1/16/2024 0 Comments Iowa snow storm totals![]() Its forward progress inhibited, the upper level trough simply came to a grinding halt over Iowa. However, a large stationary ridge of high pressure, known as a omega block, was also taking shape across the eastern United States. Just behind the surface cold front, a strong mid to upper level trough of low pressure slid southeastward from Canada. The surface observation map animation on the left loops between the early morning hours of May 1 and May 2, showing the stark change in temperatures (in red) over the state after the passage of the front. Daytime temperatures on May 1 were a full 30-40 degrees colder than the previous day. Temperatures behind the front began falling on Tuesday night and kept dropping through the day on Wednesday (May 1), with many locations recording their warmest readings for the day shortly after midnight. This warmup came to an abrupt end late on Tuesday, April 30 as a strong cold front slid through Iowa, igniting several severe thunderstorms over the southwest corner of the state. This was a welcome reprieve after what had been undoubtedly a cold and damp start to spring. ![]() The last few days of April were characterized by warm, summer-like temperatures with Des Moines reaching 86 degrees on the 30th. It took a combination of several unseasonably strong and unusual features to produce this exceeding rare snow event. Monthly (May) Record Low Maximum Temperature: 33 on (34 on ) 5/3 Record Low Maximum Temperature: 33 (35 in 1954) 5/2 Record Low Maximum Temperature: 36 (40 in 1935) Monthly (May) Maximum One Day Snowfall: 6.0" on (4.0" set on and ) ![]() Monthly (May) Record Low Maximum Temperature: 36 on (37 on ) 5/3 Record Low Maximum Temperature: 36 (38 in 1954) 5/2 Record Low Maximum Temperature: 39 (42 in 1909) Second Highest Total May Snowfall: 1.7" (Highest Total: 2.0" in 19) 5/3 Daily Snowfall Record: 0.5" (Ties Previous Record of 0.5" in 1935) That day in 1944 was also the last time Des Moines had measurable snowfall in May (0.2"). Interesting Fact: The average temperature at Des Moines on May 3 was 34.5 degrees, tying it with for the coldest May day on record. ![]() Monthly (May) Record Low Maximum Temperature: 35 on (39 on ) 5/3 Record Low Maximum Temperature: 35 (41 in 1967) 5/2 Record Low Maximum Temperature: 41 (47 in 1953) Interesting Fact: Snow was continuously reported at the Des Moines Airport from 6:34am on May 2 to 2:48pm on May 3, or for an uninterrupted 31 hours and 14 minutes! Monthly (May) Maximum One Day Snowfall: 3.5" on (1.2" set on ) Latest Spring Storm to produce more than a Foot of Snowfall: to Biggest Iowa Snowstorm based on Average Statewide Snowfall: 3.3" ** Highest May Storm Total Snowfall: 13.0" in Osage Below is a listing of central Iowa and statewide records that were surpassed. May snowfall and temperature records across Iowa fell like dominoes during this historic event. Snowfall totals across the central United States from the storm. ![]() The highest snowfall amounts were recorded in south central and north central Iowa. Snowfall totals map from May 1 to 3 across Iowa. Radar loop of the snowstorm from the Des Moines WSR-88D Radar from 10am on May 1 to 6pm on May 3 (56 Hours!) Sporadic power outages also occurred as snow-coated tree branches broke and took out power lines. This led to numerous accidents and spin outs. Warm road temperatures across Iowa helped to initially melt the falling snow, but conditions quickly deteriorated across the regions where heavier snow fell. South central Iowa up through southeast Minnesota and western Wisconsin bore the brunt of the snowfall with 10+ inch reports not uncommon. Meanwhile, noteworthy May single day and storm total records for the states of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin were eclipsed by this event. Some locations across the southern United States saw their first ever May snowfall and cities in Kansas and Missouri saw their highest snowfall totals in 106 years. An unprecedented spring snowstorm impacted the central United States from May 1 to May 3, dropping record-shattering amounts of snow up and down the western Mississippi River Valley. ![]()
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