Ice Storm — Hamilton, Iowa

2023-01-02 to 2023-01-03 · Hamilton, Iowa

Event narrative

Broadcast media with video of heavy ice accumulation across Hamilton County.

Wider weather episode

Deep moisture out of the Gulf was transported all the way to Iowa ahead of a deep, negatively tilted trough across the Rockies. Across Iowa, this resulted in a mixed precipitation event across the state with over an inch of rain across central to southern Iowa. Into northern Iowa the thermal profile cooled and mixed precipitation was reported, including snow, graupel, and freezing rain. Within an axis of colder air, freezing rain accumulated, especially on vegetation and elevated surfaces. Light snow accumulation of up to two inches and ice formed, glazing up to nearly half an inch was across parts of northwest Iowa. Temperatures warmed quickly after sunrise on the 3rd, helping to mitigate impacts from the wintry precipitation.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1078319. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.