Dangerous Fire Conditions in the Southern High Plains; Severe Weather in the Central Plains and Upper Midwest; Late-Season Mountain Snow

Dry and windy conditions will produce dangerous fire weather conditions across the southern High Plains into the Southwest. Severe storms, including very large hail, strong tornadoes, and winds, are expected in the central Plains into the Upper Midwest. Heavy late-season snow and record cold temperatures are expected in the northern to central Rockies. Heat is spreading across the eastern U.S.. Read More >

Overview

A quick moving, but potent early spring system brought a narrow band of heavy snow to portions of eastern Iowa, northern Illinois, and southern Wisconsin late Thursday night into early Friday afternoon (3/22/2024). A narrow band of 4 - 8"+ of snow fell roughly along and north of the Highway 30 corridor, with the highest axis from near Cedar Rapids to Savanna, IL to Freeport, IL.

This system was accompanied by very strong "lift" along a tight temperature gradient, and when combined with an unstable air mass, resulted in bands of very heavy snowfall. In fact, the atmosphere was unstable enough to produce lightning and thunder with several reports early Friday morning near and southwest of Cedar Rapids, not too uncommon for late winter or early spring systems! "Thundersnow" is typically associated with higher snowfall rates of 1 - 2"+ per hour and can lead to impressive totals in a short amount of time.

The heaviest snow reduced visibilities to under 1/4 of a mile and quickly led to snow covered and slippery roads, despite mild antecedent conditions with ground temperatures well above freezing.

NWS Official Totals

Dubuque Airport: 3.4"
Davenport NWS: 0.5"
Moline Airport: 0.1"

Notable (Non-NWS) Totals

6 SSE Elmoville, IL (Carroll County): 9.3" (CoCoRaHS)
4 SE Loran, IL: 8.5" (Public)
Pearl City, IL: 8.5" (Public)
Shannon, IL: 8.0" (Public)
2 NW Alburnett, IA: 8.0" (Public)
2 WNW Freeport, IL: 7.8" (Trained Spotter)

WPC Sea Level Pressure/Fronts/Radar Loop

Visible Satellite 03/23/2024

Snow/Rain
Photos
Radar
Storm Reports
Environment

Snow/Rain

â„ï¸ Snowfall / Rainfall Maps â„ï¸

Midwest Snowfall Analysis Courtesy Iowa Environmental Mesonet		Local Snowfall Analysis Courtesy Iowa Environmental Mesonet

24-hr Local Rainfall Map Ending 8am Saturday (3/23/24)		24-hr Local Snowfall Map Ending 8am Saturday (3/23/24)

Photos


Freeport,IL (Kerry Weber 3/22/24)	Savanna, IL (Mandy Jo 3/22/24)	Loran, IL (Brittney Demeter 3/22/24)	College of Dupage Visible Satellite 03/23/24

ðŸ“¡ Radar ðŸ“¡

Radar Loop - Courtesy IEM

ðŸ“ Storm Reports ðŸ“

Storm Reports Map - Courtesy IEM

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
1146 PM CDT Fri Mar 22 2024

...MARCH 22, 2024 SNOWFALL REPORTS...

Location Amount Time/Date Provider
4 SSE Loran 8.5 in 0200 PM 03/22
Pearl City 8.5 in 1230 PM 03/22 Public
2 ENE Lafayette 8.0 in 1100 AM 03/22 Public
Shannon 8.0 in 1100 AM 03/22 Public
2 WNW Freeport 7.8 in 0215 PM 03/22 Trained Spotter
Mount Carroll 7.6 in 0126 PM 03/22 Trained Spotter
Freeport 7.5 in 0148 PM 03/22 Trained Spotter
3 ESE Loran 7.5 in 1100 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
2 WNW Freeport 7.3 in 0248 PM 03/22
Anamosa 7.2 in 1127 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
3 WNW Cedar Rapids 7.0 in 1100 AM 03/22 Public
2 NNW Shellsburg 7.0 in 0940 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
3 N Marion 6.8 in 1055 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
1 ENE Anamosa 6.7 in 1037 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
Freeport 6.5 in 1105 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
2 SE Scioto Mills 6.3 in 1250 PM 03/22
1 N Marion 6.2 in 0545 PM 03/22 CO-OP Observer
1 E Hiawatha 6.1 in 1003 AM 03/22 Public
3 W Cedar Rapids 6.0 in 1115 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
1 N Freeport 6.0 in 1230 PM 03/22 Trained Spotter
6 NE Van Horne 6.0 in 1205 PM 03/22 Public
2 W Cedar Rapids 5.9 in 1106 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
2 NNW Marion 5.9 in 1100 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
2 NNW Marion 5.9 in 1123 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
Marion 5.8 in 1115 AM 03/22 Cocorahs
3 SW Winneshiek 5.5 in 0300 PM 03/22 Trained Spotter
4 NNE Fairfax 5.3 in 1000 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
2 SSW Prairieburg 5.3 in 1103 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
2 SSE Hiawatha 5.2 in 1055 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
3 NNE Cedar Rapids 5.0 in 1015 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
3 NE Cedar Rapids 5.0 in 1029 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
2 NE Cedar Rapids 5.0 in 1149 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
6 SSE Elmoville 5.0 in 1140 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
Hiawatha 5.0 in 1147 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
Maquoketa 5.0 in 1200 PM 03/22 Public
Cascade 4.8 in 1156 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
2 NNW Marion 4.7 in 0858 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
Stanwood 4.7 in 1151 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
3 SSW Center Junction 4.6 in 1050 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
2 SSW Hiawatha 4.5 in 1046 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
1 NNE Olin 4.5 in 1045 AM 03/22 Public
Bertram 4.4 in 1117 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
1 W Amana 4.3 in 1205 PM 03/22 Trained Spotter
4 W Center Junction 4.3 in 1002 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
2 ESE Fairview 4.3 in 0430 PM 03/22 CO-OP Observer
2 ENE Marion 4.3 in 1045 AM 03/22
2 WNW Marion 4.3 in 0135 PM 03/22 Trained Spotter
Swisher 4.3 in 1050 AM 03/22 Official NWS Obs
1 WNW Cou Falls 4.2 in 1040 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
1 NNE Davis 4.1 in 1254 PM 03/22
Cascade 4.0 in 0900 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
3 WSW Cedar Rapids 4.0 in 0959 AM 03/22 Public
3 E Cedar Rapids 4.0 in 1004 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
2 NW Marion 4.0 in 1214 PM 03/22 Trained Spotter
2 ESE Ridott 4.0 in 0830 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
2 SSE Woodbine 4.0 in 0727 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
Wyoming 4.0 in 1215 PM 03/22 Trained Spotter
3 N Buchanan 3.8 in 1052 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
Mount Vernon 3.8 in 1124 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
2 ENE Hiawatha 3.7 in 1158 AM 03/22 Public
Dakota 3.5 in 0727 AM 03/22 Public
3 E Iowa City 3.5 in 1038 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
1 SSW North Liberty 3.5 in 0153 PM 03/22 Trained Spotter
Dubuque Regional Arpt 3.4 in 0100 PM 03/22 Official NWS Obs
2 WNW Woodbine 3.4 in 1243 PM 03/22
1 W Elmira 3.3 in 1107 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
1 N Lowden 3.3 in 1102 AM 03/22 CO-OP Observer
Belle Plaine 3.0 in 1155 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
Freeport 3.0 in 0755 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
2 E Hiawatha 3.0 in 0826 AM 03/22 Public
Hiawatha 3.0 in 0838 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
Preston 3.0 in 0849 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
Williamsburg 3.0 in 0956 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
1 SW University Heights 2.9 in 1130 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
1 N Williamsburg 2.9 in 1046 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
Jesup 2.8 in 1000 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
1 WNW Dubuque 2.3 in 1255 PM 03/22 Trained Spotter
Amana 2.0 in 0850 AM 03/22 Public
1 NW Iowa City 2.0 in 1011 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
Parnell 2.0 in 1054 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
2 SSW Williamstown 1.7 in 1100 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
4 NNW Ely 1.5 in 0900 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
Elizabeth 1.0 in 0749 AM 03/22
Lowden 1.0 in 0930 AM 03/22 CO-OP Observer
North English 0.8 in 1039 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter
Davenport Airport 0.5 in 1200 PM 03/22 Official NWS Obs
SW Quad City Airport 0.1 in 1200 PM 03/22 Official NWS Obs

...SLEET REPORTS...

Location Amount Time/Date Provider
2 SSE Davenport 0.0 in 0906 AM 03/22 Trained Spotter

Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying
equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers
for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.

Environment


SPC Mesoscale Discussion #281	500 mb Height map And Vorticity	850 mb Frontogenetical Forcing

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Dangerous Fire Conditions in the Southern High Plains; Severe Weather in the Central Plains and Upper Midwest; Late-Season Mountain Snow

Winter Storm Summary: March 22, 2024