Midwest Hit by an Early December Blizzard

Des Moines, Iowa -- There was nowhere for Iowa to hide from the monster low pressure system coming out of the west. After a small two-inch dusting Sunday night, the state braced for a blizzard. The record December snowfall started on Monday night in Des Moines, and piled up over 16 inches before moving out. Then came the winds. Gusts of up to 50mph formed drifts, morphing cars and houses into giant snow mountains.

As of this article, Interstate 80 has several ramp closings in the Des Moines city limits including the 73rd Street on ramp by Walmart. Iowa Highway Patrol also closed the Interstate 80 junction ramp to Interstate 235 westbound due to cars sliding into ditches. Interstate 35 is closed from just north of Ankeny to just south of Ames. There is a tow ban in effect and it will be several hours before stranded motorists will be rescued. Check all road conditions before heading out today and tomorrow as travel is not advised anywhere in the state. Call 511 for local road conditions.

The first round of snow came over the weekend, prompting Iowa drivers to remember their winter driving skills. Likely a real asset since many Iowans tend to stalk up on groceries when the first snow flies. By Sunday night the local meteorologists were starting to put out the watches for the major winter storm headed our way. By Monday there were predictions of thunder snow. Never a good sign.

When the snow started Monday night, it was relentless. Tuesday brought an almost solid 24 hours of snowfall, with only a small window of about an hour at dinner time in central Iowa. The wind was of the most concern with this storm as it picked up throughout the day. Wind gusts in excess of 30mph were being reported throughout the state before the Blizzard Warning went into effect at 9pm CST for all of Iowa. The Blizzard Warning is in effect until 6pm CST Wednesday.

Des Moines had 11 inches of new snow on the ground by 9pm CST according to meteorologist Ed Wilson of NEWSCenter 13. By Wednesday morning there was over 16 inches of new snow on the ground in Des Moines, with drifts of over five feet in many areas.

According to the Des Moines Register, the Iowa National Guard is standing by in seven locations across Iowa to help the DOT if needed. With so many of them serving overseas now, it's easy to see the stresses put on the National Guard system. Only six soldiers are stationed at each outpost (normally 42).

So will this be a snow for the record books in Iowa? The verdict is still out as the snow is still flying this afternoon. With winds picking up to gusts of over 50mph it is hard to measure new snowfall. The old record for a December snow in Iowa was 17 inches in 1888 (December 25th & 26th). At the time of this article Des Moines was reporting 16 1/2 inches of new snow since Monday night. Even if it places second in total accumulation, this blizzard will stay in the minds of Iowans for many years to come.

Sources: NWS Des Moines forecast office; Iowa DOT; The Des Moines Register