Winter Storm Warning in effect until 6 am CST Saturday...
Tonight
Snow and sleet through midnight...then snow after midnight. Areas of blowing snow through the night. Breezy. Snow and sleet accumulation of 5 to 6 inches. Low in the upper 20s. North wind 15 to 25 mph with gusts to around 35 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.
Christmas Day
Areas of blowing snow in the morning. Snow and sleet. Snow and sleet accumulation of 2 to 4 inches. High in the lower 30s. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 30 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.
Friday Night
Snow likely. Snow accumulation around 2 inches. Low 15 to 20. East wind 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph. Chance of snow 70 percent.
Saturday
Snow likely. High in the lower 20s. North wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 60 percent.
... Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 6 am CST Saturday...
A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 6 am CST Saturday.
* Short term trends... snow is expected over the next several hours... primarily west of the Interstate 35 corridor. Snowfall rates will generally be around one half inch per hour... but heavier snow bands may produce rates exceeding one inch per hour. East of Interstate 35... a mixture of precipitation is forecast as temperatures hover slightly above 32 degrees.
* Longer term trends... snowfall amounts of 2 to 9 inches will be possible during the overnight hours. With lighter amounts in eastern portions of the warning and heaviest amounts in western portions of central Iowa.
* Storm total snow accumulations... 4 to 8 inches of snow will be possible in eastern areas of the warning. Western areas will receive from twelve to eighteen inches of snow by Saturday. Localized twenty inch amounts may occur across the northwest.
* Winds and visibility... expect winds to become northwest at 25 to 35 mph with higher gusts tonight through Friday. The winds combined with the falling snow will result in near whiteout conditions at times west of an Algona through Lamoni line.
* Impacts... travel may become nearly impossible due to blowing and drifting snow later tonight into Friday... especially over the west sections of the warning area.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...
A Winter Storm Warning means significant amounts of snow and blowing snow are forecast that will make travel dangerous to nearly impossible at times. Only travel in an emergency. If you must travel... keep an extra flashlight... food... and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Strong winds are also possible.
Local Storm Report
12/24/2009 0616 PM
Nevada, Story County.
Sleet e0.00 inch, reported by trained spotter.
Moderate sleet with rain... beginning to cover the ground
12/23/2009 0538 PM
Nevada, Story County.
Freezing rain e0.20 inch, reported by Emergency Mngr.
1/10 to 1/8 inch ice accumulation on trees and power lines in the County. US Hwy 69 becoming icy north and south of Ames.