High Wind Warning Issued for Central Iowa with Gusts Up to 65 MPH Possible

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a High Wind Warning for much of central Iowa. The alert is classified as a severe threat with high certainty of occurrence.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad section of central Iowa, including the following counties: Emmet, Kossuth, Winnebago, Worth, Palo Alto, Hancock, Cerro Gordo, Pocahontas, Humboldt, Wright, Franklin, Butler, Bremer, Sac, Calhoun, Webster, Hamilton, Hardin, Grundy, Black Hawk, Crawford, Carroll, Greene, Boone, Story, Marshall, Tama, Audubon, Guthrie, Dallas, Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek, Cass, Adair, Madison, Warren, Marion, Mahaska, Adams, Union, Clarke, Lucas, Monroe, Wapello, Taylor, Ringgold, Decatur, Wayne, Appanoose, and Davis.

What You Should Do

Residents are advised to remain in the lower levels of their homes during the windstorm and stay away from windows. Be alert for falling debris and tree limbs. If you must drive, use extreme caution, particularly if operating a high-profile vehicle. Prepare for potential power outages.

Expected Conditions

North winds are expected to be sustained at 30 to 40 mph, with peak gusts reaching between 55 and 65 mph. These damaging winds are likely to blow down trees and power lines. Additionally, if snowfall occurs, the high winds are expected to create white-out conditions at times, making travel extremely difficult.

Timeline

The High Wind Warning begins at 1:00 PM CDT on Sunday, March 15. The hazardous conditions are expected to persist until the warning expires at 4:00 AM CDT on Monday, March 16.