Low pressure intensified moving from southeast Colorado on the morning of March 19, into the Great Lakes early on March 20.  A strong band of mid-level frontogenesis progressed slowly eastward across the area during the afternoon and evening hours. The system was initially quite warm, resulting in a swath of moderate to heavy rainfall from northeast Nebraska into northwest Iowa. As the system strengthened on the 19th, much colder air was dragged into the frontal band, and precipitation turned quickly from rain to snow from northwest to southeast, and was accompanied by winds gusting 40 to 55 mph. Snowfall was generally from 1 to 5 inches near and south of Interstate 90, with heaviest bands near the Missouri River and again from the Sioux Falls area eastward along Interstate 90.  Sioux City reached record precipitation for the date with 1.58 inches on March 19.

Winter Weather in SIOUX, IOWA
From 19-MAR-20 17:00:00 to 20-MAR-20 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Rain changed quickly to snowfall by late afternoon and early evening on March 19, with visibility briefly one-quarter to one-half mile at times between 2000-2300CST. The intense snowfall rate made travel hazardous during the evening as winds increased to a peak of 43 mph near Maurice and 41 mph at Alton. Snowfall totaled 3.0 inches at Hull and 2.0 inches at Rock Valley and Orange City.

Winter Weather in PLYMOUTH, IOWA
From 19-MAR-20 17:00:00 to 20-MAR-20 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Rain changed quickly to snowfall by late afternoon and early evening on March 19, with visibility one-quarter to one-half mile at times between 1800-2100CST. The intense snowfall rate made travel hazardous during the evening as winds increased to a peak of 45 mph at Le Mars. Snowfall totaled 2.4 inches at Remsen and 2.0 inches at Akron.

Winter Weather in LYON, IOWA
From 19-MAR-20 16:00:00 to 19-MAR-20 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Rain changed quickly to snowfall late afternoon on March 19, with visibility of one-quarter to one-half mile at times from 1800-2000CST. The intense snowfall rate made travel hazardous during the late afternoon and evening as winds increased to a peak of 42 mph near Doon.  Snowfall totaled 4.0 inches at Rock Rapids.

Winter Weather in CLAY, IOWA
From 19-MAR-20 18:00:00 to 20-MAR-20 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Rain changed quickly to snowfall by evening on March 19, with visibility briefly one-quarter to one-half mile at times between 2000-2300CST. The intense snowfall rate made travel hazardous during the evening as winds increased to a peak of 46 mph at Spencer. Snowfall totaled 2.5 inches 3 miles west northwest of Everly.

Winter Weather in O'BRIEN, IOWA
From 19-MAR-20 16:30:00 to 20-MAR-20 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Rain changed quickly to snowfall by late afternoon and early evening on March 19, with visibility one-quarter to one-half mile at times between 2100-2300CST. The intense snowfall rate made travel hazardous during the evening as winds increased to a peak of 43 mph at Sheldon and 35 mph at Sutherland. Snowfall totaled 2.3 inches at Sanborn and 2.0 inches at Primghar and Sheldon.

Winter Weather in OSCEOLA, IOWA
From 19-MAR-20 16:00:00 to 20-MAR-20 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Rain changed quickly to snowfall late afternoon on March 19, with visibility briefly one-quarter to one-half mile at times from 1800-2100CST. The intense snowfall rate made travel hazardous during the evening as winds increased to a peak of 48 mph near Sibley.  Snowfall totaled 1.5 inches at Sibley.

Winter Weather in DICKINSON, IOWA
From 19-MAR-20 18:00:00 to 20-MAR-20 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Rain changed quickly to snowfall by evening on March 19, with visibility briefly one-quarter to one-half mile at times between 1900-2200CST. The intense snowfall rate made travel hazardous during the evening as winds increased to a peak of 43 mph 3 miles south southeast of Lake Park.  Snowfall totaled 2.7 inches 4 miles northwest of Okoboji.

Winter Weather in CHEROKEE, IOWA
From 19-MAR-20 18:00:00 to 20-MAR-20 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Rain changed quickly to snowfall by early evening on March 19, with visibility briefly one-quarter to one-half mile at times between 1930-2300CST. The intense snowfall rate made travel hazardous during the evening as winds increased to a peak of 35 mph at Cherokee. Snowfall totaled 4.0 inches 4 miles north of Cleghorn and 1.5 inches at Cherokee.

Winter Weather in BUENA VISTA, IOWA
From 19-MAR-20 19:00:00 to 20-MAR-20 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Rain changed quickly to snowfall by early evening on March 19, with visibility one-quarter to one-half mile at times between 2000-0200CST. The intense snowfall rate made travel hazardous during the evening as winds increased to a peak of 51 mph 2 miles south southwest of Storm Lake and 45 mph 2 miles east northeast of Storm Lake. Snowfall totaled 2.4 inches 4 miles east of Sioux Rapids.

Winter Weather in WOODBURY, IOWA
From 19-MAR-20 18:00:00 to 20-MAR-20 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Rain changed quickly to snowfall by early evening on March 19, with visibility one-quarter to one-half mile at times between 1800-2000CST. The intense snowfall rate made travel hazardous during the evening as winds increased to a peak of 45 mph at Sioux City. Snowfall totaled 4.0 inches 3 miles north northeast of Sioux City and 3.8 inches at Sergeant Bluff.

Winter Weather in IDA, IOWA
From 19-MAR-20 19:00:00 to 20-MAR-20 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Rain changed quickly to snowfall by early evening on March 19, with visibility briefly one-quarter to one-half mile at times between 2100-2300CST. The intense snowfall rate made travel hazardous during the evening as winds increased to a peak of 35 mph at Ida Grove. Snowfall totaled 1.2 inches 3 miles northeast of Battle Creek and 1.0 inch 5 miles north northwest of Holstein.