March in Iowa is a fickle beast. One day you're thinking about pulling the lawnmower out of the shed, and the next, you’re digging your car out of a three-foot drift. That’s basically the story of the first week of March 2025. If you were looking for Iowa snow totals March 7 2025, you probably noticed the headlines were a chaotic mess of blizzard warnings, pileups on I-35, and a weird phenomenon known as "dirty rain."
Honestly, by the time Friday, March 7 rolled around, the state was mostly catching its breath. The real "meat" of the storm—the part that actually dropped the heavy snow—hit hard on March 4 and 5. By the 7th, the wind was still biting, and the drifts were still blocking driveways, but the flakes had largely stopped falling. We were in the "digging out" phase.
Why Iowa snow totals March 7 2025 look so different across the state
Weather in this state is never uniform. While folks in the northwest were dealing with a full-blown "ground blizzard" because of 60 mph gusts, people in Des Moines were looking at a messy mix of slush and "dirty rain" (which is exactly what it sounds like—rain mixed with dust from the southern plains).
The National Weather Service and CoCoRaHS observers reported some pretty wild numbers leading into that Friday. In the northwest corner, places like Cherokee and Ida Grove saw a solid 3.0 inches of fresh powder during the peak of the event. Further north, Waucoma got slapped with 4.0 inches, and Oelwein recorded about 2.3 inches.
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It wasn't a "Snowpocalypse" in terms of depth—we've all seen 12-inch dumps before—but the wind made it feel much worse. When you combine three inches of snow with 65 mph gusts, you don't get a winter wonderland. You get a whiteout.
The Breakdown of Accumulated Snow
If you look at the official logs for the period ending March 7, the numbers tell a story of a narrow, angry band of weather.
- Northwest Iowa: This area took the brunt of the blizzard conditions. Locations near Orange City and Sioux City saw amounts ranging from 2 to 3.5 inches, but the visibility was basically zero.
- Central Iowa: Des Moines and Ames were on the "warm" side for a bit, which meant a lot of rain before it switched to snow. This led to that infamous 15-vehicle pileup on I-35 on the morning of March 5. By the 7th, the "total" on the ground was often less than the "total" that fell because of melting and compaction.
- Northeast Iowa: New Hampton saw about 1.7 to 2.0 inches, while Harpers Ferry recorded a lighter 1.0 inch.
The "Dirty Rain" and Thundersnow Factor
One of the weirdest things about this specific weather event was the "dirty rain." If your car looked like it had been through a mud puddle on March 6 or 7, you weren't alone. Strong winds lofted dust from Texas and Mexico high into the atmosphere, which then got washed down by the initial rain in Iowa.
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And then there was the thundersnow.
It’s rare, it’s loud, and it’s kinda terrifying if you aren't expecting it. Several reports from central Iowa mentioned flashes of lightning during the transition from rain to snow on the night of March 4. By the time Friday morning hit, the sky was clear, but the "Iowa snow totals March 7 2025" were locked into the history books as part of one of the most expensive early-March storms in years, with damages across the Midwest topping $2.5 billion.
Travel and Safety: What the Totals Didn't Tell You
Numbers on a map don't account for the ice. Because the storm started as rain and drizzle, a layer of "flash freeze" ice formed underneath the snow. This is why the Iowa State Patrol was so busy. They ended up responding to over 575 calls for service and at least 130 crashes during the height of the system.
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Even if your town only reported "two inches" on the morning of March 7, those two inches were likely sitting on top of a skating rink. Interstate 80 near Newton and I-35 near Elkhart were essentially parking lots for a good portion of the week.
What should you do now?
If you're still dealing with the aftermath or looking ahead to the next "spring" surprise, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, check your gutters. March snow is heavy and wet; when it melts alongside those "dirty rain" sediments, it can clog up your drainage fast.
Second, don't trust the clear pavement. March 7 might have been sunny, but "ground blizzards" occur when existing snow is whipped up by residual winds, even if the sky is blue.
Lastly, keep an eye on the National Weather Service (NWS) Des Moines or Sioux Falls offices for "official" climate summaries. Those volunteer spotters (the CoCoRaHS folks) are usually the most accurate for your specific backyard, so it's worth checking their interactive maps if you need the exact number for an insurance claim or just for bragging rights at the coffee shop.
Next Steps for You:
Check your local county emergency management website for any remaining snow removal ordinances or parking bans that might still be in effect. If you’re planning a drive across the state, use the 511ia.org portal to see real-time camera feeds of road conditions, as drifting can continue for days after the actual snowfall ends.