A wicked winter storm is blanketing much of Iowa this morning as snow and high winds are making travel a challenge. Parts of the state are under snow or blowing snow advisories while much of Iowa’s southeast third is under a Winter Storm Warnings. Rod Donovan, a forecaster at the National Weather Service, says the snow is piling up in some areas.

He says parts of southern Iowa already have three to four inches with lesser accumulations to the north, though parts of central Iowa may see three to five inches. Donovan said there have been varying amounts of snow elsewhere in the state.He says east and northeast Iowa, especially Decorah, West Union and Mason City, are getting very little snow.

Western Iowa’s gotten a few inches too, but from a different storm system. Donovan says many of the weather advisories will continue through the morning. He expects winds to increase and snowfall amounts to lessen, but advisories will remain in effect as kids try to get to school and the rest of us head toward work.