Winter Storm: Feb. 13-14

For the past 36 hours the eyes have been on this upcoming winter storm that will move a low over northern Missouri, putting southern Iowa in the favorable spot for receiving significant snowfall accumulations. Forecast models have continued to show a similar track throughout their latest runs, and continue to show snowfall accumulations of 6-10 inches or greater over southern Iowa. The continued forecast of this significant snow has prompted the NWS to issue a Winter Storm Watch for the entire state south of Highway 30.

As a low pressure system forms over western Kansas/Oklahoma during the nighttime hours on Thursday, the low should move to the northeast through northern Missouri on Friday. Snow should begin along the western borders of Iowa during the early afternoon hours, and spread across the entire state by Midnight on Friday. The snow should begin to taper off over western Iowa by sunrise on Saturday, and end by Noon on Saturday throughout the state. Total accumulations should be in the 6-10 inch range for areas south of Highway 30 to near the IA/MO border, with areas between Highway 30 and Highway 20 also receiving 3-6 inches. Within the heaviest amounts of snow, some isolated heavier amounts in the 10-15 inch range is easily possible. This is due to some elevated instability that will allow for the possibility of thundersnow, with 1+ inch per hour rates becoming up to 2 inches per hour in bands of thundersnow. More updates likely as Friday nears...