As a shortwave disturbance rotated around a large southwest U.S. closed low aloft and into confluent flow aloft across the Northern Plains, light wintry precipitation developed on December 31. An arctic front surged southward early in the day with winds increasing to a gusty 30 to 45 mph, creating areas of blowing snow and visibility less than a half mile at times, as well as dangerously cold wind chills by late afternoon and evening of December 31.

Cold/Wind Chill in LYON, IOWA
From 31-DEC-18 18:00:00 to 31-DEC-18 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

After less than an inch of snowfall, winds increased to 35 to 45 mph as temperatures plummeted, taking wind chill values as low as -20 at Sioux Falls and -22 at Sheldon during the evening hours.

Cold/Wind Chill in DICKINSON, IOWA
From 31-DEC-18 20:00:00 to 31-DEC-18 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

After less than an inch of snowfall, winds increased to 35 to 45 mph as temperatures plummeted, taking wind chill values as low as -29 at Jackson and -21 at Spencer during the evening hours.

Cold/Wind Chill in OSCEOLA, IOWA
From 31-DEC-18 18:00:00 to 31-DEC-18 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

After less than an inch of snowfall, winds increased to 35 to 45 mph as temperatures plummeted, taking wind chill values as low as -32 at Worthington and -22 at Sheldon during the evening hours.

Cold/Wind Chill in CLAY, IOWA
From 31-DEC-18 22:00:00 to 31-DEC-18 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

After less than an inch of snowfall, winds increased to 35 to 45 mph as temperatures plummeted, taking wind chill values as low as -21 at Spencer during the evening hours.

Cold/Wind Chill in O'BRIEN, IOWA
From 31-DEC-18 21:00:00 to 31-DEC-18 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

After less than an inch of snowfall, winds increased to 35 to 45 mph as temperatures plummeted, taking wind chill values as low as -22 at Sheldon during the evening hours.

Winter Weather in LYON, IOWA
From 31-DEC-18 11:00:00 to 31-DEC-18 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snow accumulated to around an inch, and while winds gusted as high as 41 mph at Sioux Falls and 42 mph at Worthington and Beaver Creek, periods of blowing snow with visibility of one-half mile or less occurred between 1200-1800CST.

Cold/Wind Chill in SIOUX, IOWA
From 31-DEC-18 20:00:00 to 31-DEC-18 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

After less than an inch of snowfall, winds increased to 35 to 45 mph as temperatures plummeted, taking wind chill values as low as -20 at Orange City during the evening hours.

Winter Weather in OSCEOLA, IOWA
From 31-DEC-18 11:00:00 to 31-DEC-18 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snow accumulated to around an inch, and while winds gusted as high as 41 mph at Sioux Falls and 42 mph at Worthington and Beaver Creek, periods of blowing snow with visibility of one-half mile or less occurred between 1200-1800CST.