A storm brought an extended period of hazardous winter weather to northeast Iowa ahead of the Christmas holiday. Periods of snow fell from December 21st into the 23rd. Most accumulations were in the 2 to 5 inch range with the highest totals around 5 inches at Lock and Dam 10 near Guttenberg (Clayton County) and 4 inches north of Frankville (Winneshiek County). Strong winds of 30 to 45 mph from the 23rd into the 24th created blowing and drifting snow. Whiteouts were common and blizzard conditions occurred across Floyd, Chickasaw and Fayette County. Numerous rural roads were drifted shut across these counties. State snow plows were pulled off the roads across all of the region for the evening of the 23rd into the early morning of the 24th. The wind combined with an influx of arctic air to create dangerously cold wind chills from the 22nd into Christmas morning. Values of 25 to 40 below zero were common during this period with the lowest calculated wind chill of -43 near Monona (Clayton County).

Winter Storm in ALLAMAKEE, IOWA
From 21-DEC-22 16:20:00 to 23-DEC-22 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP and volunteer snow observers reported that 2 to 3 inches of snow fell across Allamakee County. The highest reported total was 2.5 inches near Monona and Postville. Strong winds with gusts of 25 to 40 mph created blowing and drifting snow with some occasional whiteouts.

Blizzard in CHICKASAW, IOWA
From 21-DEC-22 21:20:00 to 23-DEC-22 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP and volunteer snow observers reported that 2 to 3 inches of snow fell across Chickasaw County. The highest reported total was 3 inches in New Hampton. Strong winds with gusts of 25 to 45 mph created blowing and drifting snow with blizzard conditions occurring from the late morning into the afternoon of the 23rd. The highest record gust was 45 mph at a mesonet site in New Hampton.

Winter Storm in CLAYTON, IOWA
From 21-DEC-22 19:10:00 to 23-DEC-22 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP and volunteer snow observers reported that 3 to 5 inches of snow fell across Clayton County. The highest reported total was 5 inches at Lock and Dam 10 in Guttenberg. Strong winds with gusts of 25 to 40 mph created blowing and drifting snow with some occasional whiteouts.

Blizzard in FAYETTE, IOWA
From 21-DEC-22 19:10:00 to 23-DEC-22 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP and volunteer snow observers reported that around 3 inches of snow fell across Fayette County. The highest reported total was 3.8 inches in Fayette. Strong winds with gusts of 25 to 45 mph created blowing and drifting snow with blizzard conditions occurring from the late morning into the afternoon of the 23rd. The highest record gust was 47 mph by the automated weather observing equipment at the Oelwein airport.

Blizzard in FLOYD, IOWA
From 21-DEC-22 20:10:00 to 23-DEC-22 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP and volunteer snow observers reported that 2 to 3 inches of snow fell across Floyd County. The highest reported total was 3 inches near Nashua. Strong winds with gusts of 25 to 45 mph created blowing and drifting snow with blizzard conditions occurring from the late morning into the afternoon of the 23rd. The highest record gust was 49 mph by the automated weather observing equipment at the Charles City airport. County snow plows were pulled off the roads on the 23rd and emergency management recommended no travel in the county.

Winter Storm in HOWARD, IOWA
From 21-DEC-22 21:00:00 to 23-DEC-22 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP and volunteer snow observers reported that 2 to 4 inches of snow fell across Howard County. Strong winds with gusts of 25 to 45 mph created blowing and drifting snow with some occasional whiteouts. The highest record gust was 45 mph at a mesonet site in Saratoga.

Winter Storm in MITCHELL, IOWA
From 21-DEC-22 20:40:00 to 23-DEC-22 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP and volunteer snow observers reported that 2 to 3 inches of snow fell across Mitchell County. The highest reported total was 2.8 inches in Saint Ansgar. Strong winds with gusts of 25 to 40 mph created blowing and drifting snow with some occasional whiteouts.

Winter Storm in WINNESHIEK, IOWA
From 21-DEC-22 19:30:00 to 23-DEC-22 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP and volunteer snow observers reported that 3 to 4 inches of snow fell across Winneshiek County. The highest reported total was 4 inches near Frankville. Strong winds with gusts of 25 to 40 mph created blowing and drifting snow with some occasional whiteouts. The highest record gust was 41 mph by the automated weather observing equipment at the Decorah airport.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in CHICKASAW, IOWA
From 22-DEC-22 09:05:00 to 25-DEC-22 14:35:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The combination of arctic air and wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph created wind chills of 20 to 40 below zero across Chickasaw County. The lowest calculated wind chill was 41 below at a mesonet site in New Hampton.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in CLAYTON, IOWA
From 22-DEC-22 08:55:00 to 25-DEC-22 11:55:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The combination of arctic air and wind gusts of 25 to 40 mph created wind chills of 20 to 40 below zero across Clayton County. The lowest calculated wind chill was 44 below at a mesonet site in Monona.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in HOWARD, IOWA
From 22-DEC-22 12:15:00 to 25-DEC-22 12:25:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The combination of arctic air and wind gusts of 25 to 40 mph created wind chills of 20 to 40 below zero across Howard County. The lowest calculated wind chill was 41 below at a mesonet site in Saratoga.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in MITCHELL, IOWA
From 22-DEC-22 04:55:00 to 25-DEC-22 10:45:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The combination of arctic air and wind gusts of 25 to 40 mph created wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero across Mitchell County. The lowest calculated wind chill was 36 below at a mesonet site in Saint Ansgar.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in WINNESHIEK, IOWA
From 22-DEC-22 11:35:00 to 25-DEC-22 08:55:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The combination of arctic air and wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph created wind chills of 20 to 40 below zero across Winneshiek County. The lowest calculated wind chill was 41 below at a mesonet site near Jackson Junction.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in FAYETTE, IOWA
From 22-DEC-22 09:35:00 to 25-DEC-22 15:55:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

The combination of arctic air and wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph created wind chills of 20 to 40 below zero across Fayette County. The lowest calculated wind chill was 42 below at the Oelwein airport.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in FLOYD, IOWA
From 22-DEC-22 08:35:00 to 25-DEC-22 13:15:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

The combination of arctic air and wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph created wind chills of 20 to 40 below zero across Floyd County. The lowest calculated wind chill was 41 below at the Charles City airport.