A late winter storm took aim on Iowa on the 15th.  Initially, a large amount of very warm air was drawn north into the state, sending temperatures into the 50s over the southern third of the state.  This caused a considerable amount of snow melt during the day on the 14th.  During the early morning of the 15th, rain began to breakout over the southeast part of the state.  During this time, a complex weather system was taking shape over the southwest High Plains.  Two upper level systems merged over the central U.S., forming one low pressure system over south central Kansas by the morning of the 15th.  During this time, cold air began to sink south into Iowa.  the low tracked east across Missouri, eventually passing just south of St. Louis.  A large precipitation shield formed on the north and west sides of the low.  This deformation zone precipitation remained stationary for several hours.  Rain changed to snow over central Iowa by the early afternoon hours of the 15th, with snow falling over most of the south half of the state by the mid evening hours.  Snow fell heavily through the night with a large area of eight inches or more reported from parts of central Iowa, south into south central Iowa.  The heaviest snow fall over  the south central counties.  A National Weather Service off-duty employee measured 14 inches of snow in central Decatur County.  In nearby Lamoni, a NWS observer reported 12.4 inches from the storm.  A band of very heavy snow, about 25 miles wide, extended from Lamoni northeast into Marion County.   Ten inch plus reports were received in this area, with a narrow area of 12 inch plus amounts extending from Lamoni into Clarke and southeast Marion Counties.  There was a sharp cut off of the heavy snowfall as you went northwest.  Des Moines was near the northwest edge of the snow.  Nearby Ames to the north received about an inch, while the NWS office in Johnston on the north side of the metropolitan area picked up 5.1 inches.  Just 10 miles to the south of the NWS office, 8.2 inches was measured in the city of Windsor Heights.    Even though the winds during the event were in the 20 to 40 MPH range, there was little blowing snow due to the very wet nature of the snow.  Some drifting occurred and caused some problems with travel conditions.  The very wet nature of the snow also caused some power outages.  Snow caked on trees and power lines.  A few branches were broken by the weight of the snow, resulting in the power outages.   Nearly all schools across the southeast third of the state were closed by the storm.

Heavy Snow in ADAIR, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 17:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in ADAMS, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 17:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in APPANOOSE, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 17:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in CLARKE, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 17:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in DALLAS, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 17:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in DAVIS, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 17:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in DECATUR, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 17:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 75K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in JASPER, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 17:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in LUCAS, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 17:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in MADISON, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 17:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in MAHASKA, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 17:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in MARION, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 17:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in MONROE, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 17:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in POLK, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 17:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 50K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in POWESHIEK, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 17:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 17:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 50K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in TAYLOR, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 17:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in UNION, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 17:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in WAPELLO, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 17:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in WARREN, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 17:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in WAYNE, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 17:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 50K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.