A cold front dropped southeast across the state during the evening of the 3rd and early morning of the 4th.  The front stalled to the south of Iowa across central Missouri.  A very strong baroclinic zone set up across the frontal boundary with temperatures in the teens to low 20s north of the front, and in the 40s and 50s to the south of it.  An upper level vorticity maximum moved across the state during the day on the 4th.  In addition, very strong frontogenetic forcing was in place.  The heavy snow fell in two bands.  The northern band  was about 20 miles wide and extended from near Denison in Crawford County, through southern Webster County, then through Bremer County.  The snow in this band was caused by very strong mid level forcing.  The heaviest snow fell in Franklin,  Butler and Bremer Counties.  Twelve inches of snow fell in Waverly in Bremer County, 11 inches fell in Franklin County at Hampton, and also in Clarksville in Butler County.  General snow amounts in the band, outside of these heavier reports, were in the 6 to 9 inch range.  To the south, heavy snow was more associated with lower level forcing and some convection.  A broad band of snow in the 5 to 7 inch range fell from southeast of Des Moines on east.  Some of the heavier snow reported was in Mahaska County at Oskaloosa with 7.5 inches, in Marion County at Knoxville, and in Wapello County at Ottumwa.  There was some patchy sleet and freezing drizzle mixed with the snow in the southern band at the onset, however it did not last very long.  Due to the cold temperatures, the snow was very light and fluffy.  It did cause some travel problems, but did not cause any major disruption.  Winds during the event were in the 15 to 25 MPH range.  This was enough to cause drifting, but not strong enough to restrict visibility in blowing snow.  Damage from the storm system was very minor.

Heavy Snow in WRIGHT, IOWA
From 04-MAR-03 10:00:00 to 05-MAR-03 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in BUTLER, IOWA
From 04-MAR-03 10:00:00 to 05-MAR-03 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in GRUNDY, IOWA
From 04-MAR-03 10:00:00 to 05-MAR-03 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in STORY, IOWA
From 04-MAR-03 10:00:00 to 05-MAR-03 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in HARDIN, IOWA
From 04-MAR-03 10:00:00 to 05-MAR-03 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in BOONE, IOWA
From 04-MAR-03 10:00:00 to 05-MAR-03 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in GREENE, IOWA
From 04-MAR-03 10:00:00 to 05-MAR-03 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in MAHASKA, IOWA
From 04-MAR-03 10:00:00 to 05-MAR-03 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in BLACK HAWK, IOWA
From 04-MAR-03 10:00:00 to 05-MAR-03 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in POWESHIEK, IOWA
From 04-MAR-03 10:00:00 to 05-MAR-03 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in CARROLL, IOWA
From 04-MAR-03 10:00:00 to 05-MAR-03 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in FRANKLIN, IOWA
From 04-MAR-03 10:00:00 to 05-MAR-03 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in CALHOUN, IOWA
From 04-MAR-03 10:00:00 to 05-MAR-03 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in HAMILTON, IOWA
From 04-MAR-03 10:00:00 to 05-MAR-03 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in WAPELLO, IOWA
From 04-MAR-03 10:00:00 to 05-MAR-03 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in MONROE, IOWA
From 04-MAR-03 10:00:00 to 05-MAR-03 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in BREMER, IOWA
From 04-MAR-03 10:00:00 to 05-MAR-03 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in WEBSTER, IOWA
From 04-MAR-03 10:00:00 to 05-MAR-03 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in MARION, IOWA
From 04-MAR-03 10:00:00 to 05-MAR-03 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in CRAWFORD, IOWA
From 04-MAR-03 10:00:00 to 05-MAR-03 01:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.