Winter Storm Warning Issued for Central and Northeastern Iowa: 5 to 8 Inches of Snow Expected

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a Winter Storm Warning for portions of central and northeastern Iowa. The alert was issued at 10:45 AM CST on February 19 and remains in effect until 6:00 AM CST on February 20.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following Iowa counties:

• Franklin
• Butler
• Bremer
• Hamilton
• Hardin
• Grundy
• Black Hawk
• Story
• Marshall
• Tama
• Polk

What You Should Do

Residents are advised that travel could be very difficult, particularly during the Thursday evening commute. 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 should check the Iowa 511 app, visit www.511ia.org, or dial 511.

Expected Conditions

Heavy snow is expected across the region. Total snow accumulations are forecast to be between 5 and 8 inches. Precipitation is expected to spread from western into central Iowa this afternoon and evening, potentially beginning as a rain/snow mix before transitioning to all snow. Snow rates may exceed 1 inch per hour at times this evening, leading to rapid accumulation on roads and slick travel conditions. A sharp gradient of snowfall is expected on either side of the heaviest band.

Timeline

The Winter Storm Warning is officially in effect from 6:00 PM CST this evening, February 19, until 6:00 AM CST Friday, February 20.