Iowa greets this Saturday with a gray, heavy sky hanging low over the Mississippi River, and a crisp wind pushes across Davenport’s bridges with a cold edge that feels like the season turning. The air smells faintly of wet pavement, and the first light glints off frosty rooftops—an early sign of the winter push aiming at the Quad Cities. Anyone planning post-Thanksgiving travel should prepare now, because conditions may shift quickly.
According to the National Weather Service, snow arrives Friday night and intensifies into Saturday, driven by strengthening lift along an approaching system. Models continue to lock onto a 3 to 7-inch snowfall zone, especially across Scott, Rock Island, and nearby counties. That range could tighten through the day as the storm track firms up, but impacts to travel remain likely. Expect reduced visibility, slushy patches, and icy curves on I-80, I-74, and Route 61 by early Saturday.
Meteorologists now highlight this event as a clear Winter Tease, signaling the deeper December cold snap expected next week. A brief warm layer could linger east of the river early in the storm, so watch for a possible changeover between light snow and a wetter mix before temperatures fall. After all, small shifts in surface temps near freezing often determine where heavy snow sets up.
Saturday stays cold, with highs in the low 30s and steady winds. Snow gradually eases Saturday night before skies turn partly sunny Sunday. Highs reach the mid-20s, and the wind stays biting through the afternoon. Monday brings sunshine with a high near 18°, and Tuesday stays cold but mostly calm. Wednesday reaches the low 30s under partly sunny skies.
Latest outlooks show below-normal temperatures from December 2–6, hinting at additional early-season snow chances.
