Do you remember the rough winter of 2009? It all started with a record-setting blizzard that rolled in on the night of December 8th. It was so early in the winter, and many people were caught completely off guard by the blizzard as it roared into the Hawkeye State. This fierce storm is easily one of the worst blizzards in Iowa. Here’s how it happened.

Here's something you don't see that often. All of Iowa's 99 counties were under a blizzard warning by 5 p.m. on December 8th, 2009 — but many had no idea just how bad the approaching storm would be.
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service in Des Moines sent out a warning calling it an "epic" blizzard, and it came with lightning, thunder, freezing rain, and hail.
By the morning of December 9th, 2009, all of Iowa was snowed in. Major highways were closed, many were completely blocked by snow, and the Iowa Department of Transportation was advising everyone to stay off the roads.
National Weather Service
Schools were closed across the entire state, and many people were stuck in their homes.
The snowfall shattered a nearly 40-year-old record, dropping between 8 and 17 inches of fresh snow across the entire state. The wind blew the snow into drifts that blocked doors and covered cars.
Flickr / Dave Hull
The only thing we could do was to sit tight, make some hot cocoa, and wait for the storm to pass. Power outages affected hundreds of thousands of people at the height of the storm.

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When the snow was done falling, blustery winds picked up and prolonged the hazardous driving conditions, leaving many people stranded.
National Weather Service
The entire state was frozen for a few days, and transportation was effectively halted.
Even the forecasters were snowed in! This photo of the Johnson NWS office shows just how high the snow was piled.
National Weather Service
Brutally cold temperatures drifted in along with the storm. Across the state, the mercury hovered around 10°F, but the wind chill was recorded well below 0°F. In fact, with the wind chill, Mason City faced a temperature of -31°F!
By the time the blizzard ended, Iowans were ready to give up and move down to Florida.
Flickr / Mark Evans
Little did they know another storm was just ten days away. After the record-setting state-wide blizzard of December 8th, another Midwestern storm rolled in on December 19th, shattering low-pressure records, bringing freezing rain and snowdrifts created by 100 mph winds, and causing havoc when it came to holiday travel.

The winter of 2009-2010 ended up being a record-breaking one, with storm after storm dumping snow on the Hawkeye State. Do you remember the December blizzards and the mess they created? If so, share your memories with us in the comments below!

If you loved this story about the worst blizzard in Iowa, read about these 10 other horrific winter storms that have raged through the Hawkeye State.

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worst blizzard in Iowa

Elisa Regulski | January 04, 2022

What was the biggest snowfall in Iowa?

There’s no denying the veracity of this epic 2009 blizzard, but it’s not the heaviest snowfall Iowa has ever experienced. From March 10-14, 1951, the state saw a whopping 14.3 inches of snow! That’s four inches more than the second heaviest snowfall, which occurred in 1971 – a peak in Iowa’s annual snowfall records, to say the least.

What is winter like in Iowa?

Iowa winters can get blustery, to say the least. However, Iowa is lucky to have four gorgeous and distinct seasons. After the summertime sunshine wanes away, our gorgeous state often sees blankets of pristine white snow. In some areas of the state, temperatures get as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit. If you want to marvel at our state’s astonishing winter beauty, check out our previous article: 12 Places In Iowa That Transform Into Stunning Winter Wonderlands Each Year.

What kind of natural disasters occur in Iowa?

Blizzards aren’t the only kinds of natural disasters we have in Iowa. The Hawkeye state is also known to flood. Many residents live in floodplains, so they frequently have to deal with Mother Nature’s mess. Occasionally, Iowa even sees a few tornadoes! These typically occur in the spring and summer, right as the weather changes. Iowans also know the headaches caused by hail damage. Unfortunately, this is quite a common natural occurrence in this state. Love reading about natural disasters? Check out our previous article: This Town In Iowa Was Hit By A Devastating Storm In 1860.

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