Blizzard Warning Issued for North Central and Northwest Iowa Through Monday Morning

Source: NOAA · North Central and Northwest Iowa

This alert is no longer in effect.

NOAA issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).

Areazine synthesizes this NWS weather alert directly from NOAA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.

The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for several northern Iowa counties, forecasting heavy snow and wind gusts up to 65 mph starting Sunday morning.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Blizzard Warning
Affected area
North Central and Northwest Iowa
Issued
April 6, 2026
Issuing authority
NWS Des Moines

Winter notices differ by expected impact and timing. The original notice carries the forecast window and any travel guidance for the named area.

Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in North Central and Northwest Iowa.

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a Blizzard Warning for portions of north central and northwest Iowa. This alert is in response to a significant winter storm expected to bring dangerous conditions to the region.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following Iowa counties:

  • Emmet
  • Kossuth
  • Winnebago
  • Worth
  • Palo Alto
  • Hancock
  • Cerro Gordo

Expected Conditions

Residents should prepare for a transition of precipitation starting as rain on Sunday morning, moving to a wintry mix with a light glaze of ice, and finally becoming widespread snow.

  • Snow Accumulation: Total amounts between 4 and 7 inches are expected.
  • Wind Speeds: Gusts are forecast to reach between 55 and 65 mph.
  • Visibility: Widespread blowing snow is expected to significantly reduce visibility, making travel very dangerous or impossible at times.
  • Additional Hazards: Significant drifting of snow and potential power outages due to tree damage from strong winds.

Timeline

The Blizzard Warning is effective from 7:00 AM CDT Sunday, March 15, until 7:00 AM CDT Monday, March 16. The hazardous conditions are expected to impact the Monday morning commute.

What You Should Do

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

Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NWS weather alert.

What is this NWS weather alert about?
The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for several northern Iowa counties, forecasting heavy snow and wind gusts up to 65 mph starting Sunday morning.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by NOAA. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects North Central and Northwest Iowa. Check with NOAA for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Weather Alerts updates?
Browse the full Weather Alerts feed on Areazine at areazine.com/weather/ for the latest updates from NOAA and other agencies.