Davenport, Iowa – Snow will intensify before 10 p.m. tonight, and drivers along I-80 and I-74 have a narrow window to finish travel before visibility drops and roads turn snow-covered through early Friday morning.
According to the National Weather Service Quad Cities office, rain will quickly change to snow from west to east this evening, with the heaviest impacts expected between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Friday. Snowfall rates may reach 1 inch per hour at times, especially north of the Quad Cities, while west winds gust up to 40 mph by daybreak Friday.
A sharp cutoff in totals is expected. Areas near Cedar Rapids and Waterloo could see 6 to 8 inches by Friday afternoon, particularly along I-380 and Highway 218. Dubuque is likely to pick up 3 to 4 inches, while Davenport, Moline and Bettendorf may average 2 to 4 inches. South of I-80, including Burlington and Macomb, totals drop below 1 inch.
Blowing and drifting snow will create additional hazards on north-south roads such as Highway 61 and Highway 67 as winds increase Friday morning. High-profile vehicles on I-74 and I-280 may experience difficult travel during peak gusts.
Travel conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly after 9 p.m., with slick bridges and reduced visibility through the early commute. Allow extra travel time, avoid sudden braking, and check Iowa 511 or gettingaroundillinois.com for live road updates.
Snow tapers from south to north between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. Friday, but gusty winds will continue creating blowing snow into midday. Additional advisories remain possible if snowfall bands shift overnight.
