Low pressure developed over southwest Kansas during the night of the 19th into the day on the 20th.  The low turned northeast through Missouri into east central Iowa by the afternoon of the 20th.  A strong surge of moisture pushed north ahead of the low with dewpoint temperatures in the 40s to low 50s to the south of the low pressure track.  Northwest of the low, temperatures were quite mild for late February, generally in the low to mid 30s.  The storm began as very wet snow.  The wet snow continued into the evening hours and caused power outages.  At one point during the night, Alliant energy had over 16,000 customers across northern IA and southern MN without power. Many of the small towns across the north and portions of Mason City were without power from the storm (either tree limbs down on power lines or power lines down). Also as many as 650 were out across central and southern Iowa. MidAmerican Energy reported over 600 out in Fort Dodge and over 300 out in Waterloo overnight. There were still 6000 out across the north with Alliant Energy and 14 out with MidAmerican in Waterloo as the sun rose on the 21st.  Colder air began to move in during the evening hours.  The sub-freezing temperatures changed the texture of the snow. Winds increased gradually during the afternoon and evening hours.  Sustained winds were 25 to 35 MPH with gusts of 40 to 50 MPH through much of the night.  Conditions deteriorated rapidly through the night.  Interstate 35 was closed north of Ames and north into southern Minnesota due to blizzard conditions. A portion of Highway 69 became impassable in Hamilton county due to drifting snow.  The Iowa DOT pulled snow plows off of the roads during the blizzard with visibility reduced to zero.  Many areas received 3 to 6 inches of snow from the event.  Heaviest snowfall was over north central Iowa with some of the heavier amounts including 10.5 inches in Hancock at Britt, 9.5 inches in Wright County at Belmond, and 7.5 inches in Worth County at Manly and in Cerro Gordo County at Meservey.

Blizzard in HUMBOLDT, IOWA
From 20-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 21-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in WINNEBAGO, IOWA
From 20-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 21-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in HANCOCK, IOWA
From 20-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 21-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in WRIGHT, IOWA
From 20-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 21-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in WORTH, IOWA
From 20-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 21-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in CERRO GORDO, IOWA
From 20-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 21-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in FRANKLIN, IOWA
From 20-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 21-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in HARDIN, IOWA
From 20-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 21-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in BUTLER, IOWA
From 20-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 21-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in HAMILTON, IOWA
From 20-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 21-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in EMMET, IOWA
From 20-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 21-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in PALO ALTO, IOWA
From 20-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 21-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in POCAHONTAS, IOWA
From 20-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 21-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in SAC, IOWA
From 20-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 21-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in CALHOUN, IOWA
From 20-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 21-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in WEBSTER, IOWA
From 20-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 21-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in BOONE, IOWA
From 20-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 21-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in STORY, IOWA
From 20-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 21-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in BREMER, IOWA
From 20-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 21-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in GRUNDY, IOWA
From 20-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 21-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in KOSSUTH, IOWA
From 20-FEB-14 13:00:00 to 21-FEB-14 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations