A major winter storm developed over the central U.S. as a strong upper level system move in on the southern jet stream.  The system came through as a bowling ball type event as the upper low first became negatively tilted, then closed off over Iowa.  Low pressure moved across Kansas into northern Missouri, then turned northeast across central into northeast Iowa as it intensified.  The low dropped to about 978 mb as it moved through Iowa.  The low brought a variety of weather to the state, with a blizzard over much of the west half of the state, and thunderstorms with pea to marble size hail over the east half.  As the low passed to the east cold air and high winds overspread the state.  Sustained winds of 30 to 40 MPH were widespread, with occasional gusts to between 50 to 60 MPH were common.  Visibility in rural areas dropped to zero, remaining that way for an extended period of time.  Heavy snowfall occurred over the western part of Iowa with snowfall rates approaching 4 inches per hour at times as the snow was convective in nature.  A large area of Iowa northwest of a a Creston to Mason City line received in excess of 10 inches of snow.  Some of the heavier totals include 18 inches at Estherville, 17 inches at Carroll, 16.8 inches in Estherville, 15.5. inches in Ringsted, and 14 inches in Pocahontas, Atlantic, and Goldfield.  The combination of high winds, heavy snowfall, and the preexisting snow on the ground resulted in roads drifting shut quite rapidly.  Widespread blizzard conditions resulted in numerous road closures over the northwest half of the state.  Interstate 80 was closed westbound at Iowa City to the Nebraska border, and both east and westbound at Des Moines.  Interstate 35 was close both north and southbound at Ankeny to the Minnesota border.  Hundreds of people were stranded in their cars during the height of the blizzard.  The National Guard was called out to conduct numerous SAR missions.  Reports of 5 to 10 foot snow drifts were common across western and northern Iowa, with drifts of 16 feet reported in the Carroll area.  The high winds and wet snow caused additional power outages over parts of the state as well.  An additional 30,000 people lost power during the storm.  Governor Chet Culver declared the remaining 39 counties of the state disaster areas, bringing all 99 counties under disaster declaration.  In addition, a request was made to place 44 Iowa Counties into Federal Disaster Status.  The request was granted, along with two additional counties.  A total of 46 counties received a Presidential Disaster Declaration.  The blizzard was considered the worst blizzard in decades for parts of western Iowa.  In Carroll for example, the blizzard was the worst since the blizzard of 1947.  During the storm in Des Moines, thunderstorms moved across the city.  A woman was struck by lightning outside of Lovejoy Elementary School in Des Moines.  She received minor injuries and reported pain in her arm following the strike.

Blizzard in SAC, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in FRANKLIN, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in HAMILTON, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in HARDIN, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in BOONE, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in STORY, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in DALLAS, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in POLK, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in MADISON, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in UNION, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Lightning in POLK, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 09:00:00 to 01-MAR-07 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: DES MOINES
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Blizzard in CRAWFORD, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in CARROLL, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in AUDUBON, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in CASS, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in EMMET, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in PALO ALTO, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in KOSSUTH, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in POCAHONTAS, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in HUMBOLDT, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in CALHOUN, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in WEBSTER, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in GREENE, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in GUTHRIE, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in ADAIR, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in ADAMS, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in TAYLOR, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in WINNEBAGO, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in WORTH, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in HANCOCK, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in CERRO GORDO, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in WRIGHT, IOWA
From 01-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 02-MAR-07 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations