A strong low pressure system, both surface and aloft, moved out of the southwest U.S. through the central states into the northeast U.S. during the 25th through 27th of February.  The surface low moved out of Oklahoma into Missouri on the morning of the 26th.  Snow spread north into southern Iowa before daybreak on the 26th, and continued north through the day.  A band of heavy snowfall with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hours set up during the morning from northeast into central and parts of south central Iowa.  The initial snow over southern Iowa was due to warm air advection.  As the system progressed, it turned into a banded heavy snow event.  A band of very heavy snow became established from southwest of Waterloo, into the Des Moines metro area, to near Lamoni.  The band was about 25 miles wide with snowfall of 8 to nearly 16 inches common within this area.  Snow amounts tapered off rather rapidly on either side of the band, however a broad band of 7 to 10 inch snowfall extended from south central into central and northeast Iowa.  The snow event was a prolonged event with the deformation zone holding nearly stationary over the state during the night of the 26th into the morning of the 27th.  The cold conveyer feeding the band extended all the way into the Mid-Atlantic States.  Some of the heavier snow totals include 16 inches in the city of Traer, with 15.5 inches west of Traer in Tama County, 14 inches at State Center in Marshall County and south of Evansdale in Black Hawk County, 13.8 inches northwest of Centerville in Appanoose County, 13.5 inches in Grundy Center in Grundy County as well as north of La Porte City in Black Hawk County and north of Winterset in Madison County, 13.1 inches at Lamoni in Decatur County.  Several locations across central into northeast Iowa received between 11 and 13 inches with numerous reports over 10 inches.  Roads became snow covered and slippery, especially during the morning of the 26th, and again after sunset on the 26th into the morning of the 27th.  Hundreds of traffic accidents were reported.  In Des Moines, near gridlock occurred as snowfall rates of 2 inches per hour and 1/8 mile visibility occurred during the height of rush hour.  During the daylight hours, many roads became wet due to the lateness of the season and mild temperatures.  There were few reports of blowing snow during this event, however considerable drifting of snow occurred with winds of 20 to 30 MPH and gusty during the height of the storm.  Numerous events were canceled or postponed both on the 26th and morning of the 27th.

Heavy Snow in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 04:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in DECATUR, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 04:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in WAYNE, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 04:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in UNION, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 05:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in CLARKE, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 05:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in LUCAS, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 05:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in MONROE, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 05:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in WAPELLO, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 05:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in MADISON, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 06:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in WARREN, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 06:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in DALLAS, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 06:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in POLK, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 06:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in JASPER, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 06:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in POWESHIEK, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 06:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in BOONE, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 08:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in TAMA, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 08:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in BUTLER, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 08:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in APPANOOSE, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 04:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in DAVIS, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 04:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in MARION, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 06:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in MAHASKA, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 06:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in STORY, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 08:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in MARSHALL, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 08:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in HARDIN, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 08:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in BLACK HAWK, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 08:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Snow in GRUNDY, IOWA
From 26-FEB-13 08:00:00 to 27-FEB-13 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter