Des Moines, IA – A powerful storm is set to sweep across Iowa Friday evening, bringing widespread heavy snow and potentially crippling travel from Des Moines to Mason City and Waterloo through late Saturday night. Early projections point to 6 to 14 inches of accumulation, with the possibility of a thin glaze of ice making conditions even more treacherous.
According to the National Weather Service Des Moines office, a Winter Storm Watch remains in effect for all of central Iowa. Snow will begin Friday evening in western counties before spreading east overnight. The heaviest banding is expected early Saturday, when strong lift may produce rapid snowfall rates that overwhelm plows on I-35, I-80, Highway 20, and Highway 30. Light icing is possible near the transition zone, especially south of Ames. Forecasters warn that road conditions may deteriorate quickly as temperatures fall.
According to Iowa DOT officials, post-Thanksgiving travelers should expect long delays and intermittent closures if heavier bands develop. Crews are preparing pretreatment, but a wet start could limit early effectiveness. Visibility may drop to near zero at times, especially across open stretches from Fort Dodge to Marshalltown and along the Des Moines metro bypass. Wind gusts could drift snow across rural routes in Hamilton, Hardin, and Grundy Counties.
According to county emergency managers, residents should complete storm preparations Friday afternoon, charge devices, and keep extra blankets, food, and water in vehicles. Those with weekend plans should monitor forecast updates and consider altering travel windows. Anyone who must drive Saturday should reduce speed, leave extra room for braking, and expect plowed roads to quickly re-cover during heavier bursts.
