Winter Storm Warning Issued for Western and Central Iowa: Heavy Snow and Difficult Travel Expected

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a Winter Storm Warning for portions of western and central Iowa. This alert is effective from 3:00 PM CST today through 6:00 AM CST Friday, February 20.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following Iowa counties:

• Webster
• Crawford
• Carroll
• Greene
• Boone
• Audubon
• Guthrie
• Dallas
• Cass

Expected Conditions

Heavy snow is forecast for the region, with total accumulations expected between 5 and 8 inches. Precipitation will begin this afternoon and evening, potentially starting as a rain/snow mix in southern and western areas before transitioning to all snow. Residents should be aware that snow rates may exceed 1 inch per hour at times this evening, leading to rapid accumulation on roadways and slick travel conditions. A sharp gradient in snowfall totals is expected on either side of the heaviest band.

Timeline

• Onset: 3:00 PM CST, Thursday, February 19
• Duration: The warning remains in effect until 6:00 AM CST, Friday, February 20
• Peak Impact: Significant impacts are expected during the Thursday evening commute.

What You Should Do

Travel could be very difficult. If you must travel, the National Weather Service recommends keeping an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. For the latest travel conditions, residents can check the Iowa 511 app, visit www.511ia.org, or dial 511.