A wide section of northern and central Iowa is under a Blizzard Warning this afternoon and into tonight. Cities in the blizzard area include: Denison, Des Moines, Ames, Fort Dodge, Mason City, Marshalltown and Waterloo.
Most other parts of the state — eastern, western and southern Iowa, are under a Winter Weather Advisory. National Weather Service meteorologist Rod Donovan says the snow will start this morning as many Iowans are headed to work and school.
He says two to five inches of snow is possible but the bigger story is the winds, which may be gusting later today around 40 miles an hour, reducing visibility from the blowing snow, with white-out conditions expected, especially between 6 P.M. and midnight tonight.
Donovan says another threat is the falling temperatures. He says wind chills will be dropping as low as 30-below zero. Donovan says the hazards from the severe cold may worsen as the week progresses.
He says the approaching storm system looks much like the current one, with the exception being the next front may drag down from Canada even colder air. Highs may not even get above zero by Thursday.