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Dangerous Heat in the West; Coastal Flooding & High Rip Current Risk through the Weekend on the East Coast; Flash Flooding Concerns in the Southeast and Southwest

A dangerous, record heat wave continues across portions of the West through Tuesday. High rip current risk and dangerous surf continue through the weekend. There are flash flooding concerns through the weekend for portions of the Southeast and Southwest. Read More >

Overview

January 30-31 2021

A strong storm system moved into the Midwest on the afternoon of January 30, 2021. Initially, precipitation began as rain as a layer of warm air was in place aloft. Over time, however, temperatures began to cool at the surface and aloft due to the falling rain, and precipitation changed to snow during the evening as a result. Some freezing rain was even measured as the transition occurred, and was most noticeable in the Cedar Rapids metro where photos showed accumulation on power lines.

Snow was widespread across the area during the morning of January 31, 2021, and all of eastern Iowa, northwest Illinois and far northeast Missouri saw some form of accumulating snow. Totals were highest in parts of east central Iowa and in north central Illinois, where locally heavy banding at times on the morning of January 31 produced higher snowfall rates. Overall, totals ranged from around 4 to 6 inches, with some locally higher amounts of 7 to 8 inches reported in Buchanan and Benton counties. 

 

Official National Weather Service Observations

Amounts as of MIDNIGHT 2/1/2021
Moline, IL 3.3"
Davenport, IA 4.1"
Dubuque, IA 5.1"


Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Burlington do not measure snow as part of their climate records. Please see the Snowfall Amounts and Storm Reports sections for reported snow amounts in these locations.

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