National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Storm Impacting the Northwest U.S.; Fire Weather Conditions in Southern California; Severe Weather in the South

A Pacific storm is bringing areas of low elevation rain, moderate to heavy mountain snow, and high winds to the Northwest. Strong Santa Ana winds and very dry conditions are producing elevated to critical fire weather conditions in southern California. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible through early Wednesday morning across parts of northeast Texas into western Tennessee. Read More >

Two storm systems from the west combined into one to produce widespread snows to the region. Low pressure over central Minnesota and a surface trough that extended north to south over Minnesota and Iowa helped trigger snow starting the evening of December 13th, which then continued through the day on the 14th. This was a fairly prolonged event with snowfall lasting 18+ hours in many locations.

Due to the location and slow movement of the storm, snowfall was relatively uniform over the region. While snowfall exceeded 6 inches in parts of northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, into northern Wisconsin, most other areas picked up at least 3 inches. Snowfall measurements were also tricky due to drifting and settling or compacting of the new snow.


december 14 snowfall map


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
330 PM CST THU DEC 15 2005
...STORM TOTAL SNOWFALLS FROM AROUND THE AREA...
...DECEMBER 13-14 2005...
...NORTHEAST IOWA...
LOCATION                        COUNTY          ACCUM
--------                        ------          -----
STRAWBERRY POINT                CLAYTON         8.2
OSSIAN                          WINNESHIEK      8.0
NASHUA                          CHICKASAW       7.5
ELMA                            HOWARD          7.2
IONIA                           CHICKASAW       7.1
CHARLES CITY                    FLOYD           7.0
STACYVILLE                      MITCHELL        7.0
ELKADER                         CLAYTON         6.5
NEW HAMPTON                     CHICKASAW       6.5
OSAGE                           MITCHELL        6.5
CRESCO 1NE                      HOWARD          6.3
FLOYD 3E                        FLOYD           6.3
FAYETTE                         FAYETTE         6.1
NEW HAMPTON 1S                  CHICKASAW       6.0
ELKADER 6SSW                    CLAYTON         5.9
CLAYTON CENTER                  CLAYTON         5.3
LANSING 4SE                     ALLAMAKEE       4.8
GARNAVILLO                      CLAYTON         4.7
DORCHESTER                      ALLAMAKEE       4.5
OELWEIN 1E                      FAYETTE         4.5
WESTGATE  3N                    FAYETTE         4.0
EDGEWOOD                        CLAYTON         3.0
...SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...
LOCATION                        COUNTY          ACCUM
--------                        ------          -----
AUSTIN - KAAL TV                MOWER           8.0
CLAREMONT                       DODGE           7.5
HIGHLAND                        FILLMORE        7.5
ROCHESTER AP 2NE                OLMSTED         7.1
GRAND MEADOW                    MOWER           7.0
RACINE                          MOWER           7.0
CALEDONIA                       HOUSTON         6.5
MANTORVILLE 3E                  DODGE           6.5
KELLOGG 4S                      WABASHA         6.2
OAK CENTER                      WABASHA         6.2
SPRING VALLEY 3SW               FILLMORE        6.2
DOUGLAS 2N                      OLMSTED         6.0
ZUMBRO FALLS                    WABASHA         5.8
THEILMAN                        WABASHA         5.7
GOODVIEW 1W                     WINONA          5.6
PRESTON                         FILLMORE        5.6
PLAINVIEW                       WABASHA         5.5
ROCHESTER - KTTC TV             OLMSTED         5.5
WABASHA                         WABASHA         5.4
BYRON                           OLMSTED         5.1
DODGE CENTER                    DODGE           5.0
STEWARTVILLE                    OLMSTED         5.0
MINNESOTA CITY                  WINONA          5.0
LA CRESCENT 1N                  HOUSTON         4.9
WINONA 3S                       WINONA          4.8
CHATFIELD 4W                    OLMSTED         4.5
RENO 3 SW                       HOUSTON         4.5
ROLLINGSTONE                    WINONA          4.5
SPRING VALLEY                   FILLMORE        4.5
LAKE CITY                       WABASHA         4.3
ELGIN 2SW                       WABASHA         4.2
WINONA                          WINONA          3.8
...WISCONSIN...
LOCATION                        COUNTY          ACCUM
--------                        ------          -----
BUFFALO                         BUFFALO         7.8
ETTRICK                         TREMPEALEAU     6.8
MEDFORD                         TAYLOR          6.8
WESTBY                          VERNON          6.8
LOYAL 6SE                       CLARK           6.2
LA CROSSE AP                    LA CROSSE       6.1
ALMA                            BUFFALO         6.0
FRIENDSHIP                      ADAMS           6.0
ONTARIO                         VERNON          6.0
HUMBIRD 2NE                     CLARK           5.8
BOAZ 6NNW                       RICHLAND        5.6
BLACK RIVER FALLS COOP          JACKSON         5.5
GOODRICH                        TAYLOR          5.5
VIROQUA                         VERNON          5.5
MUSCODA                         GRANT           5.5
LANCASTER                       GRANT           5.4
NECEDAH 2SE                     JUNEAU          5.4
PRICE 2S                        JACKSON         5.2
READSTOWN                       VERNON          5.2
CENTERVILLE                     TREMPEALEAU     5.1
LA CROSSE NWS                   LA CROSSE       5.1
BLACK RIVER FALLS - WIDNR       JACKSON         5.0
GILMANTON                       BUFFALO         5.0
HIXTON 5W                       JACKSON         5.0
INDEPENDENCE 3NE                TREMPEALEAU     5.0
GALESVILLE                      TREMPEALEAU     4.9
VICTORY                         VERNON          4.9
LUBLIN                          TAYLOR          4.7
HOLLAND                         LA CROSSE       4.7
HOLMEN                          LA CROSSE       4.6
RICHLAND CENTER 4W              RICHLAND        4.6
ARCADIA                         TREMPEALEAU     4.5
BLAIR                           TREMPEALEAU     4.5
LAKE CAMELOT                    ADAMS           4.5
MAUSTON                         JUNEAU          4.5
OSSEO                           TREMPEALEAU     4.5
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN                CRAWFORD        4.5
STODDARD 3NE                    VERNON          4.5
WARRENS 5WSW                    MONROE          4.5
WEST SALEM                      LA CROSSE       4.5
VALLEY 1NW                      VERNON          4.5
GAYS MILLS                      CRAWFORD        4.4
ARKDALE                         ADAMS           4.3
OWEN                            CLARK           4.3
MONDOVI 6S                      BUFFALO         4.2
WILTON 3SE                      MONROE          4.1
HOLMEN 2S                       LA CROSSE       4.0
MINDORO                         LA CROSSE       3.5
TOMAH                           MONROE          3.5
SPARTA                          MONROE          3.3
CUBA CITY                       GRANT           2.8
$$