The Blizzard Of January 8, 2015

Overview A weather system moved through the Midwest and Great Lakes on Thursday January 8, 2015 bringing light snow. The real story was the strong arctic front that moved through Minnesota and Iowa during the day and entered Wisconsin during the evening. Ahead of the front, southwest winds at 15 to 30 mph brought some blowing snow, but the higher impact was felt behind the front where northwest winds gusted to 50 mph across Minnesota and Iowa in the afternoon. In the loop to the right, these higher gusts are seen moving east as reds and pinks, with the wind direction arrows indicating winds from the northwest (oriented down and to the right). The higher wind speeds behind the front interacted with the light-weight snow that had fallen during the day (up to 2.5") and earlier in the week, Monday January 5, to cause widespread whiteout conditions (visibility near zero) across southeast Minnesota and northern Iowa. The National Weather Service issued Blizzard Warnings (upgrading from a Winter Weather Advisory) at 145 pm for southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa. A Winter Weather Advisory was in effect for the area, east of the Blizzard Warning, into Wisconsin. Conditions rapidly deteriorated in the later afternoon as the front surged through, with the Minnesota Department of Transportation not recommending travel by 330 pm, due to zero, or near zero, visibility in the blowing snow. Wisconsin was affected in the evening with blowing snow, especially on ridgetops, higher terrain, and in rural areas but whiteout conditions were only temporary or localized. In Iowa, plows were pulled off the roads in the early evening in the whiteout and blizzard conditions.

Loop of the wind gust speeds from 10 am Thursday January 8, 2015 to 3 am January 9. Colors indicate wind gusts over 30 mph, pink over 45 mph. (Note: speeds are in knots, add 5-8 for mph) NWS Hazards as of 6 pm Thursday January 8, 2015

  Radar and Satellite Loops

Radar Loop: 8 am - 10 pm January 8, 2015

GOES-East visible satellite loop from the afternoon on January 8 showing northwest to southeast oriented "cloud streets" behind the arctic front moving east (white line). These streets are indicative of strong northwest winds (e.g., streets oriented parallel to wind direction) and cold air behind the front - the blizzard conditions.

  Snowfall Map

Pictures

 Snowfall Reports

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
812 AM CST FRI JAN 9 2015


...LATEST SNOWFALL REPORTS...

LOCATION                     AMOUNT    TIME/DATE       LAT/LON              

...IOWA...

...CHICKASAW...
NEW HAMPTON                  1.0 IN    0700 AM 01/09   43.06N/92.31W        

...CLAYTON...
GUTTENBERG DAM 10            2.1 IN    0600 AM 01/09   42.78N/91.10W        
MONONA WWTP                  1.1 IN    0700 AM 01/09   43.04N/91.40W        
VOLGA 1NE                    0.4 IN    0700 AM 01/09   42.81N/91.52W        

...FLOYD...
CHARLES CITY                 1.1 IN    0700 AM 01/09   43.06N/92.67W        

...HOWARD...
CRESCO 1NE                   1.1 IN    0700 AM 01/09   43.39N/92.09W        

...WINNESHIEK...
DECORAH 7.9 ENE              0.8 IN    0644 AM 01/09   43.34N/91.64W        

...MINNESOTA...

...FILLMORE...
CHATFIELD 9.0 ESE            2.0 IN    0702 AM 01/09   43.79N/92.03W        
SPRING VALLEY 3E             1.3 IN    0700 AM 01/09   43.68N/92.33W        
MABEL                        1.0 IN    0410 AM 01/09   43.52N/91.76W        

...HOUSTON...
CALEDONIA                    1.2 IN    0700 AM 01/09   43.63N/91.50W        

...MOWER...
GRAND MEADOW                 1.0 IN    0500 AM 01/09   43.71N/92.56W        

...OLMSTED...
ELGIN 2SSW                   2.5 IN    0700 AM 01/09   44.10N/92.27W        
ROCHESTER 2.6 NE             2.2 IN    0642 AM 01/09   44.04N/92.44W        
ROCHESTER INTERNATIONAL AIRP 2.2 IN    0554 AM 01/09   43.91N/92.50W        
ROCHESTER AP 2NE             0.8 IN    0700 AM 01/09   43.93N/92.48W        
BYRON 4 NORTH                0.7 IN    0700 AM 01/09   44.09N/92.64W        

...WINONA...
WINONA DAM 5A                3.0 IN    0600 AM 01/09   44.09N/91.67W        
MINNESOTA CITY DAM 5         2.0 IN    0700 AM 01/09   44.16N/91.81W        
LA CRESCENT DAM 7            2.0 IN    0600 AM 01/09   43.87N/91.31W        
ALTURA 5W                    1.0 IN    0700 AM 01/09   44.06N/92.04W        
TREMPEALEAU DAM 6            1.0 IN    0600 AM 01/09   44.00N/91.44W        

...WISCONSIN...

...BUFFALO...
ALMA DAM 4                   3.5 IN    0600 AM 01/09   44.33N/91.92W        

...CLARK...
NEILLSVILLE 3ESE             1.4 IN    0700 AM 01/09   44.54N/90.53W        

...CRAWFORD...
DE SOTO 1SE                  2.5 IN    0600 AM 01/09   43.42N/91.19W        
STEUBEN 4SE                  1.0 IN    0610 AM 01/09   43.13N/90.84W        
LYNXVILLE DAM 9              1.0 IN    0600 AM 01/09   43.21N/91.10W        
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN             0.9 IN    0700 AM 01/09   43.05N/91.13W        

...JACKSON...
BLACK RIVER FALLS 1.7 NNE    1.7 IN    0625 AM 01/09   44.32N/90.83W        

...LA CROSSE...
FOUR CORNERS                 2.8 IN    0700 AM 01/09   44.07N/90.92W        
WFO LA CROSSE                2.8 IN    0600 AM 01/09   43.82N/91.19W        
LA CROSSE 4NNW               1.9 IN    0730 AM 01/09   43.87N/91.27W        
HOLMEN 2S                    1.9 IN    0700 AM 01/09   43.93N/91.25W        
LA CROSSE REGIONAL AIRPORT   1.5 IN    0553 AM 01/09   43.88N/91.26W        

...RICHLAND...
RICHLAND CENTER 4N           0.5 IN    0700 AM 01/09   43.40N/90.39W        

...TREMPEALEAU...
ETTRICK 4WNW                 2.2 IN    0635 AM 01/09   44.19N/91.34W        
OSSEO                        2.0 IN    0700 AM 01/09   44.58N/91.22W        

...VERNON...
VIROQUA 0.8 ESE              2.5 IN    0735 AM 01/09   43.55N/90.87W        
STODDARD                     2.4 IN    0700 AM 01/09   43.66N/91.22W        
GENOA DAM 8                  1.0 IN    0600 AM 01/09   43.57N/91.23W        
HILLSBORO WSW                0.8 IN    0700 AM 01/09   43.65N/90.35W        

OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING
EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURE. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.

Peak Wind

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1053 AM CST FRI JAN 9 2015


...HIGHEST WIND SPEEDS REPORTED OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS...

LOCATION                     SPEED     TIME/DATE       LAT/LON              

...IOWA...

...ALLAMAKEE...
3 SE WATERVILLE              20 MPH    1107 AM 01/08   43.17N/91.24W        

...CHICKASAW...
2 N IONIA                    48 MPH    1029 PM 01/08   43.07N/92.46W        
NEW HAMPTON                  19 MPH    0905 PM 01/08   43.06N/92.32W        

...CLAYTON...
MONONA                       24 MPH    0814 PM 01/08   43.04N/91.39W        
STRAWBERRY POINT             23 MPH    0543 PM 01/08   42.68N/91.53W        
VOLGA                        18 MPH    1158 PM 01/08   42.80N/91.54W        
MCGREGOR                     14 MPH    0539 PM 01/08   43.02N/91.19W        

...FAYETTE...
OELWEIN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT    45 MPH    1015 PM 01/08   42.68N/91.97W        
2 S FAYETTE                  28 MPH    1157 PM 01/08   42.80N/91.80W        

...FLOYD...
CHARLES CITY AIRPORT         51 MPH    1115 PM 01/08   43.07N/92.61W        
ROCKFORD                     22 MPH    0819 PM 01/08   43.05N/92.93W        

...HOWARD...
3 NE RICEVILLE               37 MPH    0314 PM 01/08   43.40N/92.50W        
1 E CRESCO                   16 MPH    0504 PM 01/08   43.37N/92.10W        

...MITCHELL...
SAINT ANSGAR                 29 MPH    1058 AM 01/08   43.37N/92.92W        
SAINT ANSGAR                 21 MPH    1117 PM 01/08   43.38N/92.92W        

...WINNESHIEK...
DECORAH MUNICIPAL AIRPORT    40 MPH    1135 PM 01/08   43.28N/91.74W        
4 E NORDNESS                 40 MPH    1142 PM 01/08   43.25N/91.70W        
OSSIAN                       27 MPH    1054 AM 01/08   43.14N/91.76W        
1 ENE JACKSON JUNCTION       23 MPH    1139 AM 01/08   43.11N/92.04W        
DECORAH                      22 MPH    0435 PM 01/08   43.30N/91.79W        

...MINNESOTA...

...DODGE...
2 E KASSON                   43 MPH    0235 PM 01/08   44.02N/92.71W        
DODGE CENTER AIRPORT         41 MPH    0233 PM 01/08   44.02N/92.83W        

...FILLMORE...
2 ESE CANTON                 44 MPH    1020 PM 01/08   43.51N/91.88W        
PRESTON FILLMORE COUNTY AIRP 41 MPH    0455 PM 01/08   43.68N/92.18W        

...HOUSTON...
4 SSE MOUND PRAIRIE          24 MPH    0745 PM 01/08   43.72N/91.44W        

...MOWER...
1 ENE DEXTER                 48 MPH    0850 PM 01/08   43.73N/92.68W        
AUSTIN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT     46 MPH    0236 PM 01/08   43.66N/92.93W        
3 E GRAND MEADOW             44 MPH    0934 PM 01/08   43.71N/92.50W        
LE ROY                       31 MPH    0359 PM 01/08   43.51N/92.51W        
1 E AUSTIN                   20 MPH    1000 PM 01/08   43.67N/92.95W        

...OLMSTED...
MAYO HELIPAD                 51 MPH    0414 PM 01/08   44.02N/92.48W        
ROCHESTER INTERNATIONAL AIRP 48 MPH    0846 PM 01/08   43.91N/92.50W        
BYRON                        41 MPH    0307 PM 01/08   44.04N/92.64W        
2 SE EYOTA                   38 MPH    0405 PM 01/08   43.96N/92.21W        
4 NW ROCHESTER               36 MPH    0300 PM 01/08   44.05N/92.53W        
4 ESE DOUGLAS                30 MPH    1148 AM 01/08   44.09N/92.49W        
1 SSE STEWARTVILLE           29 MPH    1000 PM 01/08   43.84N/92.48W        
3 NE ROCHESTER               24 MPH    0719 PM 01/08   44.05N/92.45W        
3 ESE DOUGLAS                24 MPH    1115 PM 01/08   44.08N/92.51W        
1 WSW ROCHESTER              24 MPH    1118 AM 01/08   44.01N/92.49W        
3 NE ROCHESTER               20 MPH    1012 PM 01/08   44.04N/92.44W        

...WABASHA...
1 NE BEAR VALLEY             42 MPH    1152 PM 01/08   44.32N/92.44W        
2 SSE KELLOGG                35 MPH    0630 PM 01/08   44.28N/91.99W        
1 ENE WABASHA                29 MPH    0549 PM 01/08   44.38N/92.03W        
1 E LAKE CITY                26 MPH    0911 PM 01/08   44.45N/92.27W        
1 N HAMMOND                  25 MPH    0245 PM 01/08   44.24N/92.38W        
MAZEPPA                      21 MPH    0307 PM 01/08   44.27N/92.55W        
PLAINVIEW                    17 MPH    1159 AM 01/08   44.17N/92.17W        
3 NW BUFFALO                 16 MPH    0904 PM 01/08   44.26N/91.91W        

...WINONA...
1 E RIDGEWAY                 42 MPH    0710 PM 01/08   43.91N/91.54W        
WINONA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT     38 MPH    0634 PM 01/08   44.08N/91.71W        
2 WNW UTICA                  25 MPH    0257 PM 01/08   44.00N/92.00W        
SAINT CHARLES                17 MPH    1020 PM 01/08   43.97N/92.06W        

...WISCONSIN...

...ADAMS...
FRIENDSHIP                   16 MPH    0104 AM 01/09   43.97N/89.82W        

...CLARK...
LOYAL                        21 MPH    1249 AM 01/09   44.74N/90.50W        

...CRAWFORD...
1 SW MOUNT STERLING          39 MPH    0705 PM 01/08   43.31N/90.94W        
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN  AIRPORT    33 MPH    0555 PM 01/08   43.02N/91.12W        
1 WNW PRAIRIE DU CHIEN       28 MPH    0624 PM 01/08   43.05N/91.15W        
DE SOTO                      24 MPH    0620 PM 01/08   43.42N/91.19W        

...GRANT...
PLATTEVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPOR 40 MPH    0615 PM 01/08   42.69N/90.44W        
BOSCOBEL AIRPORT             36 MPH    0739 PM 01/08   43.16N/90.67W        
2 NE EAST DUBUQUE            32 MPH    0956 PM 01/08   42.52N/90.62W        
1 ENE BOSCOBEL               29 MPH    0803 PM 01/08   43.15N/90.68W        
MUSCODA                      17 MPH    0754 PM 01/08   43.19N/90.44W        

...JACKSON...
BLACK RIVER FALLS AREA AIRPO 33 MPH    1135 PM 01/08   44.25N/90.86W        
1 E BLACK RIVER FALLS        25 MPH    1015 AM 01/09   44.30N/90.83W        

...JUNEAU...
VOLK FIELD AIRPORT           41 MPH    0807 PM 01/08   43.94N/90.25W        
NECEDAH                      37 MPH    0848 PM 01/08   44.03N/90.08W        
1 E MAUSTON                  35 MPH    0100 AM 01/09   43.80N/90.06W        
MAUSTON                      26 MPH    0822 PM 01/08   43.80N/90.07W        

...LA CROSSE...
LA CROSSE REGIONAL AIRPORT   44 MPH    0538 PM 01/08   43.88N/91.26W        
WFO LA CROSSE                40 MPH    1240 PM 01/08   43.82N/91.19W        
1 SW LA CROSSE               27 MPH    0728 PM 01/08   43.81N/91.25W        

...MONROE...
4 NNW RIDGEVILLE             37 MPH    0706 PM 01/08   43.94N/90.60W        
SPARTA/FORT MC COY AIRPORT   36 MPH    0735 PM 01/08   43.96N/90.74W        
2 N TOMAH                    31 MPH    0703 PM 01/08   44.02N/90.50W        

...RICHLAND...
1 SSE RICHLAND CENTER        21 MPH    0749 PM 01/08   43.32N/90.38W        
RICHLAND CENTER              20 MPH    1119 AM 01/08   43.34N/90.38W        

...TAYLOR...
MEDFORD TAYLOR COUNTY AIRPOR 30 MPH    1155 PM 01/08   45.10N/90.30W        
3 NE LUBLIN                  30 MPH    1214 AM 01/09   45.11N/90.69W        

...TREMPEALEAU...
2 NNE TAMARACK               35 MPH    1208 PM 01/08   44.21N/91.46W        
2 WSW GALESVILLE             30 MPH    1156 PM 01/08   44.07N/91.39W        

...VERNON...
VIROQUA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT    38 MPH    0754 PM 01/08   43.58N/90.90W        
ONTARIO                      12 MPH    1034 PM 01/08   43.72N/90.59W        

OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING
EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURE. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.

$$

Storm Reports

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1140 AM CST FRI JAN 9 2015

...TIME...  ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
...DATE...  ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0624 PM     BLIZZARD         CRESCO                  43.37N 92.11W
01/08/2015                   HOWARD             IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            WIDE SPREAD NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY ALL 
            AFTERNOON AND EVENING - FOUND TRUCK BURIED 
            IN SNOW DRIFT THIS MORNING 


0255 PM     BLIZZARD         1 SE AUSTIN             43.66N 92.96W
01/08/2015                   MOWER              MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            SHERIFF DIRECTED EMERGENCY TRAVEL ONLY 


0514 PM     BLIZZARD         AUSTIN                  43.67N 92.97W
01/08/2015                   MOWER              MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            NEAR ZERO IN OPEN AREAS - DITCHES ARE FULL 
            OF SNOW 


0520 PM     BLIZZARD         1 SW CHARLES CITY       43.06N 92.68W
01/08/2015                   FLOYD              IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            NEAR ZERO - DITCHES FULL OF SNOW - DRIFTING 
            ONTO ROADWAYS 


0530 PM     BLIZZARD         NEW HAMPTON             43.06N 92.32W
01/08/2015                   CHICKASAW          IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY 


0605 PM     BLIZZARD         2 NE CARIMONA           43.69N 92.13W
01/08/2015                   FILLMORE           MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            REPORTS OF WHITEOUT CONDITIONS IN WESTERN 
            AREAS OF FILLMORE COUNTY 


0619 PM     BLIZZARD         SAINT ANSGAR            43.38N 92.92W
01/08/2015                   MITCHELL           IA   PUBLIC           

            WIDESPREAD WHITEOUT CONDITIONS ALONG HWY 218 


0625 PM     BLIZZARD         MARBLE ROCK             42.96N 92.87W
01/08/2015                   FLOYD              IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            DEFINITE ZERO VISIBILITY  


0810 PM     BLIZZARD         DODGE CENTER            44.03N 92.85W
01/08/2015                   DODGE              MN   911 CALL CENTER  

            DODGE COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTS THAT WHITEOUT 
            CONDITIONS ARE STILL OCCURRING. 


0812 PM     BLIZZARD         AUSTIN                  43.67N 92.97W
01/08/2015                   MOWER              MN   911 CALL CENTER  

            MOWER COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTS CONSIDERABLE 
            BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW. CONDITIONS AS 
            BAD AS THEY'VE BEEN ALL DAY. MAIN 
            ROADS/HIGHWAYS ARE BEING PLOWED, BUT NOT THE 
            SIDE/COUNTRY ROADS. 


0816 PM     BLIZZARD         DECORAH                 43.30N 91.79W
01/08/2015                   WINNESHIEK         IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            SECONDARY ROADS HAVE DRIFTS - WHITEOUT 
            CONDITIONS COMMON AFTER 3 PM 


1028 PM     BLIZZARD         NEW HAMPTON             43.05N 92.32W
01/08/2015                   CHICKASAW          IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            STILL NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY - CONSIDERABLE 
            DRIFTING 


0100 AM     BLIZZARD         3 WNW DODGE CENTER      44.04N 92.90W
01/09/2015                   DODGE              MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            MOST ROADS SNOW COVERED AND DRIFTED IN