A winter storm brought widespread snowfall amounts of 3 to 8 inches to much of eastern Iowa, northwest Illinois and far northeast Missouri from the afternoon of January 25th into the afternoon of January 26th. The heaviest snow amounts were recorded in central Iowa, where values were reported around 10 to 14 inches.
Every event with a place to put it; 22 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 DVN wrote it up.
A winter storm brought widespread snowfall amounts of 3 to 8 inches to much of eastern Iowa, northwest Illinois and far northeast Missouri from the afternoon of January 25th into the afternoon of January 26th. The heaviest snow amounts were recorded in central Iowa, where values were reported around 10 to 14 inches. In addition, a light ice glaze was also seen in parts of extreme southeast Iowa, northeast Missouri, and west central Illinois.
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 Quad Cities, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 25, 11:29 AM CST, 31 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
1129 AM CST Mon Jan 25 2021
...AVIATION UPDATE...
.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 243 AM CST Mon Jan 25 2021
The upper level trough that will produce our winter storm later today
is in eastern NM and beginning to lift east northeast. A broad
area of thunderstorms stretches from north TX/AR into KS and MO
with a band of snow across southern NE. Precipitation has already
reached the I-70 corridor in Missouri. A large area of surface
pressure falls stretches from the central Plains into the MidSouth
reflecting how expansive this storm system is.
&&
.SHORT TERM...(Today and Tuesday)
ISSUED AT 243 AM CST Mon Jan 25 2021
Main concern today is the begin time of the snow, and snow and
ice totals.
Models are a tad slower with the begin time of the precip today by
a few hours compared to yesterday, and a bit farther north with
heavy snow amounts. But ultimately the entire CWA will be
experiencing snow by late afternoon. CAMs indicate the late
afternoon into the evening timeframe looks to be when the most
significant accumulations will falls.
Strong winds may accompany the snow especially in the north which
could cause some blowing and drifting issues. Will expand from
advisory to warning for Buchanan and Delaware county as a result
of this and the slightly higher snow amounts.
The far south may see a mix of ice with the snow which could
complicate travel, but otherwise ice is not expected to be a high
impact beyond that.
One thing to watch as the snow develops in our area this morning
and early afternoon is that the main theta-e feed quickly shifts
east and splits from the main snow area which hangs back to the
west. This may delay the onset time in the southern CWA. CAMS are
in pretty good agreement on this. This supports the lower snow
amounts expected in our area relative to points west.
Snow will continue overnight then diminish during the day Tuesday.
CAMS timing on the snow's demise varies somewhat from the early
morning hours to early afternoon, but the consensus tends toward
the afternoon endtime. Snow ratios will be on the increase
suggesting a lighter snow toward the end of the event, but winds
will be declining by that time so extensive post-storm blowing
and drifting is not anticipated.
.LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Sunday)
ISSUED AT 243 AM CST Mon Jan 25 2021
There are slight differences in timing and strength of key features
through the period. The main focus was chances of precipitation and
type through the period.
A fast moving, neutral tilt 500 mb shortwave trough will move across
the area during the day on Wednesday bringing light snow to the area
along and south of Interstate 80. Layer average wet bulb and snow
ratios will result in a drier snow than fell Monday into Tuesday.
Snow will come to an end from west to east during the afternoon.
Snowfall amounts are less than an inch.
In the wake of Wednesdays storm system, the flow aloft becomes more
zonal as a ridge builds across the Plains. Cold air will linger
across the Upper Midwest into Thursday as Canadian high pressure
builds into eastern Iowa on Thursday. Once this high passes, winds
will become more southerly and begin a period of strong warm
advection.
Saturday, a 500 mb trough will build into the Plains. At this time,
strong warm and moisture advection will be occurring across the
region with temperatures in the upper 30s to lower 40s for highs.
Strong lift will spread precipitation into the area Saturday
morning into Sunday morning. The Gulf of Mexico will be wide open
with precipitable water values of 0.60 to 0.75 inches. Currently,
the forecast has precipitation beginning as snow and quickly
transitioning to a rain and snow mix by mid morning and then to
all rain across the whole area Saturday afternoon and evening.
Cold air moving into the area behind the system, will result in
precipitation transitioning back to all snow by 12z Sunday.
Precipitation then comes to an end from west to east Sunday
afternoon. Given the amount of moisture this storm system will
need to be monitored for any potential issues.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Tuesday Afternoon)
ISSUED AT 1124 AM CST Mon Jan 25 2021
Snow and blowing snow will spread over the entire area this
afternoon and continue through Tuesday morning as a storm system
moves through northern Missouri. Northeast to north winds will
blow at 15 to 30 kts through the period, with visibilities as low
as 1/4 mile in snow and blowing snow. Generally 4 to 8 inches of
snow is expected at terminals, but it will blow around so much,
the impacts will be the same in areas with higher end amounts and
lower end amounts. Poor flying weather will last through the
entire period.
&&
.DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IA...Winter Storm Warning until noon CST Tuesday for Benton-Buchanan-
Cedar-Clinton-Delaware-Dubuque-Jackson-Jones-Linn-Muscatine-
Scott.
Winter Storm Warning until noon CST Tuesday for Des Moines-Henry
IA-Iowa-Jefferson-Johnson-Keokuk-Lee-Louisa-Van Buren-
Washington.
IL...Winter Storm Warning until noon CST Tuesday for Bureau-Carroll-
Henderson-Henry IL-Jo Daviess-Mercer-Putnam-Rock Island-
Stephenson-Warren-Whiteside.
Winter Weather Advisory until noon CST Tuesday for Hancock-
McDonough.
MO...Winter Storm Warning until noon CST Tuesday for Clark-Scotland.
&&
SYNOPSIS...Wolf
SHORT TERM...Wolf
LONG TERM...Cousins
AVIATION...ErvinHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL 404 AM CST Mon Jan 25 2021 IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007- 009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-261015- Buchanan-Delaware-Dubuque-Benton-Linn-Jones-Jackson-Iowa-Johnson- Cedar-Clinton-Muscatine-Scott-Keokuk-Washington-Louisa-Jefferson- Henry IA-Des Moines-Van Buren-Lee-Jo Daviess-Stephenson-Carroll- Whiteside-Rock Island-Henry IL-Bureau-Putnam-Mercer-Henderson- Warren-Hancock-McDonough-Scotland-Clark- 404 AM CST Mon Jan 25 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central Illinois...northwest Illinois...west central Illinois...east central Iowa...northeast Iowa...southeast Iowa and northeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A significant winter storm will spread heavy snow across the area today which will continue into early Tuesday. In addition locations in the far south could see a light glaze of ice. See the winter storm warning statement for additional details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY The winter storm will be winding down during the day Tuesday. A fast moving storm system will bring a round of light snow to the area Wednesday morning and afternoon. Currently, less than an inch of snow is expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter reports of storm total snowfall amounts would be appreciated. wolf/dc
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL 858 AM CST Mon Jan 25 2021 IAZ087>089-098-099-ILZ025-026-034-035-MOZ009-010-251700- Jefferson-Henry IA-Des Moines-Van Buren-Lee-Henderson-Warren- Hancock-McDonough-Scotland-Clark- Including the cities of Fairfield, Mount Pleasant, Burlington, Keosauqua, Fort Madison, Oquawka, Monmouth, Carthage, Macomb, Memphis, and Kahoka 858 AM CST Mon Jan 25 2021 ...Slippery Roads Developing... A light mix of freezing rain, sleet, and snow will expand in coverage over locations south of Highway 34 through 10 AM. Roads will become covered in ice and snow, and will be slick. Be prepared for slippery roads. ERVIN
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
18 winter storm, 4 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
The official NWS observation at Davenport Municipal Airport was 7.0 inches.
The official NWS observation at the Dubuque Regional Airport was 7.5 inches. A trained spotter reported 10.0 inches.
Trained spotter reports ranged from 6.0 inches Fairfax to 8.0 inches of snow in Cedar Rapids.
The COOP observer in Manchester reported 5.8 inches of snow. There is a public report of 7.0 inches in Manchester.
The COOP observer 4 miles west of Stanley reported 9.0 inches of snow.
COOP observer reports ranged from 3.5 inches in Vinton to 6.2 inches in Belle Plaine.
COOP observer snowfall reports ranged from 3.6 inches 3 miles south southwest of Anamosa to 8.0 inches in Monticello.
Snowfall reports ranged from 5.0 inches by a COOP observer in Maquoketa to 7.5 inches of snow reported by a trained spotter in St Donatus.
Snowfall reports ranged from 6.0 inches of snow by the COOP observer in North English to 12.2 inches by a trained spotter in Parnell.
Trained spotter reports ranged from 5.0 inches in Solon to 9.0 inches in Iowa City. The COOP observer on the southwest side of Iowa City reported 7.0 inches of snow.
Snowfall reports ranged from 5.0 inches by a trained spotter in Durant to 7.6 inches by the COOP observer in Lowden.
The COOP observer in Clinton reported 5.8 inches of snow.
Snowfall reports ranged from 4.5 inches 2 miles north of Muscatine by a COOP observer to 8.6 inches in Muscatine from a trained spotter.
The COOP observer in Sigourney reported 7.4 inches of snow.
Snowfall reports ranged from 5.0 inches in Washington to 5.5 inches by a trained spotter 4 miles east of Wellman.
A CoCoRaHS observer 5.4 miles southeast of Wapello reported 4.8 inches of snow.
The COOP observer in Fairfield reported 6.0 inches of snow.
The COOP observer 1 mile south of Salem reported 3 inches of snow.
Snowfall reports ranged from 1.5 inches from the COOP observer in Keosauqua to 3.0 inches in Cantril.
The COOP observer 2 miles south of Burlington reported 2.3 inches of snow.
The COOP observer 1 mile south of Salem reported 3 inches of snow.
A trained spotter reported 2.0 inches of snow and sleet. The COOP observer in both Fort Madison and Donnellson reported 2.5 inches of snow.
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: 937914, 937915, 937918, 937922, 938067, 938080, 938081, 938082, 938084, 938086, 938109, 938124, 938128, 938133, 938151, 938157, 938158, 938159, 938160, 938163, 938164, 938168.