A strong low pressure system lifted northeast out of the southern U.S. on the night of the 16th through the daytime hours of the 17th.  Surface low pressure formed over northeast Texas during the late afternoon of the 16th, then moved northeast into northeast Missouri, then into southeast Wisconsin.  A variety of winter weather occurred with this storm.  Initially, rain spread into Iowa from the south and turned to freezing rain and sleet during the night.  A narrow band of one quarter to one half inch of ice accretion took place from eastern Marion County at Lacy, northeast into central Tama County in the Tama-Toledo area.  Much the southeast half of Iowa received some freezing rain, however most amounts of ice accretion were one tenth of an inch or less.  The precipitation changed over to snow during the morning hours. The snow became heavy over the southeast half of the CWA, but the heavy snow did not last a long period of time.  At the same time, winds increase from the north-northwest to become sustained in the 25 to 35 MPH range, with frequent gusts to around 45 MPH.  The highest winds were recorded in Adair, with a 53 MPH wind gust, followed closely by a 52 MPH wind gust at Creston.  The winds caused considerable drifting and some blowing snow.  Brief whiteout conditions were reported in rural areas.  The heavy, wet, snow caused a great deal of travel problems.  Interstate 35 was closed during the afternoon of the 17th from Des Moines south to the Missouri border.  It is very fortunate that temperatures were not a degree or two cooler during the overnight hours of the 16th into early the 17th as the rain fell, and also that readings were near to just above freezing during the period of snow.  Had temperatures been 5 to 7 degrees cooler during the day on the 17th, this would have likely become a dangerous blizzard. Snowfall totals exceeded 6 inches in a small area of Mahaska, Wapello, into Jasper Counties, with nearly 6 inches reported at the Des Moines Airport.  Heavier snow accumulations included 8.3 inches one mile north of Ottumwa in Wapello County, and 8 inches in Jasper County at Kellogg.  A little over 6 inches in Oskaloosa, in Mahaska County.  A 6 inch total snowfall was also reported in Allerton, in Wayne County.  The total at the Des Moines Airport was 5.7 inches, for the highest report outside of the greater than 6 inch area to the southeast.

Winter Storm in MARION, IOWA
From 17-FEB-08 02:00:00 to 17-FEB-08 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Winter Storm in MAHASKA, IOWA
From 17-FEB-08 02:00:00 to 17-FEB-08 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Winter Storm in JASPER, IOWA
From 17-FEB-08 02:00:00 to 17-FEB-08 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Winter Storm in POWESHIEK, IOWA
From 17-FEB-08 02:00:00 to 17-FEB-08 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Winter Storm in TAMA, IOWA
From 17-FEB-08 02:00:00 to 17-FEB-08 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Winter Storm in WAPELLO, IOWA
From 17-FEB-08 02:00:00 to 17-FEB-08 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in WAYNE, IOWA
From 17-FEB-08 02:00:00 to 17-FEB-08 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer