Weather
Iowa Blizzard: 35 Years Ago, Halloween Storm Left 80,000 in Dark
Des Moines, IA – Thirty five years ago this Halloween weekend, one of Iowa's most destructive early season winter storms brought blizzard conditions, dangerous ice and widespread power failures, leavi
By Cameron Hayes · 2026-11-01T18:21:45.192Z
Des Moines, IA – Thirty five years ago this Halloween weekend, one of Iowa's most destructive early season winter storms brought blizzard conditions, dangerous ice and widespread power failures, leaving approximately 80,000 rural electricity customers without power, some for days.
According to the National Weather Service in Des Moines, the historic Halloween Blizzard of 1991 struck Iowa from Oct. 30 through Nov. 1, producing heavy snow, freezing rain and damaging winds across much of the state.
To mark the storm's 35th anniversary, forecasters shared historical weather records documenting what observers experienced as the disaster unfolded.
Ice, Snow and Winds Devastated Iowa Communities The storm brought dramatically different conditions across Iowa.
Northwestern communities experienced heavy snowfall, while western and north central Iowa faced freezing rain that coated trees, roads and power lines with thick ice.
In some locations, ice accumulations approached 2 inches before winds exceeding 50 mph caused widespread damage.
An observer in Algona described an early November storm that knocked out power and brought activity to a standstill, with wind chills below minus 20 degrees.
In Humboldt, observers reported increasingly severe winds and what they described as "awful ice."
Meanwhile, Emmetsburg recorded 15.7 inches of snowfall, highlighting the storm's extraordinary winter impacts.
Power Outages Lasted Days as Temperatures Plunged The storm caused extensive damage to electrical infrastructure, including collapsed transmission lines and hundreds of damaged towers.
National Weather Service historical accounts estimate utility damage alone reached approximately $63 million.
The combination of freezing temperatures and widespread power failures created dangerous conditions for residents without electricity or heat.
Following the storm, temperatures plunged into the teens and even single digits across portions of Iowa.
The Halloween Blizzard also affected neighboring Minnesota and Wisconsin, where significant snowfall totals and additional winter weather records were reported.
For many Iowans, the storm remains an unforgettable reminder of how quickly late autumn weather can turn dangerous.
Thirty five years later, the handwritten reports preserved by weather observers continue telling the story of a Halloween storm that changed communities across Iowa.