A late winter storm moved into Iowa, leaving behind it one of the heaviest snowfalls on record in some areas, and a record March snowfall in several locations.  The storm system was not what one would typically expect in that the low took a southeast track from the Rockies, southeast into Kansas, then east into Missouri.  The overall flow pattern over the central U.S. as northwest, however a closed low in the mid levels formed and passed over Iowa.  The surface features were not all that impressive.  Considerable dynamics were found in the mid level of the atmosphere.  Analysis showed a  large area of isentropic lift with upward vertical velocities in the 10 to 15 microbars/sec in the dendritic layer.  Low and mid level winds of 55 kts drew copious moisture north into Iowa.  Snow developed during the predawn hours of the 15th and became heavy before sunrise.  Heavy snow criteria was reached by 0700 CST in west central Iowa.  The heavy snow spread east and reached central parts of central Iowa by the morning rush hour, and the southeast sections of the Des Moines CWA by late afternoon.  The heaviest snow fell in a band about 30 miles wide extending from just south of Denison, through Des Moines, to between Oskaloosa and Ottumwa.  In this band snowfall was in the 12 to 18 inch range.  Some of the heavier totals included 18.1 inches in Windsor Heights, 16.3 inches in Carroll, 16.2 inches at the WFO in Johnston, and 16 inches at Knoxville in Marion County, and Perry in Dallas County.  The official calendar day snowfall in Des Moines, measured at the WFO in Johnston, for the 15th was 15.6 inches.  That total will stand as the record for the greatest calendar day snowfall for the month of March and the third highest calendar day snowfall on record for the city.  The all-time record snowfall for Des Moines is 19.8 inches, set on 01 January, 1942, with 26  December 1898 coming in second with 17 inches.  In spite of the heavy snowfall, travel problems were limited.  Most of the cities were able to keep streets cleared of snow as soil temperatures were in the upper 30s to low 40s at the onset of the snow.  Rural areas had some problems with drifting.  Though it was not all that windy during the storm, east to northeast winds of 15 to 20 MPH did cause some drifting.  Several event cancellations occurred on the evening of the 15th.  A few schools in the harder hit area remained closed or started classes late on the morning of the 16th.

Heavy Snow in CLARKE, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in CRAWFORD, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in DALLAS, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in DAVIS, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in DECATUR, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in GREENE, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in GUTHRIE, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in JASPER, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in LUCAS, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in MADISON, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in MAHASKA, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in MARION, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in MARSHALL, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in MONROE, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in POLK, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in POWESHIEK, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in STORY, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in TAMA, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in TAYLOR, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in UNION, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in WAPELLO, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in WARREN, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in WAYNE, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in ADAMS, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in APPANOOSE, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in AUDUBON, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in BOONE, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in CARROLL, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in CASS, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Heavy Snow in ADAIR, IOWA
From 15-MAR-04 07:00:00 to 16-MAR-04 02:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.