Blizzard Warning Issued for Northwest and West Central Iowa; Whiteout Conditions Expected

Source: NOAA · Northwest and West Central 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This alert is no longer in effect.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 Iowa counties, effective Sunday morning through Monday morning, featuring 60 mph wind gusts and whiteout conditions.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Blizzard Warning
Affected area
Northwest and West Central Iowa
Issued
April 6, 2026
Issuing authority
NWS Sioux Falls SD

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 Northwest and West Central Iowa.

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, SD, has issued a Blizzard Warning for portions of northwest and west central Iowa. This alert is classified with an extreme severity level, indicating that blizzard conditions are likely and expected to cause significant impact.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers the following counties in Iowa:

  • Osceola
  • Dickinson
  • O'Brien
  • Clay
  • Cherokee
  • Buena Vista
  • Ida

Expected Conditions

Residents in the affected regions should prepare for the following hazards:

  • Snow Accumulation: Total snow accumulations between 1 and 3 inches.
  • Ice Accumulation: A light glaze of ice is expected.
  • Wind Speeds: Strong winds with gusts reaching as high as 60 mph.
  • Visibility: Whiteout conditions are anticipated, which will make travel extremely dangerous or impossible.
  • Impacts: Slippery road conditions and potential tree damage from high winds. The hazardous conditions are expected to impact the Monday morning commute.

Timeline

The Blizzard Warning is effective from 7:00 AM CDT Sunday, March 15, through 7:00 AM CDT 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. If you become stranded, stay with your vehicle to remain safe. For the latest road conditions in your state, call 5 1 1.

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 Iowa counties, effective Sunday morning through Monday morning, featuring 60 mph wind gusts and whiteout conditions.
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 Northwest and West Central 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.