A strong mid-level trough pushed across the Rockies on January 21, and developed into a closed cyclone across the central Plains. As low pressure deepened moving from Kansas to the Great Lakes on January 22, precipitation wrapped back into a tight deformation zone on the northwest flank of the storm. Initially warm enough for rain, colder air rushed in as northwest winds rapidly increased to a gusty 35 to 55 mph and brought a rapid change to snow early on January 22. Widespread visibility of a quarter mile or less with snow, heavy at times, continued through late afternoon. More than 4 inches of snow blanketed northwest Iowa, highlighted by a band from Sioux City to Spirit Lake from 9 to 15 inches.

Blizzard in WOODBURY, IOWA
From 22-JAN-18 08:00:00 to 22-JAN-18 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Rain changed to snow around 0000CST January 22, with northwest winds increasing during the early morning to a gusty 35 to 45 mph. Frequent wind gusts along with heavy falling snow produced near zero visibility starting before daybreak, which continued into late afternoon.  Schools were closed across the area on January 22, and Sioux City closed public buildings.  Two jackknifed semi-trucks blocked Highway 20 east of Sioux City around 1200CST, about which time a tow ban was issued across all of northwest Iowa.  The wind and snowfall caused 70 power outages around Sioux City, affecting around 800 customers.  Winds peaked midday with a gust to 44 mph at Sioux Gateway airport. Weather conditions gradually improved toward 1700CST, but travel was not advised well into Monday night. Total snowfall was measured at 12.1 inches at Sioux City.

Blizzard in IDA, IOWA
From 22-JAN-18 09:00:00 to 22-JAN-18 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Rain changed to snow around 0400CST January 22, with northwest winds increasing during the early morning to a gusty 35 to 45 mph. Frequent wind gusts along with heavy falling snow produced visibility frequently a quarter mile or less starting mid morning, which continued into late afternoon.  Schools were closed across the area on January 22.  Around 1200CST, a tow ban was issued across all of northwest Iowa due to deteriorated conditions.  Weather conditions gradually improved toward 1700CST, but travel was not advised well into the night. Total snowfall was measured at 3.5 inches at Holstein.

Blizzard in PLYMOUTH, IOWA
From 22-JAN-18 08:00:00 to 22-JAN-18 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Rain changed to snow around 0100CST January 22, with northwest winds increasing during the early morning to a gusty 35 to 45 mph. Frequent wind gusts along with heavy falling snow produced visibility frequently a quarter mile or less starting around daybreak, which continued into late afternoon. A peak wind gust of 47 mph was measured at Le Mars at 0635CST. Schools were closed across the area on January 22.  Around 1200CST, a tow ban was issued across all of northwest Iowa due to deteriorated conditions.  Weather conditions gradually improved toward 1600CST, but travel was not advised well into the night. Total snowfall of 11.3 inches was measured at Remsen.

Blizzard in CHEROKEE, IOWA
From 22-JAN-18 10:00:00 to 22-JAN-18 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Rain changed to snow around 0600CST January 22, with northwest winds increasing during the early morning to a gusty 35 to 45 mph. Frequent wind gusts along with heavy falling snow produced visibility frequently a quarter mile or less starting around mid morning, which continued into late afternoon. A peak wind gust of 45 mph was measured at Cherokee at 0655CST. Schools were closed across the area on January 22. County plows were removed from roads around 0900CST. By 1200CST, a tow ban was issued across all of northwest Iowa due to deteriorated conditions.  Weather conditions gradually improved toward 1600CST, but travel was not advised well into the night. Total snowfall of 4.0 inches was measured at Cherokee.

Blizzard in BUENA VISTA, IOWA
From 22-JAN-18 10:00:00 to 22-JAN-18 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Rain changed to snow around 0600CST January 22, with northwest winds increasing during the early morning to a gusty 35 to 45 mph. Frequent wind gusts along with heavy falling snow produced visibility frequently a quarter mile or less starting around mid morning, which continued into late afternoon. A peak wind gust of 52 mph was measured at Storm Lake at 0635CST. Schools were closed across the area on January 22. By 1200CST, a tow ban was issued across all of northwest Iowa due to deteriorated conditions.  Weather conditions gradually improved toward 1800CST, but travel was not advised well into the night. Total snowfall of 5.7 inches was measured at Sioux Rapids.

Blizzard in CLAY, IOWA
From 22-JAN-18 08:00:00 to 22-JAN-18 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Rain changed to snow around 0200CST January 22, with northwest winds increasing during the early morning to a gusty 40 to 55 mph. Frequent wind gusts along with heavy falling snow produced visibility frequently near whiteout starting early morning, which continued through late afternoon. A peak wind gust of 54 mph was measured at Spencer at 0840CST. Schools were closed across the area on January 22. Plows were pulled from roads at 1200CST, the same time a tow ban was issued across all of northwest Iowa due to deteriorated conditions.  Weather conditions gradually improved toward 1800CST, but travel was not advised well into the night. Total snowfall of 9.0 inches was measured at Spencer.

Blizzard in O'BRIEN, IOWA
From 22-JAN-18 06:00:00 to 22-JAN-18 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Rain changed to snow around 0200CST January 22, with northwest winds increasing during the early morning to a gusty 40 to 50 mph. Frequent wind gusts along with heavy falling snow produced visibility frequently near whiteout starting early morning, which continued through late afternoon.  A peak wind gust of 47 mph was measured at Sheldon at 1555CST. Schools and municipal offices were closed across the area on January 22. At 1200CST, a tow ban was issued across all of northwest Iowa due to deteriorated conditions.  Weather conditions gradually improved toward 1700CST, but travel was not advised well into the night. Total snowfall of 14.0 inches was measured at Primghar.

Blizzard in SIOUX, IOWA
From 22-JAN-18 07:00:00 to 22-JAN-18 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Rain changed to snow around 0300CST January 22, with northwest winds increasing during the early morning to a gusty 40 to 50 mph. Frequent wind gusts along with heavy falling snow produced visibility frequently near whiteout starting early morning, which continued through late afternoon.  A peak wind gust of 40 mph was measured at Orange City at 1355CST. Law enforcement advised no travel as of 0900CST. Schools and municipal offices were closed across the area on January 22. Northwestern College was closed. At 1200CST, a tow ban was issued across all of northwest Iowa due to deteriorated conditions.  Weather conditions gradually improved toward 1600CST, but travel was not advised well into the night. Total snowfall of 8.5 inches was measured at Orange City.

Blizzard in LYON, IOWA
From 22-JAN-18 07:00:00 to 22-JAN-18 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Rain changed to snow around 0000CST January 22, with northwest winds increasing during the early morning to a gusty 35 to 45 mph. Frequent wind gusts along with heavy falling snow produced visibility frequently at a quarter mile or less early morning, which continued through mid afternoon.  Schools were closed across the area on January 22. At 1200CST, a tow ban was issued across all of northwest Iowa due to deteriorated conditions.  Weather conditions gradually improved toward 1700CST, but travel was not advised well into the night. Total snowfall of 4.0 inches was measured Rock Rapids.

Blizzard in OSCEOLA, IOWA
From 22-JAN-18 07:00:00 to 22-JAN-18 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Rain changed to snow around 0300CST January 22, with northwest winds increasing during the early morning to a gusty 35 to 45 mph. Frequent wind gusts along with heavy falling snow produced visibility frequently at a quarter mile or less early morning, which continued through mid afternoon.  Schools were closed across the area on January 22. At 1200CST, a tow ban was issued across all of northwest Iowa due to deteriorated conditions.  Weather conditions gradually improved toward 1700CST, but travel was not advised well into the night. Total snowfall of 11.5 inches was measured Sibley.

Blizzard in DICKINSON, IOWA
From 22-JAN-18 08:00:00 to 22-JAN-18 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Rain changed to snow around 0300CST January 22, with northwest winds increasing during the early morning to a gusty 35 to 50 mph. Frequent wind gusts along with heavy falling snow produced visibility frequently at a quarter mile or less early morning, which continued through mid afternoon.  Schools were closed across the area on January 22. At 1200CST, a tow ban was issued across all of northwest Iowa due to deteriorated conditions.  Weather conditions gradually improved toward 1800CST, but travel was not advised well into the night. Total snowfall of 14.4 inches was measured Spirit Lake.