A strong winter storm looks increasingly likely for much of Iowa Monday through Tuesday. Here’s what we know so far.What to know Snow is likely in central Iowa from Monday afternoon into Tuesday afternoonWinds will gust up to 40 mph at times Tuesday afternoonTravel will be treacherous Monday evening through Tuesday eveningWinter Storm WarningAll of central Iowa south of Hwy. 20 will be under a Winter Storm Warning from 9 am Monday until 6 pm Tuesday. This part of the state is most likely to get several inches of snow.Interactive Radar | Weather AlertsFarther north, a Winter Weather Advisory will be in effect at the same time. The difference is snow amounts. Places like Pocahontas, Humboldt, Clarion, and Algona won’t see as much snow as farther south.See Monday’s forecast here. Forecast timelineMonday afternoonThis is when most central Iowans will see snow arrive. Southwest Iowa could get flakes as soon as lunchtime, but areas closer to the Des Moines metro will be waiting until 3-4pm for snow. We’ll likely see a short period of wintry mix before all the precipitation changes to snow. With temperatures in the mid-30s, roads will be wet and slushy at first.Monday nightAfter a few hours of snow, temperatures should start falling closer to 32° and the snow should start sticking to roads by 6-7pm. From this point through the rest of the night, any travel will be hazardous. Heavy snow will reduce visibilities and pavements will be slushy & slick. Most of our snow accumulation will happen overnight.WATCH: Tips for keeping your house safe and warm during the cold weatherTuesday morningThe heaviest snow will be falling in eastern Iowa by daybreak Tuesday. Even though snowfall rates will be lightening up here in central Iowa, the snow will become fluffier. Winds will be gusting up to 30 mph, so more visibility problems are likely. Rural areas will start seeing drifting snow.Tuesday afternoonThis is when the snow will be tapering off and ending from west to east, but winds will be strongest. Around the Des Moines area, the snow should wrap up by 4-5pm. Even once the snow is done, 40 mph wind gusts will be a factor through 10-11pm. Driving, especially in rural Iowa, will still be difficult.Snow amountsWhy has forecast snowfall increased?Since Saturday, the projected track of this system has shifted north, closer to Iowa. The amount of moisture we’re expecting has also increased slightly.Why hasn’t forecast snowfall increased even more?This is still looking like a fairly wet snow, and with temperatures around 32° most of Monday night, some of it will melt on the ground. Some of the initial precipitation will also fall as a rain/snow mix Monday afternoon. That’s why we haven’t cranked our forecast amounts even higher just yet.Southeast Iowa is currently the favored zone for the heaviest snow. A widespread 6-9″ is likely as of this forecast. Closer to the Missouri border, a few 10″+ amounts are possible around places like Centerville, Bloomfield, Ottumwa and over toward the Mississippi River.The Des Moines metro will likely be on the lower end of that 6-9″ range. Areas closer to Hwy. 30 and Hwy. 20 are expected to get closer to 4-6″. WATCH: How to be prepared for winter weather hazards
A strong winter storm looks increasingly likely for much of Iowa Monday through Tuesday. Here’s what we know so far.
What to know
- Snow is likely in central Iowa from Monday afternoon into Tuesday afternoon
- Winds will gust up to 40 mph at times Tuesday afternoon
- Travel will be treacherous Monday evening through Tuesday evening
Winter Storm Warning
All of central Iowa south of Hwy. 20 will be under a Winter Storm Warning from 9 am Monday until 6 pm Tuesday. This part of the state is most likely to get several inches of snow.
Interactive Radar | Weather Alerts
Farther north, a Winter Weather Advisory will be in effect at the same time. The difference is snow amounts. Places like Pocahontas, Humboldt, Clarion, and Algona won’t see as much snow as farther south.
Forecast timeline
Monday afternoon
This is when most central Iowans will see snow arrive. Southwest Iowa could get flakes as soon as lunchtime, but areas closer to the Des Moines metro will be waiting until 3-4pm for snow. We’ll likely see a short period of wintry mix before all the precipitation changes to snow. With temperatures in the mid-30s, roads will be wet and slushy at first.
Monday night
After a few hours of snow, temperatures should start falling closer to 32° and the snow should start sticking to roads by 6-7pm. From this point through the rest of the night, any travel will be hazardous. Heavy snow will reduce visibilities and pavements will be slushy & slick. Most of our snow accumulation will happen overnight.
WATCH: Tips for keeping your house safe and warm during the cold weather
Tuesday morning
The heaviest snow will be falling in eastern Iowa by daybreak Tuesday. Even though snowfall rates will be lightening up here in central Iowa, the snow will become fluffier. Winds will be gusting up to 30 mph, so more visibility problems are likely. Rural areas will start seeing drifting snow.
Tuesday afternoon
This is when the snow will be tapering off and ending from west to east, but winds will be strongest. Around the Des Moines area, the snow should wrap up by 4-5pm. Even once the snow is done, 40 mph wind gusts will be a factor through 10-11pm. Driving, especially in rural Iowa, will still be difficult.
Snow amounts
Why has forecast snowfall increased?
Since Saturday, the projected track of this system has shifted north, closer to Iowa. The amount of moisture we’re expecting has also increased slightly.
Why hasn’t forecast snowfall increased even more?
This is still looking like a fairly wet snow, and with temperatures around 32° most of Monday night, some of it will melt on the ground. Some of the initial precipitation will also fall as a rain/snow mix Monday afternoon. That’s why we haven’t cranked our forecast amounts even higher just yet.
Southeast Iowa is currently the favored zone for the heaviest snow. A widespread 6-9″ is likely as of this forecast. Closer to the Missouri border, a few 10″+ amounts are possible around places like Centerville, Bloomfield, Ottumwa and over toward the Mississippi River.
The Des Moines metro will likely be on the lower end of that 6-9″ range. Areas closer to Hwy. 30 and Hwy. 20 are expected to get closer to 4-6″.
WATCH: How to be prepared for winter weather hazards