Blizzard Warning Issued for Central and Southwest Iowa: Dangerous Travel Expected Sunday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a Blizzard Warning (NWS alert type code: BZW) for portions of central, south central, southwest, and west central Iowa. The alert is in effect from 1:00 PM CDT Sunday, March 15, through 7:00 AM CDT Monday, March 16.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad region including the following Iowa counties:

• Crawford, Carroll, Greene, Boone, Story, Marshall, Tama, Audubon, Guthrie, Dallas, Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek, Cass, Adair, Madison, Warren, Marion, and Mahaska.

Expected Conditions

A significant winter storm is expected to impact the region with the following conditions:

• Snow Accumulation: Total snow accumulations between 2 and 4 inches are expected within the warning area.
• Wind Speeds: Strong winds are forecast with gusts reaching between 55 and 65 mph.
• Visibility: Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility, making travel very dangerous or impossible at times.
• Precipitation Transition: Precipitation is expected to begin as rain on Sunday morning before transitioning to a wintry mix—which may produce a light glaze of ice—before turning fully to snow.
• Additional Impacts: Strong winds may cause tree damage and result in power outages. Hazardous conditions are expected to impact the Monday morning commute.

Timeline

• Onset: The Blizzard Warning begins at 1:00 PM CDT on Sunday, March 15.
• Duration: Conditions will persist through Sunday night and into the early morning hours of Monday.
• Expiration: The alert is scheduled to expire at 7:00 AM CDT on Monday, March 16.

What You Should Do

Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, ensure you have a winter survival kit with you in your vehicle. If you become stranded, stay with your vehicle. For the latest travel conditions, residents are encouraged to check the Iowa 511 app, visit www.511ia.org, or dial 511.