A powerful winter storm dropped more than a foot of snow across parts of Iowa, with Fort Dodge leading the state at 15 inches.
A fierce winter storm swept through Iowa over the weekend, turning the post-Thanksgiving landscape into a winter scene and creating dangerous travel conditions across much of the Midwest. The system delivered significant snowfall throughout Saturday, Nov. 29, with some areas seeing over a foot of accumulation.
Record-breaking accumulation across northern Iowa
Northern and central Iowa took the heaviest hit, with several communities reporting double-digit snowfall totals by Sunday morning. Weather observers noted impressive accumulation rates as the storm stalled over the state, dropping heavy, wet snow for hours.
Fort Dodge led the way with 15 inches of snow through 7 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. Residents woke up to transformed surroundings, with deep drifts and heavy snow making travel nearly impossible in many locations.
Close behind, Callender reported 14.3 inches, and Cedar Falls measured 14 inches. The consistent heavy snowfall across northern communities highlighted the storm’s concentrated impact on the region.
Nine communities buried under a foot of snow
The storm proved especially harsh for several Iowa cities that all recorded 12 inches or more. These were the highest totals:
Fort Dodge reported 15 inches, the most in the state.
Callender measured 14.3 inches.
Cedar Falls received 14 inches.
Ackley recorded 13.5 inches.
Jesup reported 13.3 inches.
Clarion measured 12.5 inches.
Dike saw 12 inches of new snow.
Eldora also reported 12 inches.
Ellsworth rounded out the list with 12 inches.
Central Iowa faces significant snow accumulation
While Des Moines and nearby communities didn’t experience the extreme totals seen in northern Iowa, the metro area still received enough snow to disrupt travel and daily plans. Central Iowa generally picked up between 3.8 and 8.8 inches through 5 p.m. Saturday, according to Weather.gov.
The area remained under a winter storm warning through Sunday morning, and officials encouraged residents to stay off the roads unless necessary.
Saylorville led the Des Moines metro with 9 inches, followed by Norwalk with 8.8 inches. Polk City recorded 7.1 inches, showing how totals varied across the region.
Several communities—Altoona, Johnston, Pleasant Hill, Urbandale and West Des Moines—each reported 7 inches, underscoring the storm’s broad impact.
Des Moines International Airport measured 6.9 inches. The accumulation caused flight delays and cancellations, affecting travelers returning from Thanksgiving weekend.
Storm impacts linger into Sunday
The timing of the storm, arriving just as holiday travelers were heading home, added to the complications. Road crews worked through Saturday night and early Sunday to clear highways and treat surfaces.
The heavy, wet snow raised concerns about power outages and strain on structures, though no widespread issues were reported. Residents spent Sunday morning digging out driveways, clearing sidewalks and evaluating the storm’s overall impact.
Weather officials continued monitoring conditions through Sunday as the storm gradually moved east and the winter storm warning expired.
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