A rapidly strengthening storm developed across the Northern Plains and into the western Great Lakes on March 16-17. An initial band of precipitation developed during the early morning hours of March 16 across northwest Iowa in the form of light rain or light freezing rain. However, a sharp fall in temperatures by midday and early afternoon forced a change to a few hours of snowfall accompanied by increasing northerly wind. Snow cover prior to the event was limited to areas north of Highway 18, where impacts from snow and blowing snow with winds of 45 to 55 mph were greatest during the afternoon of March 16, and again briefly on Friday, March 17 when reinvigorated winds brought very brief visibility of a quarter mile or less.

Winter Weather in CLAY, IOWA
From 16-MAR-23 12:00:00 to 16-MAR-23 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A brief period of light freezing rain resulted in a glaze of icing at the COOP site at Spencer. Northerly wind increased by the afternoon with gusts as high as 60 mph at Automated Surface Observing System site KSPW near Spencer.

Winter Weather in DICKINSON, IOWA
From 16-MAR-23 07:00:00 to 17-MAR-23 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A brief period of light freezing rain resulted in a glaze of icing, prior to a period of snowfall that accumulated to 0.5 inches at a CoCoRaHS site near Spirit Lake. Northerly wind increased by the afternoon of March 16 with gusts as high as 46 mph at personal weather stations EW9051 near Spirit Lake and FW7399 at Terril, resulting in brief visibility reduction to around one-half to one mile. After winds decreased overnight and early morning of March 17 with minimal impacts, winds increased again during the later morning and afternoon with frequent convective snow showers that briefly reduced visibility at times to one mile or less.

Winter Weather in OSCEOLA, IOWA
From 16-MAR-23 06:00:00 to 17-MAR-23 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A brief period of light freezing rain resulted in a glaze of icing, prior to a period of snowfall that accumulated to 0.7 inches at the COOP site at Sibley. Northerly wind increased by the afternoon of March 16 with gusts as high as 47 mph at Iowa State Mesonet site RSYI4 near Sibley, resulting in brief visibility reduction to around one-half to one mile. After winds decreased overnight and early morning of March 17 with minimal impacts, winds increased again during the later morning and afternoon with frequent convective snow showers that briefly reduced visibility at times to one mile or less.

Winter Weather in LYON, IOWA
From 16-MAR-23 06:00:00 to 17-MAR-23 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A brief period of light freezing rain resulted in a glaze of icing, prior to a period of snowfall that accumulated to 0.9 inches at the COOP site at Rock Rapids. Northerly wind increased by the afternoon of March 16 with gusts as high as 42 mph at Iowa State Mesonet site DONI4 near Doon, resulting in brief visibility reduction to around one-half to one mile. After winds decreased overnight and early morning of March 17 with minimal impacts, winds increased again during the later morning and afternoon with frequent convective snow showers that briefly reduced visibility at times to one mile or less.

Winter Weather in SIOUX, IOWA
From 16-MAR-23 07:30:00 to 16-MAR-23 13:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A brief period of light freezing rain resulted in a glaze of icing, prior to a period of snowfall that accumulated to 2.0 inches at the COOP site at Rock Valley and 1.0 inch at Sioux Center. Northerly wind increased by the afternoon with gusts as high as 52 mph at Automated Weather Observing System site KSXK near Maurice and 49 mph at Iowa Road Weather Information System site RTNI4 near Alton, resulting in brief visibility reduction to around one mile.

Winter Weather in O'BRIEN, IOWA
From 16-MAR-23 08:30:00 to 16-MAR-23 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A brief period of light freezing rain resulted in a glaze of icing, prior to a period of snowfall that accumulated to 0.5 inch at the COOP site at Sanborn. Northerly wind increased by the afternoon with gusts as high as 51 mph at Automated Weather Observing System site KSHL at Sheldon, resulting in very brief visibility reduction to around one mile.