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 >

A potent winter storm moved out of southern Canada and across the upper Midwest Friday and Saturday, January 21st-22nd, 2005. It brought heavy snow and blizzard-like conditions to the region, especially Friday evening and early Saturday morning. Snowfall totals of 6-10 inches were common across the area, with wind gusts that exceeded 50 mph over parts of southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa. The highest snowfall total received was 11.3 inches at Black River Falls, WI, and the highest wind gust was 52 mph at Oelwein, IA.

Blizzard conditions developed early Saturday morning when a passing cold front quickly increased northwest winds. Combined with the fresh snow, visibilities dropped quickly, especially in the open and flat terrain areas of southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa. White out conditions were reported and many roads were impassable.

Winter Storm Watches were issued on Wednesday afternoon for this storm (48 hours in advance). They were replaced with Winter Storm Warnings on Friday before the snow moved in. Some of the warnings were then upgraded to Blizzard Warnings Friday evening.

Some pictures from the snowfall:


Snow totals for January 21-22.

 

SNOWFALL REPORTS
NOAA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1120 AM CST SUN JAN 23 2005

...SNOWFALL TOTALS FROM JAN 21-22 WINTER STORM...

LOCATION                   COUNTY              SNOWFALL   SNOWDEPTH

...IOWA...
WAUKON                     WINNESHIEK            10.2
LANSING                    ALLAMAKEE             10.0
LANSING 4SE                ALLAMAKEE              9.0          12
WATERVILLE 8S              ALLAMAKEE              9.0
FARMERSBURG                CLAYTON                8.5
WAUKON 8NW                 WINNESHIEK             8.0 
CRESCO                     HOWARD                 8.0          13 
DORCHESTER                 ALLAMAKEE              7.0          11 
OSSIAN                     WINNESHIEK             7.0 
FAYETTE                    FAYETTE                6.4          16 
GARNAVILLO                 CLAYTON                6.4
IONIA 2W                   CHICKASAW              6.2 
VOLGA 1NE                  CLAYTON                6.0
STACYVILLE                 MITCHELL               5.5 
NORTH WASHINGTON           CHICKASAW              5.0
ELKADER 6SSW               CLAYTON                4.7          9 
EDGEWOOD                   CLAYTON                4.3            
ST. ANSGAR  7N             MITCHELL               4.2
NEW HAMPTON                CHICKASAW              4.0             
CHARLES CITY               FLOYD                  5.0

...MINNESOTA...
WINONA                     WINONA                10.0
STEWARTVILLE               OLMSTED                9.6
ROCHESTER                  OLMSTED                9.3
DODGE CENTER               DODGE                  9.0
ROLLINGSTONE               WINONA                 9.0
GRAND MEADOW               MOWER                  8.6          10
CALEDONIA 6S               HOUSTON                8.5           
WABASHA                    WABASHA                8.2          9
RENO                       HOUSTON                8.0          9
HIGHLAND                   FILLMORE               8.0
LAKE CITY                  WABASHA                7.7          8 
GOODVIEW                   WINONA                 7.5
PRESTON                    FILLMORE               7.5
SPRING VALLEY              FILLMORE               7.5
WEST CONCORD               DODGE                  7.5 
SPRING GROVE 4N            HOUSTON                7.2 
ALTURA                     WINONA                 7.2 
BYRON                      OLMSTRD                7.0
WINONA DAM 5A              WINONA                 7.0          10 
MANTORVILLE                DODGE                  7.0          8 
LA CRESCENT 1NNW           HOUSTON                6.8
CHATFIELD                  FILLMORE               6.3                         
ELGIN 2SSW                 WABASHA                6.2          8 
ST. CHARLES                WINONA                 6.2 
ZUMBRO FALLS               WABASHA                5.8          8

...WISCONSIN...
BLACK RIVER FALLS          JACKSON               11.3           
TAYLOR                     JACKSON               10.0          13
HUB CITY                   RICHLAND               9.9          14
VICTORY                    VERNON                 9.5
WARRENS 5WSW               MONROE                 9.3          13
TREMPEALEAU                TREMPEALEAU            9.0
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN           CRAWFORD               9.0
MONTANA                    BUFFALO                9.0
LA CROSSE 5SE              LA CROSSE              9.0
BLUE RIVER                 GRANT                  9.0
ETTRICK 5SE                TREMPEALEAU            9.0          13
FENNIMORE                  GRANT                  9.0
BLAIR                      TREMPEALEAU            8.8          12
CENTERVILLE                TREMPEALEAU            8.0
ARCADIA                    TREMPEALEAU            8.0           
ONTARIO                    VERNON                 8.0           
CUBA CITY 2NW              GRANT                  8.0           
MONDOVI 6S                 BUFFALO                8.0           
OSSEO                      TREMPEALEAU            8.0
LA CROSSE                  LA CROSSE              8.0          10
MONROE CENTER              ADAMS                  8.0          14
LA CROSSE WFO              LA CROSSE              7.6          9
GAYS MILLS                 CRAWFORD               7.6          12
STODDARD 3NE               VERNON                 7.6          9
LA CROSSE 1N               LA CROSSE              7.5
HIXTON 5W                  JACKSON                7.5           
TUNNEL CITY                MONROE                 7.5
LA CROSSE 4NNW             LA CROSSE              7.2          10
HOLLAND                    LA CROSSE              7.2
KIELER                     GRANT                  7.1
LA FARGE                   VERNON                 7.0          12
GALESVILLE                 TREMPEALEAU            7.0           
WYALUSING                  GRANT                  7.0
MILLSTON                   JACKSON                7.0
HATFIELD                   JACKSON                7.0
ONALASKA                   LA CROSSE              7.0
SPARTA                     MONROE                 7.0          10
WESTBY 1NE                 VERNON                 7.0          10 
HOLMEN 2S                  LA CROSSE              6.8          9 
MEDFORD TAYLOR CO AP 2S    TAYLOR                 6.8            
VIROQUA                    VERNON                 6.5
ARKDALE 2NE                ADAMS                  6.5 
FRIENDSHIP                 ADAMS                  6.5 
LUBLIN                     TAYLOR                 6.5            
NECEDAH 2SE                JUNEAU                 6.1          9 
HILLSBORO                  VERNON                 6.0          10 
GOODRICH 1E                TAYLOR                 6.0            
LAKE CAMELOT               ADAMS                  6.0
PERKINSTOWN 5E             TAYLOR                 5.3
MEDFORD                    TAYLOR                 5.0          11
NEILLSVILLE 3SW            CLARK                  3.0            
$$