This Day in Weather History January 22

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

1982: Very hazardous winter weather struck Iowa for the third consecutive weekend with rain and freezing rain beginning in southwestern Iowa during the evening of January 21st then changing to snow at times, spreading northeastward overnight, and persisting into the morning of the 23rd in some areas. Southern Iowa was covered with a thick layer of ice and most roads and schools were closed. Heavy snow fell across northern Iowa, especially on the 22nd, with reported storm totals of 12.0 inches at Eldora and Sioux Center, 12.2 inches at Sheldon, 14.0 inches at Mason City, 14.5 inches at Osage, 17.7 inches at Sioux City where 17.4 inches fell just on the 22nd, and 18.3 inches at Le Mars where 15.2 inches fell just on the 22nd. Strong winds blew the snow into drifts 15 to 20 feet high and produced whiteout conditions at times, making travel all but impossible. January 1982 finished as one of the snowiest months on record in Iowa with monthly snowfall totals ranging up to 29.1 inches at Sioux City and 35.0 inches at Dorchester in Allamakee County.

Source: National Weather Service Des Moines