This Day in Weather History December 12
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
1961: Heavy snow fell across most of Iowa on December 11-12 with blizzard conditions developing as strong northerly winds blew and drifted the snow, blocking roads and bringing travel to a standstill. Storm total snowfall accumulations ranged from 7 to 10 inches or more in a band from southwestern through northeastern Iowa including totals of 8.5 inches at Independence and Oskaloosa, 9.0 inches at Dubuque and Iowa Falls, and 10.0 inches at Hampton, Marshalltown, and Osceola. This was the first of several winter storms during an active month that would finish as the snowiest December on record at several Iowa locations, although not in statewide average.
