Davenport, Iowa – An active winter weather day is expected across the Quad Cities region, with two rounds of snow and the potential for dangerous snow squalls later Saturday, according to the National Weather Service Quad Cities office.
Forecasters say the first round of snow, including a rain-and-snow mix in some areas, will continue through the morning hours and is expected to end by around 10 a.m. Snowfall during this period will be light, with less than 1 inch of accumulation expected across most of the Quad Cities. The highest totals are forecast along and east of the Mississippi River, where slightly heavier bursts are possible.
After a brief lull late this morning, conditions are expected to change again this afternoon and evening as scattered snow showers and snow squalls develop. These squalls may be brief but intense, capable of producing rapid drops in visibility, gusty winds, and quick snow accumulation on roadways.
Northwest winds will increase to 10 to 20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph during the afternoon and evening. The combination of wind and snow could lead to rapidly changing travel conditions, even where snowfall amounts remain low.
The National Weather Service emphasized that snow squalls are particularly dangerous because they can create whiteout conditions with little warning. Motorists are urged to slow down, turn on headlights, and avoid sudden braking if encountering a squall. If a Snow Squall Warning is issued, delaying travel is strongly recommended.
By Sunday morning, skies are expected to turn sunny and dry, though wind chills may dip into the single digits early due to colder air moving in. Sunday afternoon will be cooler but calmer.
Drivers and commuters in the Davenport area are encouraged to monitor conditions closely throughout the day and check road updates at 511ia.org or gettingaroundillinois.com, along with forecast updates at weather.gov/dvn.
