March began with very welcome mild weather as temperatures reached 74�� at Keosauqua on the 2nd.  Iowa entered the month with an extensive and very moisture-rich snowpack over northern areas of the state.   Snowmelt, fortunately, was gradual, without any prolonged warm-ups.  Additionally, precipitation was well below normal over most of Iowa in March. The result was that snowmelt flooding, although widespread, did not reach severe proportions in most areas.  Preliminary precipitation totals varied from 0.43 inches at Swea City to 2.68 inches at Dubuque.  Snowfall was frequent during the month, and preliminary amounts ranged from just 0.3 inches at Washington to 12.0 inches at Sanborn.  The statewide average snowfall was 4.1 inches, which was 0.7 inches below normal.  The preliminary seasonal snowfall total for Iowa stands at 43.8 inches or 13.3 inches above normal to rank as the 14th snowiest season among 121 years of record.  Streamflow across Iowa was elevated through the month March.  Ice jams moved out of the state���s rivers in the beginning of the month with some minor flooding along the Raccoon, Des Moines, Iowa, Cedar and Grand Basins in central Iowa.  Flooding would also occur downstream toward the Mississippi River.  The early March warm up would also cause snowmelt flooding with some water problems in central Iowa.  Streamflow would continue to be elevated for the rest of the month.  Two other periods of flooding occurred during the month and will be addressed later.  Since significant rainfall events were not the main issue, another extended narrative will not be composed.  The flooding that occurred during the month was not major and generally restricted to agricultural lands.  It was fortunate that precipitation for the month was below normal as there was a considerable snowpack at the beginning of the month.

Flood in WAYNE, IOWA
From 02-MAR-08 15:30:00 to 03-MAR-08 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: CONFIDENCE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Flood in WARREN, IOWA
From 02-MAR-08 16:45:00 to 03-MAR-08 07:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: HARTFORD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Flood in WARREN, IOWA
From 03-MAR-08 21:45:00 to 05-MAR-08 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHURCHVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Flood in WARREN, IOWA
From 02-MAR-08 16:45:00 to 03-MAR-08 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: MILO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Flood in MAHASKA, IOWA
From 03-MAR-08 04:15:00 to 06-MAR-08 00:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: PEORIA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Flood in LUCAS, IOWA
From 03-MAR-08 06:00:00 to 03-MAR-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: RUSSELL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Flood in LUCAS, IOWA
From 02-MAR-08 13:15:00 to 07-MAR-08 12:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: RUSSELL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Flood in POLK, IOWA
From 02-MAR-08 23:15:00 to 03-MAR-08 11:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: (DSM)DES MOINES INTL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Flood in DALLAS, IOWA
From 02-MAR-08 18:15:00 to 03-MAR-08 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: VAN METER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Flood in DALLAS, IOWA
From 02-MAR-08 21:45:00 to 03-MAR-08 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HADDEN HILL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations