Mitchell storm history

Heavy rain produced wide spread flash flooding across much of Mitchell County. Numerous roads around Stacyville were under water by early evening and sand bagging occurred along the Little Cedar River. U.S. Highway 218 was closed by flooding between Osage and St. Ansgar and State…

Highway 218 was closed due to flooding and Highway 9 east of Osage was closed since water topped the bridge. Widespread overland flooding continued across the county, which was described as a lake on Sunday June 8. In addition, the Cedar River was in flood for several days, crest…

The combination of falling snow and wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph led to a period of very low visibilities during the afternoon and evening hours on December 28th in Mitchell County. Snowfall totals across the county ranged from 2 to 4 inches.

This significant winter storm brought between 7 and 9 inches of snow to Mitchell County between November 28th and the 30th. The highest snowfall report in the county was located in Saint Ansgar where 8 inches of snow was observed.

The public reported quarter sized hail 2 miles northwest of Saint Ansgar Airport. The reports were relayed from local media.

The Mitchell County 911 Call Center reported multiple trees down in the city of Osage.

A trained spotter reported penny sized hail 1 mile southeast of Riceville.

The combination of falling snow and strong winds allowed for visibilities to drop to a quarter mile or less resulting in blizzard conditions on March 19th in Mitchell County. Snowfall totals across the county ranged from 3 to 5 inches with a highest reported total of 4.6 inches i…

The combination of falling snow and strong winds allowed for visibilities to drop to a quarter mile or less resulting in blizzard conditions during the morning hours on March 5th in Mitchell County. Snow accumulations between 2 to 4 inches were reported across the county.

Minimum wind chills across Mitchell County ranged between 30 to 40 degrees on the morning of February 18th. The coldest wind chill in the county of 37 degrees below zero was reported in Osage, Iowa.

Dangerously cold wind chills began on the evening of the 20th and continued through noon on the 21st in Mitchell County where values dropped to around 30 to 40 degrees below zero. The coldest observed wind chill in the county of 41 degrees below zero was recorded in Osage, IA.

Anomalously warm air temperatures and high humidity allowed the heat index to reach between 110 to 118 degrees on August 26th across Mitchell County. Heat index values reached 118 degrees at a cooperative observation site in St. Ansgar.

Significant rainfall later into June pushed the Little Cedar River at Orchard into flood stage on June 23th. The river stage crested during the evening on the same day in at 1081.5 ft.

Significant rainfall at the end of June pushed the Cedar River at St. Ansgar into flood stage on June 22nd. The river stage crested during the late afternoon on June 23rd at 1109.48 ft.

Law enforcement reported power lines down and damage to a grain bin 2 miles south of Saint Ansgar.

Above normal total monthly precipitation near 10 inches resulted in reduction of severe (D2) drought to moderate (D1) through May.

Near normal monthly rainfall totals alleviated extreme (D3) drought across southern Mitchell County through April but severe (D2) drought persisted countywide.

While slightly above normal total monthly precipitation of 2 to 2.5 resulted in improvement from extreme (D3) to severe (D2) drought in northern Mitchell County through March, long-standing abnormally dry conditions resulted in extreme (D3) drought persisting elsewhere in the sou…

Less than 0.2 of total liquid precipitation fell in Mitchell County through February, up to 1.25 below normal, resulting in extreme (D3) drought persisting.

An automated weather observation station reported a wind chill of 34 degrees below zero in Osage.

An automated weather observation station reported a wind chill of 41 degrees below zero in Osage.

A volunteer observer reported 4.2 of snowfall in St Ansgar.

Extreme (D3) drought persisted across Mitchell County through January as slightly below normal monthly total liquid precipitation near 0.5 was slightly below normal.

Extreme (D3) drought persisted across Mitchell County through December. Monthly total rainfall near 1 was slightly below normal, exacerbating the long-standing abnormally dry conditions of 10 to 14 below normal since June 1st.

Volunteer observers reported 1.5 inches of snowfall in Little Cedar and 1.6 inches of snowfall in St Ansgar.

Extreme (D3) drought persisted across all of Mitchell County through November. The combination of total monthly precipitation near 0.25 inches, 2 inches below normal, and several days of anomalously warm temperatures resulted in 40 to 50% below normal topsoil moisture.

While volunteer observers reported only 1 inch of snowfall from late on October 30th into the morning of October 31st, the combination with 45 mph wind gusts rapidly worsened road conditions. These slippery to hazardous travel conditions resulted in multiple slide offs reported a…

Long-standing drier than normal conditions, comprised of 8 consecutive weeks of at least severe drought (D2), resulted in continuation of extreme drought (D3) across Mitchell County through October. While monthly rainfall totals were only an inch below normal, the long standing d…

Ongoing extreme drought (D3) persisted through Mitchell County, worsening to exceptional drought (D4) for some through the middle of September. By September 11th, under a quarter of an inch of rain fell across Mitchell County, more than 1 inch below normal for the time period. Th…

The combination of anomalously high temperatures and humidity resulted in maximum heat indices of 114 degrees on Tuesday, August 22nd and 115 degrees on Wednesday, August 23rd at the automated weather observation station in Stacyville.

Drier than normal conditions resulted in extreme drought (D3) impacting all of Mitchell County through August. During the first half of August, approximately 1.5 inches of rain fell preventing any initial spread of ongoing very sparse severe drought impacts. Under a half inch of …

Public reported penny sized hail near Stacyville.

Significant runoff from heavy rainfall upstream resulted in a rapid rise of water and minor flooding along the Little Cedar River near Orchard on May 15th. Minor flooding was initially realized late on May 14th, with the river cresting 0.51 feet above flood stage of 1081.5 feet a…

Up to quarter sized hail fell near New Haven.

Half dollar sized hail was reported near Stacyville.

Dangerously cold wind chills around 35 below were common across Mitchell County during the morning of January 31st.

Volunteer snow observers reported that 6 to 7 inches of snow fell across Mitchell County. The highest reported total was 7.3 inches in Osage.

The combination of arctic air and wind gusts of 25 to 40 mph created wind chills of 20 to 35 below zero across Mitchell County. The lowest calculated wind chill was 36 below at a mesonet site in Saint Ansgar.

COOP and volunteer snow observers reported that 2 to 3 inches of snow fell across Mitchell County. The highest reported total was 2.8 inches in Saint Ansgar. Strong winds with gusts of 25 to 40 mph created blowing and drifting snow with some occasional whiteouts.

Quarter sized hail fell in Riceville.

Ping pong ball sized hail was reported in Osage.

Golf ball sized hail was reported northeast of Mitchell.

Wind chills around 35 below occurred across Mitchell County during the morning of January 25th.

Wind chills around 35 below occurred across Mitchell County from the late evening of January 25th into the morning of the 26th.

Volunteer snow observers reported that 5 to 6 inches of snow fell across Mitchell County. The highest reported total was 5.5 inches near Carpenter.

Several buildings were flattened on a large farm just outside of Mitchell.