A large and slow moving intense low pressure system tracked out of the southern Plains and into southern Illinois and then to Lake Erie on February 26-27, 2013. In the meantime, an upper level low pushed across western Illinois and into the western Great Lakes region. This cyclone spread moderate to heavy snow across much of the area with snowfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches common, with isolated higher amounts. Wind gusts were in the 30 to 35 mph range producing some blowing and drifting as temperatures hovered near the freezing mark. At the height of the storm, snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour were reported. The highest amount of snow was 11.8 inches northeast of Downing, Missouri in Scotland county. An observer near Stanley, Iowa in Buchanan county measured 10 inches with almost 9 inches near Farmington in Van Buren county. At Freeport, Illinois in Stephenson county nearly 8 inches was reported.  Due to the heavy wet nature of the snow, combined with strong winds and temperatures near freezing, some power outages were noted.

Winter Storm in BENTON, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 12:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter measured 7.5 inches of snow at Vinton.

Winter Storm in BUCHANAN, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 10:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A COOP observer measured 10.0 inches of snow 4 miles west of Stanley.

Winter Storm in CEDAR, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 10:30:00 to 27-FEB-13 19:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A COOP observer measured 6.1 inches of snow at Lowden.

Winter Storm in CLINTON, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 11:55:00 to 27-FEB-13 20:15:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in DELAWARE, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 12:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter measured 5.8 inches of snow at Edgewood.

Winter Storm in DES MOINES, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 05:55:00 to 27-FEB-13 18:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in HENRY, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 06:50:00 to 27-FEB-13 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A CoCoRaHS observer measured 6.6 inches of snow near New London.

Winter Storm in JACKSON, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 13:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in JEFFERSON, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 07:30:00 to 27-FEB-13 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter measured 6.0 inches of snow at Fairfield.

Winter Storm in JOHNSON, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 10:50:00 to 27-FEB-13 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in JONES, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 14:15:00 to 27-FEB-13 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in KEOKUK, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 10:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter measured 7.0 inches of snow at What Cheer.

Winter Storm in DUBUQUE, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 14:30:00 to 27-FEB-13 20:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The observer at the Dubuque Regional Airport measured 5.9 inches of snow.

Winter Storm in IOWA, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 11:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter measured 7.5 inches of snow at Ladora.

Winter Storm in LEE, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 05:45:00 to 27-FEB-13 18:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter measured 7.3 inches of snow at Donnellson.

Winter Storm in LINN, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 13:05:00 to 27-FEB-13 19:10:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter measured 6.0 inches of snow at Cedar Rapids.

Winter Storm in LOUISA, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 09:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in MUSCATINE, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 10:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter measured 7.0 inches of snow at Muscatine.

Winter Storm in SCOTT, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 10:30:00 to 27-FEB-13 20:10:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A CoCoRaHS observer measured 7.9 inches of snow at Park View.

Winter Storm in VAN BUREN, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 06:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter measured 8.8 inches of snow 4 miles west of Farmington.

Winter Storm in WASHINGTON, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 10:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A COOP observer measured 7.5 inches of snow at Brighton.