2021
Periods of light to moderate snow with MVFR/IFR visibility will
continue overnight into Friday, before diminishing on Friday
afternoon. With winds gusting 40 to 50 kts into tomorrow, lowest
visibilities will occur over southwestern MN and northwestern IA
where snowfall will be heaviest.
&&
.FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...High Wind Warning until 6 PM CST this evening for SDZ039-054>056-
061-062-066-067-069>071.
Blizzard Warning until 6 PM CST Friday for SDZ070-071.
High Wind Warning until noon CST Friday for SDZ038-050-052-053-
057>060-063>065-068.
Blizzard Warning until 6 PM CST Friday for SDZ040.
Winter Weather Advisory from 6 AM to 3 PM CST Friday for SDZ039-
054>056-061-062-066-067-069.
Blizzard Warning until 6 AM CST Friday for SDZ039-054>056-061-
062-066-067-069.
MN...High Wind Warning until 6 PM CST this evening for MNZ098.
Blizzard Warning until 6 PM CST Friday for MNZ071-072-080-081-
089-090-097.
Winter Weather Advisory from 6 AM to 3 PM CST Friday for MNZ098.
Blizzard Warning until 6 AM CST Friday for MNZ098.
IA...High Wind Warning until 6 PM CST this evening for IAZ001-012-020-
031.
Blizzard Warning until 6 PM CST Friday for IAZ012-020-031.
Blizzard Warning until 6 PM CST Friday for IAZ002-003-013-014-
021-022-032.
Winter Weather Advisory from 6 AM to 3 PM CST Friday for IAZ001.
Blizzard Warning until 6 AM CST Friday for IAZ001.
NE...High Wind Warning until 6 PM CST this evening for NEZ013-014.
Blizzard Warning until 6 PM CST Friday for NEZ013-014.
&&
SHORT TERM...VandenBoogart
LONG TERM...VandenBoogart
AVIATION...JMHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 529 PM CST Thu Jan 14 2021 SDZ038-050-052-053-057>060-063>065-068-152330- Beadle-Gregory-Jerauld-Sanborn-Brule-Aurora-Davison-Hanson- Charles Mix-Douglas-Hutchinson-Bon Homme- 529 PM CST Thu Jan 14 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central South Dakota, east central South Dakota, south central South Dakota and southeast South Dakota. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Strong northwest winds are expected across the area tonight, with gusts in excess of 50 mph, possibly gusting over 65 mph. The gusty winds may be accompanied by light snow. The combination of falling snow and strong winds may produce hazardous travel conditions. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Windy conditions will continue through Friday morning. Light snow is possible during the morning hours, and travel will likely be hazardous due to the strong winds producing low visibilities. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. IAZ003-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097-SDZ040-152330- Dickinson-Lincoln-Lyon-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson-Pipestone- Brookings- 529 PM CST Thu Jan 14 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Iowa, southwest Minnesota and east central South Dakota. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Strong northwest winds are expected across the area into Friday, with gusts in excess of 45 mph, possibly gusting over 50 mph. Moderate to heavy snowfall tonight, in combination with the strong winds, will result in blizzard conditions through the overnight period. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Blizzard conditions will continue through mid to late afternoon hours on Friday. Strong winds will continue through the day, with gusts up to 60 mph. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. IAZ012-020-031-NEZ013-014-SDZ070-071-152330- Sioux-Plymouth-Woodbury-Dixon-Dakota-Clay-Union- 529 PM CST Thu Jan 14 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Iowa, west central Iowa, northeast Nebraska and southeast South Dakota. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Strong northwest winds are expected across the area tonight, with gusts in excess of 50 mph, likely gusting over 60 mph. Moderate to heavy snowfall in combination with the strong winds will result in blizzard conditions through the overnight period. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Blizzard conditions will continue through mid to late afternoon hours on Friday. Strong winds will continue through the day, with gusts up to 60 mph. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. IAZ001-MNZ098-SDZ039-054>056-061-062-066-067-069-152330- Lyon-Rock-Kingsbury-Miner-Lake-Moody-McCook-Minnehaha-Turner-Lincoln- Yankton- 529 PM CST Thu Jan 14 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Iowa, southwest Minnesota, east central South Dakota and southeast South Dakota. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Strong northwest winds are expected across the area tonight, with gusts in excess of 50 mph, likely gusting over 60 mph. Moderate to heavy snowfall in combination with the strong winds will result in blizzard conditions through the overnight period. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Snow will become light on Friday, though periodic near blizzard conditions will be possible through the mid to late afternoon hours. Strong winds will continue through the day, with gusts up to 60 mph. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. IAZ002-013-014-021-022-032-152330- Osceola-O'Brien-Clay-Cherokee-Buena Vista-Ida- 529 PM CST Thu Jan 14 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Iowa and west central Iowa. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Strong northwest winds are expected across the area tonight, with gusts in excess of 50 mph, likely gusting over 60 mph. Moderate to heavy snowfall in combination with the strong winds will result in blizzard conditions through the overnight period. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Blizzard conditions will continue through mid to late afternoon hours on Friday. Strong winds will continue through the day, with gusts up to 60 mph. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
318 PM CST THU JAN 14 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0253 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 N MITCHELL 43.77N 98.04W
01/14/2021 M62 MPH DAVISON SD ASOS
ASOS STATION KMHE MITCHELL MUNICIPAL
AIRPORT.
0306 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 ESE LE MARS 42.78N 96.15W
01/14/2021 M60 MPH PLYMOUTH IA MESONET
MESONET STATION DW1631 LE MARS.
0115 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 W HOWARD 44.01N 97.55W
01/14/2021 M60 MPH MINER SD MESONET
MESONET STATION 297 SD RWIS HOWARD JUNCTION
OF SD35/SD25.
0226 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 NW TRIPP 43.24N 97.99W
01/14/2021 M58 MPH HUTCHINSON SD MESONET
MESONET STATION 26 SD RWIS TRIPP.
0145 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 ESE FORESTBURG 44.01N 98.03W
01/14/2021 M57 MPH SANBORN SD MESONET
MESONET STATION 6 SD RWIS FORESTBURG.
1239 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 10 SSW AURORA 44.15N 96.76W
01/14/2021 M57 MPH MOODY SD MESONET
MESONET STATION 224 SD RWIS WARD.
0200 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 S CHAMBERLAIN 43.77N 99.32W
01/14/2021 M56 MPH BRULE SD ASOS
ASOS STATION K9V9 CHAMBERLAIN MUNICIPAL
AIRPORT.
1249 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 S FREEMAN 43.28N 97.42W
01/14/2021 M56 MPH HUTCHINSON SD MESONET
MESONET STATION 163 SD RWIS FREEMAN.
0156 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 NE YANKTON 42.92N 97.37W
01/14/2021 M55 MPH YANKTON SD AWOS
AWOS STATION KYKN YANKTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.
0105 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 SSW WORTHING 43.26N 96.80W
01/14/2021 M55 MPH LINCOLN SD MESONET
MESONET STATION 176 SD RWIS DAVIS.
1049 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 WSW GAYVILLE 42.88N 97.22W
01/14/2021 M55 MPH YANKTON SD MESONET
MESONET STATION 197 SD RWIS GAYVILLE.
0130 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 ENE WHITE LAKE 43.73N 98.69W
01/14/2021 M53 MPH AURORA SD MESONET
MESONET STATION WTES2 WHITE LAKE.
0304 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SSW BERESFORD 43.04N 96.80W
01/14/2021 M51 MPH UNION SD MESONET
MESONET STATION 16 SD RWIS BERESFORD.
0256 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SW BROOKINGS 44.28N 96.82W
01/14/2021 M51 MPH BROOKINGS SD AWOS
AWOS STATION KBKX BROOKINGS MUNICIPAL
AIRPORT.
0135 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 WSW LAKESIDE 42.60N 95.22W
01/14/2021 M51 MPH BUENA VISTA IA AWOS
AWOS STATION KSLB STORM LAKE AIRPORT.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
320 PM CST THU JAN 14 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0156 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 NNW SIOUX FALLS 43.58N 96.75W
01/14/2021 M58 MPH MINNEHAHA SD ASOS
ASOS STATION KFSD SIOUX FALLS AIRPORT.
&&
MMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
326 PM CST THU JAN 14 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0241 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 W GEDDES 43.26N 98.76W
01/14/2021 M56 MPH CHARLES MIX SD MESONET
MESONET STATION RLAS2 LAKE ANDES RAWS.
&&
MMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
512 PM CST THU JAN 14 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0506 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 ESE LE MARS 42.78N 96.15W
01/14/2021 M62 MPH PLYMOUTH IA MESONET
MESONET STATION DW1631 LE MARS.
&&
MMThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
11 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph, with a few gusts as high as 51 mph at Sheldon (SHL), resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Snowfall totaled 3.0 inches at Sheldon.
As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph, with a few gusts as high as 54 mph at Worthington (OTG) and 51 mph at Sheldon (SHL), resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Snowfall totaled 4.0 inches at Sibley.
As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph, with a few gusts as high as 51 mph at an Iowa Department of Transportation site at Alton and 44 mph near Maurice (SXK), resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Shortly after snowfall began, a vehicle lost control and collided with another traveling in the opposite direction west of Alton, resulting in an indirect fatality to one driver and an indirect injury to the other. Snowfall totaled 3.0 inches at Sioux Center and 2.5 inches at Orange City.
As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph, with a few gusts as high as 55 mph at Spencer (SPW), resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Snowfall totaled 3.9 inches at Spencer and 3.5 inches 3 miles west northwest of Everly.
As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph, with a few gusts as high as 48 mph at an automated mesonet station at Milford, resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Snowfall totaled 5.7 inches 4 miles northwest of Milford and 4.5 inches near Spirit Lake.
As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph, with a few gusts as high as 52 mph at Storm Lake (SLB) and 49 mph at an Iowa Dept. of Transportation site 2 miles east of Truesdale, resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Snowfall totaled 4.7 inches at Storm Lake and 3.6 inches at Sioux Rapids.
As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph, with a few gusts as high as 51 mph at Sheldon (SHL) and 46 mph at Luverne (LYV), resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Snowfall totaled 1.5 inches at Rock Rapids.
As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph, with a few gusts as high as 45 mph at Le Mars (LRJ), resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Snowfall totaled 3.4 inches at Remsen and 2.9 inches at Le Mars.
As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 35 mph, with a few gusts as high as 41 mph at Cherokee (CKP), resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Snowfall totaled 5.0 inches 4 miles north of Cleghorn and 3.0 inches at Cherokee.
As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph, with a few gusts as high as 59 mph at Sioux City (SUX) and 52 mph at Storm Lake (SLB), resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Snowfall totaled 3.0 inches 3 miles northeast of Battle Creek.
As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph, with a few gusts as high as 59 mph at Sioux City (SUX), resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Snowfall totaled 4.2 inches 4 miles north northeast of Hornick and 2.0 inches at Sioux City.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blizzard, Sioux | 2021-01-14 | 18 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, January 2021
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: 938955, 938957, 938960, 938947, 938949, 938944, 938952, 938959, 938946, 938950, 938962.