On May 29, 1947, Iowans were digging out snow shovels instead of planting gardens as the state was hit by one of the most bizarre and unforgettable weather events in its history—the latest-season blizzard on record.
It started just a couple of days earlier, when a powerful low-pressure system gathered moisture while sweeping northeast across Missouri. At the same time, an unusually strong surge of cold air pushed down from the north. When the two systems met over Iowa on May 27, temperatures plunged, breaking late-season cold records across the state.
Then came the snow.
On May 28, a full-blown snowstorm rolled across the northern two-thirds of Iowa, catching residents off guard. While folks in southern Iowa were dealing with thunderstorms, towns from Council Bluffs to Dubuque were blanketed in wet, heavy snow.
Some of the highest snowfall totals included:
- LeMars: 10 inches – a record-setting May total that stood for more than 50 years
- Cherokee: 8 inches
- Waukon: 7.5 inches
For many Iowans, it felt like winter just wouldn’t let go. With summer just around the corner, the unexpected snowstorm sent people back into their closets for coats, boots, and gloves. Spring planting was paused, and daily routines were disrupted across much of the state.
Even more surprising? Snowflakes were still reported into June 1947, marking the latest snowfall ever recorded in Iowa. Not long after, the snow quickly melted as heavy rains moved in, kicking off what would become a very wet and flood-prone summer. June brought widespread flooding, fueled by the combination of late snowmelt and persistent rainfall.
The May 1947 blizzard remains a legendary chapter in Iowa’s weather history—a stark reminder of how unpredictable Mother Nature can be, especially in the Midwest.
