Winter Weather - 10/18 - 10/19

I lived in Iowa for about 45 years. Never heard of a snow squall or a derecho until now. Are they making this **** up as they go?

Derecho has been around for a long time. Same thing that hit Garwin, Garrison and Vinton in 2011.

Snow Squall is a newer warning for the NWS indicating areas of heavy short lived snow.
 
I think we’ve had snow every year basically in October from what I can remember.
Snow in November is very common. Snow in October is fairly unusual. I bet the previous 8 years or so before 2018 didn't see snow in October. I think 2009 did.
 
Snow in November is very common. Snow in October is fairly unusual. I bet the previous 8 years or so before 2018 didn't see snow in October. I think 2009 did.
I’m also 2 miles from MN, so if you are south, it may explain that also.
 
Derecho has been around for a long time. Same thing that hit Garwin, Garrison and Vinton in 2011.

Snow Squall is a newer warning for the NWS indicating areas of heavy short lived snow.

A good thing too, imo. It was always a bit weird to have a blizzard warning for super short, but intense duration events.
 
Derecho has been around for a long time. Same thing that hit Garwin, Garrison and Vinton in 2011.

Snow Squall is a newer warning for the NWS indicating areas of heavy short lived snow.
I remember that. I heard the term straightline winds when that came through. Guess Derecho sounds sexier.
 
Snow in November is very common. Snow in October is fairly unusual. I bet the previous 8 years or so before 2018 didn't see snow in October. I think 2009 did.
Also this kind of accumulation is very unusual. Only a couple times ever there's been 6+ inches of snow in Octobernetwork_IACLIMATE__station_IA2203__threshold_6__dir_first__dpi_100.png
 
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Yeah, just like they started naming winter storms a few years ago.

Except that the "they" who started naming winter storms was The Weather Channel, which I suspect most regular, non-sensationalist meteorologists would wish to separate themselves from.
 
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I remember that. I heard the term straightline winds when that came through. Guess Derecho sounds sexier.

Derecho refers to a straight line wind event that is very strong and long lasting. Although Iowa and especially eastern Iowa got the brunt of it the system held together producing damage from SD/NW Iowa into Ohio over the course of 12 ish hours.
 
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