Power Outage in Decorah, IA

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the central part of Winneshiek County, roughly from north of Decorah to Fort Atkinson.

Trees and power lines were blown down in Decorah.

Power lines were blown down in Fort Atkinson.

Trees and power lines were blown down in Decorah. A pickup sustained damage at a campground when a tree landed on it.

Trees and power lines were blown down in Decorah and across other parts of Winneshiek County.

Freezing rain fell across Winneshiek County during the afternoon and evening of March 23rd. Enough cold air moved in to change the precipitation over to all snow before ending during the morning of the 24th. Light ice accumulations occurred along with 2 to 4 inches of snow. Some power outages occurred across the county because of the ice accumulations.

North winds between 25 and 35 mph with higher gusts, created a period of blizzard conditions across Winneshiek County during the morning and afternoon of the 20th. As a result of the blizzard, roads were closed, vehicles became trapped in the snow, some power outages occurred and all schools in the county were closed. The highest reported snow total was 6.5 inches in Ossian. A recently used snow blower was stored in the basement of a Decorah home. Heat from the snow blower started a fire that caused extensive damage to the home.

A two foot diameter tree and power lines were blown down in Frankville.

High winds damaged a building and knocked down trees and power lines.

Freezing rain developed across the county during the early morning hours of the 20th with ice accumulations up to a quarter of an inch on exposed surfaces. The freezing rain then changed over to snow with storm total accumulations of 1 to 3 inches through the 21st. The ice accumulation was responsible for at least one accident in Decorah with minor injuries to two people. Power outages were reported throughout the county affecting over a 1000 customers.

Blizzard conditions led to numerous vehicle accidents around the county. Power outages were reported in the small community of Freeport as well. Slippery roads also led to an accident several days later (December 15th) near Decorah. A single car accident at the intersection of U.S. Highway 52 and State Highway 9 caused injuries to the driver of the vehicle, who was transported to a local hospital. A total of 9.5 inches of snow was measured in Decorah with this storm.

Power lines and trees were knocked down.

A line of storms moved across northeast Iowa during the evening of July 23rd. These storms produced an EF1 tornado west of Waukon (Allamakee County) that damaged a farm and trees. Strong thunderstorm winds caused extensive damage to several buildings at the community college in Calmar (Winneshiek County) and flipped over a couple vehicles. The public school athletic fields in Calmar were also heavily damaged. The press box was blown off the high school football stands, metal light poles were downed at the softball field, and metal bleachers were thrown over a fence and onto the field. In Waukon, the roofs were damaged on numerous buildings and several trees and power lines were blown down. The Governor of Iowa issued a disaster proclamation for Allamakee, Clayton and Winneshiek Counties.

A line of storms moved across portions of northeast Iowa during the morning of June 15th. These storms produced some wind damage with trees and power lines blown down near Rudd (Floyd County). A farm in rural northwest Winneshiek County sustained considerable damage with downed trees and damage to the house and outbuildings.

An intense storm system moved across the Upper Midwest on December 15th and produced a rare severe weather outbreak across northeast Iowa. Eight tornadoes occurred across parts of Floyd, Chickasaw and Howard Counties. Four of these tornadoes were rated EF1 with one moving through Rudd (Floyd County) where the roof was removed from the library and several homes and a church were heavily damaged. The other tornadoes largely moved through rural areas damaging trees, power lines and farm buildings. In addition to the tornadoes, damaging winds occurred that blew over a semi in Floyd (Floyd County) and damaged numerous homes across the region. The Governor of Iowa declared a state of disaster emergency for Allamakee, Chickasaw, Fayette, Floyd, Howard, Mitchell and Winneshiek Counties. A federal disaster was declared for Floyd, Howard and Mitchell Counties.

Following behind the rare December severe weather outbreak, very strong winds buffeted northeast Iowa from the late evening of December 15th into the morning of the 16th. Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph were common with a few gusts over 60 mph. The highest measured wind gust was 63 mph at a mesonet station near Ionia (Chickasaw County). The high winds caused numerous power outages to occur across the area. The Governor of Iowa declared a state of disaster emergency for Allamakee, Chickasaw, Fayette, Floyd, Howard, Mitchell and Winneshiek Counties.

Thunderstorms rumbled across much of northeast Iowa during the late morning and early afternoon of July 9th. Damaging winds from these storms blew down trees in St. Ansgar (Mitchell County), Oelwein (Fayette County) and blew a roof of a building in West Union (Fayette County). Trees and a power lines were blown down in Postville and Waukon (Allamakee County).

A line of thunderstorms moved across northeast Iowa during the early evening of September 10th and produced some isolated wind damage. Trees were blown down across a road in Oelwein (Fayette County) and a shed was blown over near Fort Atkinson (Winneshiek County). Trees were blown down across a highway southwest of Harpers Ferry (Allamakee County). In Guttenberg (Clayton County), downed trees caused power outages and landed on some cars.

A line of severe thunderstorms moved across northeast Iowa during the afternoon of June 30th. These storms primarily produced damaging winds with trees and power lines blown down from near Osage (Mitchell County) southeast to near Strawberry Point (Clayton County). Lots of trees and power lines were blown down across much of Winneshiek County, the southern half of Allamakee County and the northern sections of Fayette County. A 65 mph wind gust occurred near Fredericksburg (Chickasaw County).

A line of thunderstorms moved across northeast Iowa during the afternoon of July 13th. These storms blew down a tree, which landed on a house, in Strawberry Point (Clayton County) and trees and power lines in Decorah (Winneshiek County). The only hail reported was walnut sized in Millville (Clayton County).

A complex of severe thunderstorms moved across northeast Iowa during the late afternoon and early evening of June 9th. These severe storms produced up to 75 mph wind gusts in and near Rockford (Floyd County) with extensive damage in town. At least 300 hundred trees were destroyed with some structural damage to buildings. A light pole at the high school football field was blown down onto storage buildings for the baseball and softball fields. An estimated 80 mph wind gust occurred west of Floyd (Floyd County). These storms also produced up to golf ball sized hail near Nora Springs (Floyd County) and west of Charles City (Floyd County). A section of the Avenue of the Saints was closed south of Charles City to allow utility crews to repair power lines. This complex was then followed by another round of thunderstorms later in the evening and the combined rainfall produced flash flooding that sent water over numerous roads across parts of Floyd, Fayette and Winneshiek Counties.

A line of severe thunderstorms moved across northeast Iowa during the late afternoon of July 19th. These storms produced two tornadoes. The first, an EF-0, touched down north of Elma (Howard County) and damaged some crops. The second tornado, an EF-1, touched down west of McGregor (Clayton County) and then moved east through McGregor before dissipating over the Mississippi River. The tornado did extensive damage to the downtown area where two buildings were completely destroyed and numerous others were damaged. One person was killed in an accident cleaning up debris from the tornado when a tractor rolled and pinned the person beneath it. The storms produced a path of damaging winds from Nora Springs (Floyd County) and Mitchell (Osage County) east to Waukon (Allamakee County). Within this path, winds were estimated to range from 65 to 80 mph with numerous trees and power lines blown down. Southeast of Waukon, a barn was blown down trapping a farmer in the debris. The Governor of Iowa declared a disaster proclamation for Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Floyd and Winneshiek Counties. The President of the United States issued a disaster declaration for Allamakee, Chickasaw, Fayette and Mitchell Counties.

Rain spread across northeast Iowa on January 16th. Some of this fell as freezing rain with ice accumulations of 0.10 to 0.15 inches. This ice accumulated on some trees and power lines. A greater impact developed as temperatures quickly dropped below freezing causing the standing water to rapidly turn into a sheet of ice on roads, parking lots and sidewalks. Numerous accidents occurred on the icy roads with some schools closed for 2 or 3 days.

Northeast Iowa received between a quarter to half inch of ice accumulation along with snow from a late season winter storm that hit the area on March 23rd and 24th. The ice accumulations mainly occurred portions of Floyd, Chickasaw, Allamakee and Clayton Counties. Up to a half of accumulation was reported in Garber (Clayton County) and Waukon (Allamakee County) where trees and power lines were brought down by the ice. Power outages occurred in parts of Allamakee, Chickasaw and Winneshiek Counties. North of the ice accumulation area, 4 to 6 inches of snow fell. North winds of 20 to 30 mph then created blowing and drifting snow for several hours on March 24th. The highest reported snow total was 6 inches in Chester (Howard County).

An early morning squall line moved across northeast Iowa on June 22nd. This squall line produced winds of 60 to 70 mph and at least one tornado. The tornado destroyed one farm house near Maynard (Fayette County) causing injuries to both occupants of the house. Several other nearby farms sustained damage to crops, trees, and barns. As the squall line moved across northeast Iowa it produced a swath of wind damage starting near Marble Rock (Floyd County) to around Guttenberg (Clayton County). Within this swath, a 65 mph wind gust was measured in Marble Rock that took down trees and power lines, around 17 farms sustained damage across southern Fayette County, and an Amish grocery store was destroyed near Garber (Clayton County). Preliminary damage estimates for Fayette County are in excess of $3 million. Locally heavy rains also produced some flash flooding with 480th Street washed out south of Stacyville (Floyd County) and Waterloo Creek came out of its banks near Dorchester (Allamakee County) within 30 minutes of the rain starting. The State of Iowa Governor issued a disaster proclamation for the following counties: Allamakee, Clayton, Howard, Mitchell and Winneshiek. A federal disaster declaration was made for Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, Mitchell and Winneshiek Counties.

A line of severe thunderstorms developed late in the afternoon of June 16th across Minnesota and Iowa ahead of warm front and area of low pressure. These storms produced reports of 60 to 70 mph winds as they rolled across northeast Iowa. The area near Westgate (Fayette County) was hit hard with at least three barns blown down, a church roof damaged and numerous trees and power lines were downed. Another cattle barn was blown down south of Brainard (Fayette County).

Several rounds of thunderstorms rolled across northeast Iowa during the afternoon and evening of May 19th. These storms produced very heavy rains across Floyd and Mitchell Counties where numerous roads were washed out or covered with flood waters. Damage to roads in Mitchell County was estimated to be around $4.5 million where 22 roads were closed with 6 to 8 bridges washed out. The heavy rain also damaged the corn crop in Mitchell County where it is estimated up to 15 percent of the crop will not grow back. The storms also produced damaging winds that destroyed buildings and blew down trees and power lines. Barns were blown down in Floyd and Mitchell Counties while a grain elevator was damaged near Fredericksburg (Chickasaw County). Flood waters on the Little Cedar River east of Charles City (Floyd County) damaged a railroad bridge causing an 80 car train to derail into the river. The two employees on the train were rescued without sustaining any injuries. The Iowa Governor requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration be made for Mitchell, Floyd, Chickasaw, Fayette and Clayton Counties.

A strong area of low pressure moved out of the Central Plains into Illinois and the Great Lakes region on December 19th and 20th. As this storm moved by, it produced a period of blizzard conditions during the morning and afternoon of the 20th as sustained north winds of 25 to 35 mph with higher gusts created poor visibility from falling and blowing snow. Impacts from the blizzard included closed roads, trapped vehicles, power outages, region wide school closings on the 20th with some schools remaining closed on the 21st or started 2 hours late. The accumulating snow first started moving into the region during the middle of the evening on the 19th with accumulations reaching winter storm criteria of 6 inches between midnight and 6 a.m. on the 20th. The highest reported snow total was 15.2 inches in Strawberry Point (Clayton County). National Guard troops were activated across the state to help rescue stranded drivers. The Iowa Dept. of Transportation stated that travel was not advised across the majority of the state from 8 p.m. Wednesday, December 19th through Thursday the 20th. A tow ban was also in place for much of the state during the storm.

A cold front triggered a line of severe thunderstorms across parts of northeast Iowa during the early morning hours of June 11th. The severe thunderstorms knocked down trees and power lines in Frankville (Winneshiek County), Elgin (Fayette County) and near Waukon (Allamakee County).

Severe thunderstorms produced damaging winds during the morning hours of September 2nd across portions of northeast Iowa. Winds up to 70 mph occurred across much of Mitchell and Howard Counties into the northwest corner of Winneshiek County. In this damage area, widespread crop damage occurred as both corn and bean fields were flattened by the wind. The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a natural disaster designation for this damage for Mitchell, Howard and Floyd Counties. In addition, widespread tree damage occurred, two sheds and several grain bins were either destroyed or damaged, two light poles were blown over at a high school football field in Riceville (Howard County) and over 70 power poles were downed across Mitchell and Howard Counties. Total damages are estimated to be near 50 million dollars.

A cold front pushed east into Wisconsin during the afternoon and evening hours of April 10th. Severe thunderstorms developed along the cold front and produced large hail and damaging winds over parts of northeast Iowa. Hail fell near Elma (Howard County) and trees and power lines were knocked down near Burr Oak (Winneshiek County).

A winter storm came out of the southwest United States and brought freezing rain and a little bit of snow to northeast Iowa from February 20th into the 21st. The freezing rain created ice accumulations that ranged from a tenth of an inch up to a quarter of an inch. Snow accumulations over the 2 days ranged from 1 to 4 inches. In addition to the freezing rain and snow, strong winds hit the area with sustained winds of 20 to 25 mph and gusts between 30 and 35 mph. Ice accumulations of a quarter of an inch were reported in Mitchell, Howard, Winneshiek, Clayton and Allamakee Counties. The ice accumulations were responsible for downed power and telephone lines, vehicle accidents and school cancellations. The highest reported snow amount was 3.6 inches in Fayette (Fayette County). As the freezing rain moved in, it was accompanied by some lightning strikes that sparked an explosion at a feed plant north of Oelwein (Fayette County).

A powerful low pressure system tracked across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region during the evening hours of December 10th into the morning hours of December 12th. This brought heavy snow and blizzard conditions across portions of northeast Iowa. At least one indirect injury occurred in a car accident that was the result of slippery conditions after the storm. Volunteer cooperative observers measured snowfall amounts of 12 inches at Waukon (Allamakee County), 9.5 inches near Cresco (Howard County) and at Decorah (Winneshiek County), 8 inches at St. Ansgar (Mitchell County) and 7 inches at Ionia (Chickasaw County). In addition to the heavy snow, sustained wind speeds of 25 to 30 miles per hour with gusts up to 50 miles per hour caused whiteout conditions, widespread road closures, stranded motorists and power outages.

A low pressure system deepened over northern Minnesota and was responsible for high winds across northeast Iowa in the morning hours of October 26th into the daytime hours of the 27th. The winds produced gusts up to 60 miles per hour near Harpers Ferry (Allamakee) in the morning hours of October 27th. The high winds blew over a Freightliner truck and injured the driver near Monona (Clayton), damaged buildings in Clayton County, caused power outages that affected 1400 customers in Charles City (Floyd) and prompted Valley Community Schools (Fayette) to close early.

A powerful winter storm moved from Missouri to lower Michigan on February 17. This system brought freezing rain initially to parts of northeast Iowa during the early morning hours. Ice accumulations ranged from a quarter to a half of an inch. A heavy glazing of ice on power lines caused power outages in Decorah (Winneshiek County). By mid-morning, precipitation changed to all snow and was accompanied by strong northwest winds gusting up to 30 to 35 mph. Snowfall accumulations between 4 and 8 inches occurred in areas near the Mississippi River. Highest snowfall totals from volunteer weather observers included 7.6 inches and 6.0 inches respectively in and just southeast of Elkader (Clayton County).

A low pressure system moved across northeast Iowa during the late evening hours of August 21, triggering severe thunderstorms. Law enforcement officials and the public estimated wind gusts of 65 to 70 mph, which knocked down power lines and trees.

A cold front triggered scattered severe thunderstorms during the evening of May 14 across parts of northeast Iowa. Storm spotters, law enforcement officials and the public reported wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph, which blew down trees and power lines. Strong gradient winds behind the storm system also brought wind gusts between 40 and 50 mph to much of the region.

Within a week of being hit by the powerful winter storm of February 23 to 25, another winter storm affected northeast Iowa on March 1 and 2. This storm produced snow accumulations of 6 to 10 inches. Specific reports included 10.0 inches near McIntire(Howard County), 8.5 inches at Spillville (Winneshiek) and 8.0 inches at New Hampton (Chickasaw County). Strong northwest winds caused considerable blowing and drifting snow, which resulted in the closure of several roads.

As the winter storm moved across Iowa toward the lower Great Lakes, blizzard conditions developed Saturday night, February 24, and lasted into Sunday morning, February 25. Winds gusting to around 40 mph caused white-out conditions, along with considerable blowing and drifting. In fact, drifts were as high as 4 to 5 feet in some locations. The strong winds and heavy snow hampered efforts to restore electricity to thousands of homes without power, which had been affected by a heavy glazing of ice Saturday morning.

A powerful winter storm moved from Kansas to the lower Great Lakes, producing a combination of freezing rain, sleet and heavy snow, which virtually paralyzed northeast Iowa. Widespread power outages and tree damage were caused by ice accumulations of 1 to 2 inches. Especially hard hit were locations from around Oelwein (Fayette County) to New Hampton (Chicksaw County) to Osage (Mitchell County). Several roads had downed power lines across them and in fact, thousands of power poles were downed due to ice. Heavy snow also accompanied the storm. Accumulations ranged from 6 to 18 inches, with highest totals near the Minnesota-Iowa border. Some of the highest totals included 18.8 inches near Decorah (Winneshiek County) and 16.4 inches at Dorchester (Allamakee County). Thousands of people were without power for several days and emergency shelters were provided to accomodate those needing assistance. Travel was dangerous or impossible throughout northeast Iowa.

Spotters, law enforcement officials and the public reported wind gusts of 60 to 65 mph, along with hail the size of pennies and quarters. Hardest hit was the town of New Hampton (Chicksaw County), where numerous trees and power lines were knocked down.

A fast moving line of thunderstorms produced the first significant severe weather event of the season. Law enforcement officials and spotters estimated winds gusting as high as 65 mph, which knocked down numerous trees and power lines. There was also damage to several corn and soybean fields.

Hail ranging in size from dimes to as large as ping-pong balls was reported by spotters, ham radio operators and law enforcement officials. In addition, wind gusts of 60 to 65 mph knocked down numerous trees and power lines.

60 to 65 mph wind gusts caused widespread damage, knocking down numerous trees and power lines. In addition, hundreds of acres of corn and soybeans were damaged.

Spotters and law enforcement officials estimated wind gusts as high as 70 mph, which blew down trees and power lines. Hail the size of dimes and nickels was also reported.