Winter Storm (Dec. 20)

The third winter storm of the week is headed towards the state and will begin early tomorrow and continue into Sunday. Areas along and northern of highway 30 are most likely to be effected by this storm, and this is where there are currently Winter Storm Watches issued for north-central and northeast Iowa. Parts of northwest Iowa have been put under a Winter Weather Advisory for tomorrow morning, and then a Blizzard Warnings for the afternoon into Sunday morning. The portions of the state that are currently not under an advisory/warning are likely to be put under one later this evening/tonight. A band of 1-3 inches of snow is possible between highway 30 and highway 20; the northern third of the state is likely to see 2-4 inches with isolated higher amounts.

The bigger story of this winter storm will not be the snowfall amounts like the last one; rather the high winds that are to pick up after the snow falls. Once a cold front slides through the state during the afternoon hours tomorrow, expect winds to increase out of the northwest at 15-25 mph sustained with gusts near 35 mph. These winds will create heavy blowing and drifting snow, and dangerous wind chill values throughout northern Iowa.

The next storm update is possible late tonight once any updated advisories/warnings have been issued...