Severe to local extreme drought conditions persisted across Iowa in January. However, there was normal to above normal moisture during the month which helped to slightly improve conditions although this was limited by frozen ground conditions in many areas.
Every event with a place to put it; 16 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 DMX wrote it up.
Severe to local extreme drought conditions persisted across Iowa in January. However, there was normal to above normal moisture during the month which helped to slightly improve conditions although this was limited by frozen ground conditions in many areas.
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 Dec 31, 11:32 PM CST, 28 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Des Moines IA 1132 PM CST Sat Dec 31 2022 ...Updated for the 06z Aviation Discussion... .DISCUSSION.../Tonight through Saturday/ Issued at 356 PM CST Sat Dec 31 2022 Forecast Highlights: - Light precipitation ends into tonight, with increasing fog potential mainly northeast - Dry Sunday, then impactful winter storm Monday through midweek, especially north/northwest - Dry weather returns late in the work week, with more precipitation possible Saturday Not much to note in the way of precipitation today as a shortwave continues to pivot across the upper Midwest. Despite widespread low to moderate reflectivity values seen on radar through the morning and into the afternoon, little rain to freezing rain was reported at times over portions of central into eastern/northeastern Iowa. Overall this did not create any major impacts, though far northeastern Iowa has seen a bit more in terms of freezing rain, with partially covered roads with slick conditions being reported this afternoon. Any remaining precipitation is expected to be light and limited mainly east of I-35 over the next few hours before drying out. Temperatures have warmed up about what was expected for the day, largely thanks to low level southwesterly flow, with values in the 30s to the north into central Iowa and in the 40s further south/southwest. With a rather strong low-level inversion setting up tonight into Sunday, along with a good signal for saturation in the lower levels approaching 1 kilometer per model soundings, patchy fog is expected to develop largely over northeastern Iowa. The HREF also hints at low visibilities as well, largely over the northeastern/eastern portions of the state. Uncertainty increases further west into western/central Iowa as model guidance is a bit divided in terms of saturation, where the GFS is overall much more dry than the more saturated NAM. Will continue to monitor trends and see how conditions evolve into the evening for more widespread fog potential, but highest confidence remains northeast. Overnight lows are expected to fall into the 20s to low 30s with cloudy skies. Outside of some lingering fog Sunday morning, conditions are looking to remain quiet and mild as temperatures improve through the 30s north and in the 40s south, even near 50 degrees near the IA/MO border. Looking ahead into early next week, the signal remains strong of a deepening trough with a developing low pressure system pushing east across the western CONUS into the Central Great Plains late Sunday into Monday, bringing an impactful winter system to the region. Precipitation is expected to start out Monday morning mainly across the west/northwestern portions of Iowa before becoming more widespread through the day. The NAM and Canadian models suggest that the system may develop precipitation into southern Iowa before lifting further north through the morning, though dry air would be a concern to really get much to reach the surface. The GFS and Euro are a bit more realistic on the onset occurring further west and north before progressing further east. Overall the main concern remains the types and evolution of precipitation as the system moves through the region. Guidance generally has the system progressing throughout Monday before forcing with increased moisture surge brings the highest QPF amounts Monday evening into Tuesday morning. The precip types however are becoming a bit more agreeable between models, with most of the state Monday seeing warmer south/southeasterly flow keeping temperatures well above freezing for much of the state to allow for widespread rain. Further north/northwest, rain may start out but with temperatures falling below freezing with a warm layer still in the low levels, freezing rain is looking more likely Monday evening into Tuesday. The GFS suggests that ice accumulations of a trace to a tenth of an inch over far northwestern Iowa and rain elsewhere as warmer air remains across much of the state. The Euro however has a cooler signal with ice accumulations occurring along northern and northwestern Iowa in the tenth to half inch range, which given the overall cooling trends expected, is a bit more realistic but may be a bit high for actual possible accumulations Given this, along with coordination with neighboring offices, have issues a Winter Storm Watch across our northern tiered counties from 21z Monday to 00z Tuesday as significant travel impacts would be expected given this icing potential, with general amounts between a tenth to quarter inch looking possible at this time. Will continue to monitor trends closely and will make adjustments as needed with the new data. Further south, with instability present in the warm sector, cannot rule out isolated thunder at times over southern/southeastern Iowa Monday evening/Tuesday morning. By Tuesday, general consensus among guidance has precipitation turning over largely to snow across the north and into portions of north central to eastern Iowa. With the general placement of the deformation zone over North Dakota into Minnesota and Wisconsin and good moisture availability, snow accumulations will likely be quite impactful. This is generally looking to include portions of northwestern Iowa of at least 2 or more inches. However the remainder of the state looks to see minimal accumulations, especially into central/southern Iowa where temperatures will remain warmer and moisture availability is much less. Some periods of dry conditions are even looking possible as indicated from the GFS for parts of central into southern Iowa. As the system departs through Wednesday however, may see some lingering snow chances mainly north and east though overall little accumulations are expected. Winds will increase out of the northwest Tuesday into early Wednesday as the backside of the system pulls through, though overall only looks to bring mainly breezy conditions with gusts in the 20 to 25 mph range. This will drop temperatures across the state largely in the 20s to low 30s, though will be coolest northwest in the teens. Plenty of dry air moves in Wednesday as a narrow area of upper level ridging follows behind the departing system. Quiet weather looks to come with this at least for the remainder of the work week as high pressure moves through the region, with temperatures gradually warming back into the 30s to 40s. Another trough however is signaled to progress east into the region by the weekend. This looks to bring in at least another chance for precipitation Saturday. Models are quite difference in terms of track and forcing variables, as the GFS has any developing precip further east of Iowa while Canadian and Euro has the development over Iowa. Overall a lot of uncertainty considering how far out this is, and will depend how the early week system plays out so specific details are not certain at this time. && .AVIATION.../For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Sunday night/ Issued at 1132 PM CST Sat Dec 31 2022 Confidence in fog development overnight has dropped, as model data continues to depict fog much more widespread versus observations. Thus have reduced fog at KALO/KMCW with timing more likley around sunrise Sunday morning. Improvement to VFR is then expected through the rest of the day. Wind will remain light and variable in advance of the larger Monday system. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Watch from Monday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon for IAZ004>007-015>017-023-024. && DISCUSSION...Bury AVIATION...Hagenhoff
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Des Moines IA 239 PM CST Sat Dec 31 2022 IAZ025>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075-081>086-092>097-011300- Wright-Franklin-Butler-Bremer-Sac-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- 239 PM CST Sat Dec 31 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Light snow or ice accumulations may be possible from late Monday into Tuesday, mainly north of a line from around Atlantic to Iowa Falls. However, the more significant accumulations and impacts should remain further north toward Algona and Mason City. A few non-severe thunderstorms are also possible over southern and eastern Iowa Monday night. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. IAZ004>007-015>017-023-024-011300- Emmet-Kossuth-Winnebago-Worth-Palo Alto-Hancock-Cerro Gordo- Pocahontas-Humboldt- 239 PM CST Sat Dec 31 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight Patchy freezing fog is possible overnight tonight into Sunday morning, and could lead to some slick patches and reduced visibility at times on area roadways. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for the area from Monday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon. Please refer to the National Weather Service website at weather.gov/desmoines for further details. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. Lee
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
16 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe drought conditions persisted across Emmet County during January despite above normal precipitation. With the ground frozen, there was little if any recharge of soils and ground water.
Severe to extreme drought conditions persisted across Palo Alto County during January despite above normal precipitation. With the ground frozen, there was little if any recharge of soils and ground water.
Severe to extreme drought conditions persisted across Kossuth County during January despite above normal precipitation. With the ground frozen, there was little if any recharge of soils and ground water.
Severe drought conditions persisted across portions of Hancock County during January despite above normal precipitation. With the ground frozen, there was little if any recharge of soils and ground water.
Severe drought conditions persisted across portions of Wright County during January despite above normal precipitation. With the ground frozen, there was little if any recharge of soils and ground water.
Severe to extreme drought conditions persisted across Humboldt County during January despite above normal precipitation. With the ground frozen, there was little if any recharge of soils and ground water.
Extreme drought conditions persisted across Pocahontas County during January despite above normal precipitation. With the ground frozen, there was little if any recharge of soils and ground water.
Severe to extreme drought conditions persisted across Sac County during January despite above normal precipitation. With the ground frozen, there was little if any recharge of soils and ground water.
Severe to extreme drought conditions persisted across Calhoun County during January despite above normal precipitation. With the ground frozen, there was little if any recharge of soils and ground water.
Severe to extreme drought conditions persisted across Webster County during January despite above normal precipitation. With the ground frozen, there was little if any recharge of soils and ground water.
Severe drought conditions persisted across portions of Hamilton County during January despite above normal precipitation. With the ground frozen, there was little if any recharge of soils and ground water.
Severe drought conditions persisted across Crawford County during January despite above normal precipitation. With the ground frozen, there was little if any recharge of soils and ground water.
Severe drought conditions persisted across portions of Carroll County during January despite above normal precipitation. With the ground frozen, there was little if any recharge of soils and ground water.
Severe drought conditions persisted across portions of Greene County during January despite above normal precipitation. With the ground frozen, there was little if any recharge of soils and ground water.
Severe drought conditions persisted across portions of Wapello County during January as a deficit of precipitation continued.
Severe drought conditions persisted across portions of Davis County during January as a deficit of precipitation continued.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, January 2023
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: 1075159, 1075160, 1075161, 1075162, 1075163, 1075164, 1075165, 1075166, 1075167, 1075168, 1075169, 1075170, 1075171, 1075172, 1075173, 1075174.