SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The calm before the storm won’t last long across Siouxland this morning. A sprawling blanket of gray clouds will thicken through Saturday, bringing the region its first widespread December snowfall — and a fast-moving one at that.
According to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, a Winter Weather Advisory takes effect from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday for northwest and west-central Iowa and portions of southwest Minnesota. Snow will begin early Saturday afternoon and intensify through evening, dropping 3 to 6 inches in many communities from Sioux City to Worthington.
Road conditions are expected to deteriorate quickly, particularly along I-29, I-90, and Highway 75, where visibility could fall below half a mile during heavier bursts. Bridges and overpasses will freeze first, creating dangerous slick spots just as weekend travel peaks. Drivers are urged to reduce speeds, use headlights, and allow extra stopping distance through Saturday night.
The heaviest snow bands will track northeast along the Iowa–Minnesota border, tapering off by mid-evening as colder air filters in. Gusty northwest winds may briefly cause blowing and drifting snow across open farmland before skies clear late Saturday night.
Sunday brings a quiet but bitter cold finish, with lows in the single digits and wind chills below zero. Another clipper system could slide through midweek, signaling a more active early December stretch for the upper Midwest.
Travelers should monitor updates from 511 Iowa and MnDOT before heading out and pack an emergency winter kit in vehicles.
How much snow are you expecting where you are? Send in your snowfall reports as the system moves through Siouxland Saturday.
