March 23-24, 2016 Northern Iowa Winter Storm

Overview

A strong spring storm system affected the Midwest from March 23-24, 2016, bringing heavy snow along a narrow but lengthy path. Over a foot of snow was reported in many locations. Across Iowa, this band of heavy snow set up along a line from Sioux City to north of Mason City. Up to 13 inches fell over north central Iowa. Snowfall amounts rapidly fell off south of this line, though freezing rain over northeast Iowa also made roads very slick. Winds of 25 to 35 mph with higher gusts led to near whiteout conditions in some locations. Across southern Iowa, widespread thunderstorms swept through during the late afternoon and evening hours with some storms producing hail up to the size of quarters. Thundersnow was also quite common, especially on the south side of the heavy snow band.


Snowfall Totals Across Iowa Courtesy of the IEM	Road Conditions Reported over Northern Iowa Courtesy of the IEM	Blowing Snow led to Very Difficult Travel Courtesy of the IADOT

Snow/Ice
Radar
Additional

Snow/Ice

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1131 AM CDT THU MAR 24 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0800 AM     SNOW             RUTHVEN                 43.13N 94.90W
03/24/2016  E10.0 INCH       PALO ALTO          IA   PUBLIC           

            VIA SOCIAL MEDIA 

0700 AM     SNOW             1 S LAKE MILLS          43.40N 93.53W
03/24/2016  M6.5 INCH        WINNEBAGO          IA   CO-OP OBSERVER   

            COOP OBSERVER MEASURED 6.5 INCHES OF SNOW 
            OVER LAST 24 HOURS. 

0508 AM     SNOW             FONDA                   42.58N 94.85W
03/24/2016  E4.0 INCH        POCAHONTAS         IA   PUBLIC           

            CITY OFFICIAL REPORTED THE AMOUNT. ALSO 
            REPORTED AROUND A HALF INCH OF SLEET/ICING 
            FROM A WINTRY MIX BEFORE THE SNOW. 

0302 AM     SNOW             DAKOTA CITY             42.72N 94.20W
03/24/2016  E3.5 INCH        HUMBOLDT           IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            SOME SLEET AND ICING EARLIER...WITH 3 TO 4 
            INCHES OF SNOW SO FAR. 

0302 AM     SNOW             FOREST CITY             43.26N 93.65W
03/24/2016  E4.0 INCH        WINNEBAGO          IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

             

0301 AM     HEAVY SNOW       ALGONA                  43.07N 94.23W
03/24/2016  E7.0 INCH        KOSSUTH            IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            ESTIMATED 6 TO 8 INCHES. 

0301 AM     SNOW             ESTHERVILLE             43.40N 94.83W
03/24/2016  E4.5 INCH        EMMET              IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            ESTIMATED 4 TO 5 INCHES. 

0300 AM     HEAVY SNOW       EMMETSBURG              43.11N 94.68W
03/24/2016  E7.5 INCH        PALO ALTO          IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            ESTIMATED 7 TO 8 INCHES. 

0300 AM     HEAVY SNOW       POCAHONTAS              42.74N 94.67W
03/24/2016  E6.0 INCH        POCAHONTAS         IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

             

0258 AM     SNOW             1 E EARLY               42.46N 95.13W
03/24/2016  E1.5 INCH        SAC                IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            NORTHERN PORTION OF COUNTY 1 TO 2 
            INCHES...SOUTHERN PORTION LESS THAN AN INCH. 

0210 AM     SNOW             1 SSE MASON CITY        43.13N 93.19W
03/24/2016  E4.0 INCH        CERRO GORDO        IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

             

0600 AM     SNOW             MASON CITY              43.15N 93.20W
03/24/2016  M5.0 INCH        CERRO GORDO        IA   CO-OP OBSERVER   

            COOP OBSERVER RECORDED 5 INCHES OF SNOW OVER 
            THE LAST 24 HOURS. 

0700 AM     SNOW             3 E SWEA CITY           43.39N 94.25W
03/24/2016  M8.5 INCH        KOSSUTH            IA   CO-OP OBSERVER   

            COOP OBSERVER REPORTED 8.5 INCHES SNOWFALL 
            OVER LAST 24 HOURS.

0700 AM     SNOW             RINGSTED                43.29N 94.51W
03/24/2016  M13.0 INCH       EMMET              IA   CO-OP OBSERVER   

            COOP OBSERVER MEASURED 13 INCHES OF 
            SNOWFALL. 

0845 AM     SNOW             FORT DODGE              42.51N 94.18W
03/24/2016  M1.0 INCH        WEBSTER            IA   BROADCAST MEDIA  

            REPORT VIA WHOTV

0800 AM     SNOW             GRAETTINGER             43.24N 94.75W
03/24/2016  E12.0 INCH       PALO ALTO          IA   PUBLIC           

            PUBLIC REPORTED 12 INCHES OF SNOWFALL, VIA 
            SOCIAL MEDIA.  

0800 AM     SNOW             1 W CLEAR LAKE          43.14N 93.38W
03/24/2016  M4.0 INCH        CERRO GORDO        IA   PUBLIC           

            PUBLIC MEASURED 4 INCHES SNOW IN CLEAR LAKE 
            VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 

0815 AM     SNOW             ALGONA                  43.07N 94.23W
03/24/2016  E11.0 INCH       KOSSUTH            IA   PUBLIC           

            PUBLIC REPORTED 11 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE 
            GROUND, VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.  

0830 AM     SNOW             SCARVILLE               43.47N 93.62W
03/24/2016  E8.0 INCH        WINNEBAGO          IA   PUBLIC           

            PUBLIC REPORTED 8 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW ON 
            THE GROUND, VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 

0830 AM     SNOW             ESTHERVILLE             43.40N 94.83W
03/24/2016  E7.0 INCH        EMMET              IA   PUBLIC           

            PUBLIC REPORTED 7 INCHES OF SNOW OVER THE 
            LAST 24 HOURS, VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

Radar Loop of Event:

24 Hour Radar Loop from 9:00am March 23 to 9:00am March 24, 2016

Additional Information

Summaries from other NWS Offices

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