A fast-moving and narrow snow band brought remarkably heavy snowfall rates to much of northeast Iowa during the late evening hours on February 19th through the morning on February 20th. Some locations likely received snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour at times during the overnight hours with the highest totals being in a narrow band through portions of Floyd, Chickasaw, Winneshiek, Fayette…
Every event with a place to put it; 8 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.
A fast-moving and narrow snow band brought remarkably heavy snowfall rates to much of northeast Iowa during the late evening hours on February 19th through the morning on February 20th. Some locations likely received snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour at times during the overnight hours with the highest totals being in a narrow band through portions of Floyd, Chickasaw, Winneshiek, Fayette and Allamakee counties where 12 to 16 inches of snow fell. Widespread totals in excess of 6 inches were noted across much of northeast Iowa.
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 Feb 19, 5:46 PM CST, 1 hour 14 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
546 PM CST Thu Feb 19 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- A compact, but potent, band of snow affects northeast IA
into southwest WI and north into central WI. Many locations
will very likely (60-95%) see 3"+ of snow south/east of a
Charles City to Tomah line while far southwest WI and adjacent
parts of northeast IA will likely (60-90%) see some 6" values.
A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for those areas favored
to reach 6".
- While confidence in the placement of the heaviest snow band
has increased enough for a Winter Storm Warning to be issued,
the northern side of the snow band will see a sharp cutoff in
snow amounts and impacts over just a few miles.
- Potential for additional light (<1") snow this weekend.
- Near or slightly below normal temperatures move in for the end
of the week and early next week with these looking to rebound
somewhat for next Tuesday and Wednesday.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 259 PM CST Thu Feb 19 2026
Band of snow tonight, heavy amounts likely in far SW WI and adjacent
parts of NE IA
18Z WV satellite shows an upper low over the MN Arrowhead and a
disturbance deepening over the KS/NE border. An upper jet is present
from S CA to MO. At the surface, low pressure is present under the
left exit of the upper jet with this being located in the Kansas
City area.
Into tonight, with the upper jet advancing over IL/IN, surface low
will shift east-northeast accordingly, becoming centered roughly in
the Milwaukee area by 12z Friday. Southerly warm advection in the
mid levels across the MS Valley ahead of the wave should lead to the
KS/NE wave becoming an upper low that will pass just to the SE of
our CWA. In concert with aforementioned warm advection, with
northerly flow aloft on the back side of the MN Arrowhead upper low
present, mid-level front will tighten with said frontogenesis
providing a relatively narrow axis of enhanced lift from central IA
into central WI. With robust forcing for ascent also being provided
by the approaching upper low, should get over 0.5" of liquid under
the strengthening mid-level front. With deep saturation through the
DGZ, primarily snow should result with rates above 1" possible,
although a short period of rain may occur before low level
temperatures drop just a degree or two. Snow rates would likely be
higher but, given much of the column is just below 0C and EPV*
fields suggest a stable atmosphere, expect a wetter snow character
overall and have moved forecast snow ratios toward the low side of
consensus, closer to 10:1. As the upper low occludes over WI, axis
of moisture should pivot from a SW-NE orientation to a more SSW-NNE
orientation Friday morning, leading to increased snow duration in
parts of central WI even as snow rates reduce as best QG forcing
shifts over MI and dry air entrainment around 700mb occurs.
Big question for days has been where exactly the tightening mid-
level front would be located as the upper wave moves northeast.
19.12z runs, including many short term models, have largely
converged on central IA northeast into far SW WI with the
aforementioned region at risk for a few extra hours with snow under
the pivoting band extending into central WI. Have therefore issued a
Winter Storm Warning for far SW WI (Crawford/Richland/Grant) and
adjacent areas of IA (Clayton/Allamakee/Fayette) for the main band
and Juneau/Adams for the pivot region. That said, with very dry air
lurking around 700mb as seeing on lower level WV satellite channel,
sharp northwest cutoff to snow amounts is expected. Thus, while
locations from around Charles City IA to Tomah WI have a Winter
Weather Advisory, snow amounts in these areas are highly uncertain,
with only a few miles potentially separating minor (~1")
accumulation from close to 5". Given this, any wobble in the
location of the band may lead to a big chance in snow amounts.
Finally, the dry intrusion around 700mb may open up a short period
of FZDZ on the northwestern edge of the band. Confidence in
occurrence remains low as some guidance, for example the 19.19z RAP,
suggests enough lift continues in the DGZ (rooted around 650mb) for
potential seeding of supercooled droplets closer to the surface if
ice crystals can make it through the dry intrusion.
Light snow this weekend
Pair of disturbances dive southeast out of Canada this weekend as
northwesterly flow aloft returns after a welcome absence. These may
kick off some flurries but accumulations look to be minor (19.13z
NBM 95th percentile snow across the entirety of Saturday and Sunday
is 1" or less).
Temperatures moderate next week
The dreaded northwest flow looks to be short lived as large scale
height rises occur over the western two thirds of the CONUS and
quasi zonal flow returns. Temperatures, having fallen to a bit below
normal over the weekend, return to the mid 30s to mid 40s Tuesday
and Wednesday.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 545 PM CST Thu Feb 19 2026
MVFR to VFR conditions currently present across the area. A
widespread area of rain and snow is working its way north through
Iowa and should move into the region in the next hour or so. Rain
will quickly transition to snow across the area through the evening
with snow then prevailing through the remainder of the event. The
heaviest band of snow looks to remain south of the terminals across
northeast Iowa and Southwest Wisconsin but KLSE is likely to see
some visibility reductions with the snow overnight (MVFR to IFR).
KRST could see some stray flakes but with the current expected pivot
of the storm, no significant impacts look to occur outside of the
MVFR CIGs already present (some high-end IFR could be possible
overnight). Snow will begin to move out of the KLSE terminal around
daybreak with some lingering flakes possible through the morning
hours. MVFR/IFR CIGs are expected to linger through the morning
before lifting to VFR late in the period. Northerly winds will pivot
to a more northwesterly direction through the period with gusts
between 20-30 kts expected to pick up later tonight and continue
through tomorrow afternoon.
&&
.ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...Winter Weather Advisory until 9 AM CST Friday for WIZ041-053.
Winter Storm Warning until 9 AM CST Friday for WIZ054-055-061.
Winter Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to 9 AM CST
Friday for WIZ034-042.
Winter Storm Warning from midnight tonight to noon CST Friday
for WIZ043-044.
MN...Winter Weather Advisory until 9 AM CST Friday for MNZ096.
IA...Winter Weather Advisory until 9 AM CST Friday for IAZ009-010-
018-019.
Winter Storm Warning until 9 AM CST Friday for IAZ011-029-030.
&&
DISCUSSION...Ferguson
AVIATION...BarendseHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service La Crosse WI 308 PM CST Thu Feb 19 2026 IAZ008-MNZ079-086>088-094-095-WIZ017-029-032-033-210115- Mitchell-Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Winona-Mower-Fillmore-Taylor-Clark- Buffalo-Trempealeau- 308 PM CST Thu Feb 19 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central Iowa...southeast Minnesota...central Wisconsin...north central Wisconsin and west central Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... No action needed. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... No webinar is scheduled. IAZ011-029-030-WIZ043-044-054-055-061-210115- Allamakee-Fayette-Clayton-Juneau-Adams-Crawford-Richland-Grant- 308 PM CST Thu Feb 19 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast Iowa...central Wisconsin and southwest Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Moderate to heavy snow moves in tonight. Accumulations around 3 to 7 inches are expected. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect this evening into Friday morning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Moderate to heavy snow is expected Friday morning. Accumulations around 3 to 7 inches are expected. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect this evening into Friday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Snow reports are appreciated. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... No webinar is scheduled. IAZ009-010-018-019-MNZ096-WIZ034-041-042-053-210115- Howard-Winneshiek-Floyd-Chickasaw-Houston-Jackson-La Crosse- Monroe-Vernon- 308 PM CST Thu Feb 19 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central Iowa...northeast Iowa...southeast Minnesota...southwest Wisconsin and west central Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Light to moderate snow is forecast for tonight, which may mix at times with freezing drizzle. Snow amounts of around 1 to 5 inches are expected and may vary considerably over the span of a few miles. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect this evening into early Friday morning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Light to moderate snow is forecast early Friday morning, which may mix at times with freezing drizzle. Snow amounts of around 1 to 5 inches are expected and may vary considerably over the span of a few miles. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect this evening into early Friday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Snow reports are appreciated. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... No webinar is scheduled. APF
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 winter storm, 1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
This snow band brought heavy snow to Chickasaw County with snowfall totals ranging from 10 to 16 inches across the county. The highest reported snowfall total was 1 mile east of Fredericksburg where 16 inches was measured.
This snow band brought heavy snow to Fayette County with snowfall totals ranging from 7 to 14 inches. The highest reported snowfall total was in Waucoma where 14 inches was measured.
This snow band brought heavy snow to Floyd County with snowfall totals ranging from 8 to 15 inches. The highest snowfall report in the county was in Marble Rock where 15 inches was measured.
This snow band brought heavy snow to Howard County with snowfall totals ranging from 5 to 8 inches. The highest reported snowfall total was in Cresco where 8 inches was measured.
The highest snowfall total report in Mitchell County was in Osage where 2 inches was measured.
This snow band brought heavy snow to Allamakee County with snowfall totals ranging from 8 to 13 inches. The highest reported snowfall total in the county was in Waukon where 13 inches was measured.
This snow band brought heavy snow to Clayton County where snowfall totals ranged from 4 to 7 inches. The highest reported snowfall total in the county was 1 mile south-southwest of Osborne where 6.2 inches was measured.
This snow band brought heavy snow to Winneshiek County with snowfall totals ranging from 9 to 15 inches across the county. The highest snowfall report in the county was in Fort Atkinson of 15 inches.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, February 2026
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: 1319613, 1319615, 1319616, 1319617, 1319618, 1319293, 1319614, 1319619.