Wet & Cold Forecast

A quick forecast for the state of Iowa through the end of the week this week. Starting off with temperature forecasts tomorrow, where lower 50s in the northwest will be in place, but south of the warm front some mid 60s are likely in the southeast portion of the state. Lows tomorrow should be very variable depending on the location of the cold front. Some locations in northwest corner may drop down to near 20 degrees and possibly lower! While areas in the central portion of the state hold in the 30s, the southeast corner of the state with the help of cloudcover and south winds may hold temperatures in the mid 50s for lows! Those temperatures shouldn’t rise too much though no matter where you are, with highs in the lower 20s in the northeast and near 60 in the southeast corner. Temperatures should drop throughout the day and into the night, where the lowest temperatures of the season will be felt in the state. Lows in the west and central portion of the state should be in the teens, while eastern portions of the state should be in the 20s and a couple near 30 marks along the Mississippi. Highs on Thursday begin to rebound, ranging from near 20 to the lower 30s from northwest to southeast. Friday will continue the moderation of temperatures, where mid 30s in the southeast can be found and upper 20s in the northwest.

Precipitation should be found in some form or another, whether its’ rain, snow or sleet and a drizzly fog over the state throughout until Wednesday night. By Wednesday night, precipitation should move off to the east for the most part where the forecasts currently have the rain/snow showers lingering just a bit through the day on Thursday. This is likely just a precaution for the forecast and we should see the precip move out during the morning on Thursday and Thursday night at the latest along the IA/IL border.

As for the type of precipitation, well we should see rain for the most part until early Wednesday morning where snow may begin to fall in the western portion of the state. By Wednesday afternoon, the western half of the state could be seeing a rain/snow mix or snow. Wednesday evening should see the transition in the east, where some freezing rain could be possible as well. Otherwise Wednesday night should see an all snow forecast in the state, although precip could likely be at an end in the west. Any precipitation that can hold in the area during the day on Thursday will likely be falling as snow, as the cold air has taken hold by then.

As for snowfall amounts, by Wednesday evening only areas of western Iowa should see any type of snow at all. Only accumulations coming west of a Mason City to Creston line. Amounts nearing an inch or so could be seen in northwest Iowa by then, otherwise maybe a half inch near the Mason City area. While areas of southwestern Iowa could be looking at only a dusting of snow. Plenty of rain may be seen in the eastern portion of the state though, but this doesn’t seem to be a major concern at the moment as to how much rain will fall.