Blizzard — Buena Vista, Iowa

2025-03-19 · Buena Vista, Iowa

Event narrative

Snowfall totaled 8.0 inches in Sioux Rapids and Storm Lake. Northwest winds gusted between 40 and 55 mph with a peak gust of 63 mph reported by the AWOS at Storm Lake Municipal Airport (KSLB). The combination of snow and wind resulted in widespread white-out conditions, especially in rural areas. Travel was not advised. Heavy, wet snow and wind also resulted in downed electrical lines and power outages.

Wider weather episode

A strong Colorado Low moved through the Central Plains and Mid-Mississippi River Valley on March 19. After initial light rain showers, a heavy band of snow developed across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa with 7 to 10 inches of accumulation. On the northwest side of the band, there was a very sharp cutoff in snowfall.

Heavy snow, when combined with widespread northwest wind gusts from 35 to 65 mph, resulted in white-out conditions across northwest Iowa and northeast Nebraska. Travel was not advised in the blizzard area with thousands of reported power outages and numerous school closures. Interstate 29 was closed from Sioux City, IA to Missouri Valley, IA and it took through the following day for roads to be opened and power to be restored for most residents.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1246962. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.