By: Matt Scher, [email protected]
Des Moines, IA – The National Weather Service in Des Moines has preemptively placed our area under a Winter Storm Watch. The watch will go into effect starting at Noon CST on Wednesday and last until Thursday at 9:00 a.m. CST.
Moderate to heavy snow is possible with total snow accumulations of 4-9 inches with the greatest amounts in the state along and north of a Waterloo to Ames to Atlantic line. Minor ice accumulations are possible over the far south edge of the watch. Snow will spread north across much of central and northern Iowa by Wednesday afternoon. Snowfall rates may peak at 1 to 2 inches per hour at times during the late afternoon and evening hours Wednesday. Some minor blowing snow may occur with wind gusts in the 20 to 25 mph range but it is not expected to be a significant impact with this event. The precipitation may be a wintry mix or even rain at times early in the event over parts of central Iowa, mainly south of Interstate 80 and therefore, snowfall amounts are less certain in these areas. The snow will gradually end from southwest to northeast on Thursday.
Locally, the NWS is predicting 5-10 inches in the Humboldt County area with amounts rising further west in our listening area. Impacts could make travel very difficult with the hazardous conditions impacting the Wednesday evening commute. The NWS says to continue to monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.