DES MOINES, IA — A cold gray sky and steady flakes mark a winter wake-up call for central Iowa as light snow continues through this afternoon, creating slick roads and lowering visibility. According to the National Weather Service in Des Moines, snow will persist until around 5 p.m. Monday, with 1 to 2 inches of accumulation expected across much of central and southern Iowa.
Temperatures will remain stuck in the low 20s, and with calm winds shifting east, untreated surfaces will stay icy and snow-covered through the evening. Drivers along I-80, Highway 65, and local routes through Polk and Story counties should expect patchy slick spots, especially as snow tapers and refreezes toward sunset.
The next challenge comes behind the snow. Very cold air will sweep into Iowa midweek, dropping wind chills as low as 15 to 25 below zero Wednesday night and Thursday. While skies clear, the bitter air will linger, with highs near 10°F and lows near -10°F in some rural spots.
Meteorologists say this is part of a broader early-December cold snap that may bring more snow chances by the weekend as upper-level disturbances move through the Plains.
5-Day Outlook (Des Moines, IA):
- Monday: Snow until evening, high 23°F.
- Tuesday: Partly sunny, high 29°F.
- Wednesday: Chance of snow, high 30°F.
- Thursday: Sunny, high 11°F, low -13°F.
- Friday: Partly sunny, high 28°F.
