Parts of Iowa may see unseasonable highs near 50-degrees this afternoon. Enjoy the warmth while it lasts. A large storm system is moving toward the state which is expected to bring snow, strong winds and extremely cold temperatures.
Ken Podrazik a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, says highs Sunday will likely be in the single digits or below zero. Podrazik says a Blizzard Watch and Winter Weather Advisory are in effect for much of northern Iowa Saturday.
A very strong cold front will be moving through from midnight tonight through mid-morning Saturday. Precipitation will start falling tonight as rain, since it’ll still be warm, but Podrazik says that should change around midnight. He says northern Iowa should see a quick change-over from rain to snow overnight but by sunrise, he says it’ll be all snow with winds picking up out of the northwest.
He says wind gusts may reach 45 miles-an-hour, which could create blizzard conditions with white-outs caused by blowing snow. Wind chill factors on Saturday could reach 30-below zero. While heavy snow is in the forecast for parts of Minnesota, Podrazik says Iowa’s northern three tiers of counties will still get plenty.
Podrazik says from Iowa’s Highway 20 to the north, snowfall could range from two to five inches, with some areas expecting more. The blowing snow could create some “nasty restrictions on visibility,” he says. Motorists are urged to call 511 for road information before heading out, or visit “www.511ia.org“. For more on the forecast, visit “www.weather.gov“.
By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City