Thanksgiving Blizzard: Iowa Time Machine November 27, 1983

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On November 27, 1983, back-to-back icy blizzards wrapped up after wreaking havoc on Thanksgiving travel plans for Iowans across the state. The Thanksgiving Blizzard of 1983 claimed at least three lives while leaving thousands without power in the western part of the state.

Leading up to the busy holiday travel weekend, an initial snow and ice storm moved across Iowa. One woman died on Highway 20 in Woodbury County when icy conditions led her car to slide off the road. In Greene County, near Carroll, two more people were killed in a head-on collision due to icy roads. A large band of snow dropped 3-6" from Clarinda to Mason City, covering the ice and causing dozens of accidents. Hundreds of travelers found themselves stranded for hours.

A significant second wave awaited holiday travelers in western Iowa. It started with steady freezing rain across parts of Nebraska and western Iowa, then heavy snow began to fall. In Sioux City, the epicenter of the storm's impact, over a foot of snow combined with 50 mph winds to bring the city to a standstill, and I-29 was closed.

While wet, heavy snow weighed down the western half of the state, a major power line broke near Glenwood, leaving over 2,000 customers in Mills County without power. A huge storm left a wide path, and at least 1-2" of snow fell from Denver to Duluth, stranding thousands of travelers in airports and along highways. #Iowa #OTD #History #Weather #Blizzard