Exactly a year ago, we prepared for and endured the largest snowfall of the season when a blizzard struck the Quad Cities area.
It started with light snow, with about one to two inches of accumulation, on February 1.
Then it really snowed. And snowed. And snowed. For more than 12 hours.
Check out photos from the storm – click here.
There were reports of thundersnow across eastern Iowa and northwest Illinois, and some reports of lightning associated with the storm. Winds gusted and temperatures fell. Snow fell at a rate of one to two inches per hour.
Officially, 16.7 inches of snow fell at Quad City International Airport from the evening of February 1 to the morning of February 2. That set a new 24-hour snowfall record. The previous record, set January 3, 1971, was 16.4 inches.
“The Moline three day total of 18.4 inches also tied the record for a single storm that was set back in January of 1979,” the NWS website said.
Check out more snowfall records for the Quad Cities – click here.
Gov. Terry Branstad issued disaster declarations in several Iowa Counties after the February 2 storm, including Cedar, Clinton, Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Lee and Scott counties.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn activated more than 500 National Guard troops to help stranded motorists along and north of Interstate 70.
With little or no budget to haul away plowed snow, huge snow piles were found all over town – including a half-block long snow mountain on Scott Street south of Fourth Street in downtown Davenport. Some people complained that the snow piles along intersections made it difficult for drivers to see oncoming traffic as they made turns at some intersections.
Officials in communities across Iowa and Illinois issued snow emergencies as public works and police crews worked to cope with the storm. Trash and recycling pickup was delayed by at least one day. Crews worked around the clock in clear snow-covered roads. Many of the snow emergency declarations were in effect for five to seven days before finally being lifted.
Sam Boyer at CURE Solutions shared a 12-hour of time-lapse video as the storm struck Burlington, Iowa.
News 8 reporters Kristy Mergenthal and Angie Mitchum also sought out the biggest local snow piles following the storm.
