A strong upper level storm system lifted northeast out of the southwest U.S. during the 9th and 10th.   A strong surge of moisture took place ahead of the low with widespread rain and thunderstorms across the Des Moines CWA.  At the surface, low pressure tracked across Kansas and moved into northwest Missouri by early afternoon.  The low became disorganized and reformed over the far southeast corner of Iowa by the late afternoon.  As this took place, colder air began to move east across the state.  The rain had changed over to snow over northwest Iowa by morning, with the rain/snow line progressing east through the afternoon and evening.  High pressure was building into the state from the northwest.  As the pressure gradient tightened, winds increased over western Iowa.  During the afternoon and evening hours, sustained winds in the central into north central part of the state were in the 15 to 25 MPH range, with frequent gusts of 30 to 35 MPH.  Visibility was reduced to under one half mile frequently for several hours.  Heavy snow also fell across the area with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour common, with isolated reports of 3 inches per hour as convection set up over the north central counties.  A band of heavy snow extended from southwest Iowa into the north central counties.  Snowfall of 8 to 10 inches was common in this band, with some areas even higher.  The snow tapered off rapidly east of the band.  Some of the heavier snowfall amounts included 12.5 inches in Cerro Gordo County at Mason City, 11.8 inches in Carroll County at Arcadia, 11 inches just to the southwest of Mason City, 11 inches in Webster County at Fort Dodge, and in Carroll in Carroll County, 10 inches in Otho in Webster County, and also in Winnebago County at Lake Mills.  Ice pellets occurred over central into north central Iowa during the changeover.  Thunderstorms developed in central Iowa at the time, with one dropping a half inch of ice pellets in Dallas County around 1330 CST.  Road conditions deteriorated rapidly across the northwest half of the state as heavy wet snow fell onto relatively warm ground and froze.  All roads in the northwest half were reported 100 percent ice covered.  There were intermittent road closings in north central Iowa and parts of central Iowa with numerous accidents. Interstates 29, 80 and 35 north of Ames were all closed at times, as was U.S. 30 and U.S. 20.

Winter Storm in WINNEBAGO, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 15:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in HANCOCK, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 15:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in WRIGHT, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 12:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in HAMILTON, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 12:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in HARDIN, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 15:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in STORY, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 15:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in GUTHRIE, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 12:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in AUDUBON, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 12:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in CASS, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 12:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in CRAWFORD, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 12:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in CARROLL, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 12:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in GREENE, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 12:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in KOSSUTH, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 15:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in EMMET, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 15:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in PALO ALTO, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 15:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in HUMBOLDT, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 12:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in WEBSTER, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 12:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in BOONE, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 12:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in DALLAS, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 12:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in WORTH, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 15:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in CERRO GORDO, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 15:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in FRANKLIN, IOWA
From 10-MAR-13 12:00:00 to 11-MAR-13 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter