A strong northwesterly jet streak digging through the central Rockies produced intense and deep cyclogenesis across Iowa on January 14 and 15. Initial precipitation swept through the area as rain, but a surge of cold air into the slowing cyclone wrapped snowfall back into northeast Nebraska as winds increased to 40 to 60 mph, resulting in periods of blizzard conditions.

Blizzard in SIOUX, IOWA
From 14-JAN-21 20:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS

As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph, with a few gusts as high as 51 mph at an Iowa Department of Transportation site at Alton and 44 mph near Maurice (SXK), resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Shortly after snowfall began, a vehicle lost control and collided with another traveling in the opposite direction west of Alton, resulting in an indirect fatality to one driver and an indirect injury to the other. Snowfall totaled 3.0 inches at Sioux Center and 2.5 inches at Orange City.

Blizzard in BUENA VISTA, IOWA
From 14-JAN-21 22:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS

As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph, with a few gusts as high as 52 mph at Storm Lake (SLB) and 49 mph at an Iowa Dept. of Transportation site 2 miles east of Truesdale, resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Snowfall totaled 4.7 inches at Storm Lake and 3.6 inches at Sioux Rapids.

Blizzard in LYON, IOWA
From 14-JAN-21 22:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS

As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph, with a few gusts as high as 51 mph at Sheldon (SHL) and 46 mph at Luverne (LYV), resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Snowfall totaled 1.5 inches at Rock Rapids.

Blizzard in O'BRIEN, IOWA
From 14-JAN-21 19:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS

As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph, with a few gusts as high as 51 mph at Sheldon (SHL), resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Snowfall totaled 3.0 inches at Sheldon.

Blizzard in OSCEOLA, IOWA
From 14-JAN-21 19:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS

As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph, with a few gusts as high as 54 mph at Worthington (OTG) and 51 mph at Sheldon (SHL), resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Snowfall totaled 4.0 inches at Sibley.

Blizzard in CHEROKEE, IOWA
From 14-JAN-21 23:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS

As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 35 mph, with a few gusts as high as 41 mph at Cherokee (CKP), resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Snowfall totaled 5.0 inches 4 miles north of Cleghorn and 3.0 inches at Cherokee.

Blizzard in CLAY, IOWA
From 14-JAN-21 21:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS

As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph, with a few gusts as high as 55 mph at Spencer (SPW), resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Snowfall totaled 3.9 inches at Spencer and 3.5 inches 3 miles west northwest of Everly.

Blizzard in DICKINSON, IOWA
From 14-JAN-21 21:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Mesonet

As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph, with a few gusts as high as 48 mph at an automated mesonet station at Milford, resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Snowfall totaled 5.7 inches 4 miles northwest of Milford and 4.5 inches near Spirit Lake.

Blizzard in IDA, IOWA
From 15-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS

As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph, with a few gusts as high as 59 mph at Sioux City (SUX) and 52 mph at Storm Lake (SLB), resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Snowfall totaled 3.0 inches 3 miles northeast of Battle Creek.

Blizzard in PLYMOUTH, IOWA
From 14-JAN-21 22:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: AWOS

As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph, with a few gusts as high as 45 mph at Le Mars (LRJ), resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Snowfall totaled 3.4 inches at Remsen and 2.9 inches at Le Mars.

Blizzard in WOODBURY, IOWA
From 15-JAN-21 03:00:00 to 15-JAN-21 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: ASOS

As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph, with a few gusts as high as 59 mph at Sioux City (SUX), resulted in widespread near white-out conditions. Snowfall totaled 4.2 inches 4 miles north northeast of Hornick and 2.0 inches at Sioux City.