The state of Iowa could end up under a blanket of snow and ice this weekend. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the entire state Saturday morning through Saturday night. Meteorologist Brad Small says the type of precipitation could vary quite a bit from east to west and north to south.
Small says the forecast calls for more sleet or freezing rain, while areas of northern Iowa could get 2 to 6 inches of snow and then ice. Strong winds of up to 35 miles per hour are also possible, which could create a recipe for downed trees and power lines.
“We’re expecting anywhere from a quarter to a half inch of ice,” Small says, “and with the winds gusting in the 20 to 30 mile an hour range, so that could get the trees and power lines swaying.” Small says it’s possible that roads in one part of the state will be clear, while roads elsewhere turn into a sheet of ice.
Small says: “I’d just advise everybody, if they’re traveling this weekend, to check ahead on the latest forecast and road conditions because the weather could change quite dramatically from where you’re leaving to your destination.”
Check the D.O.T. website for the latest statewide road conditions.