Winter weather finally arrives

Nine inches blankets area

Clear Lake and North Iowa almost made it through December without a major weather incident, but Monday the area received more than a half-foot of snowfall.  In Clear Lake, an estimated nine inches of snow fell.

National Weather Service meteorologist Ken Harding reported some of the heaviest snowfall totals included 10.5 inches near Fort Dodge and 10.3 inches in Waterloo.  All 99 counties in the state received snow, but some locations in far southern Iowa -- near the Missouri border -- were blasted with mostly freezing rain and sleet.

A winter storm warning was issued Sunday afternoon, allowing travelers and businesses to make Monday plans.  The snow began to fall by mid-morning, accompanied by 30 mph winds which made travel hazardous.

I-35 remained open throughout the snow event, however numerous accidents were reported.

According to the Iowa Weather Network, the year is going to end with cold and more typical temperatures across the state. After the storm that brought sleet, freezing rain and several inches of snow, temperatures will be in the 20s to lower 30s.  Temperatures are expected to remain mostly below freezing through the weekend. Some of the coldest temperatures of the season, so far, will arrive on New Year’s Eve.