DES MOINES, IA — Central Iowa is bracing for its first major winter storm of the season, and it’s a big one. The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a Winter Storm Watch effective Friday evening through early Sunday, warning of 6 to 14 inches of snow and hazardous travel conditions that could bring post-Thanksgiving plans to a standstill.
Forecasters expect the system to sweep across the state Friday night, intensifying Saturday morning. Heavy snow bands will develop along I-35 and I-80, where visibility may drop to near zero at times. Portions of southwest Iowa could also see a light glaze of ice, creating even more dangerous driving conditions. Travel could become difficult to impossible late Friday into Saturday night.
Winds may gust over 25 mph, creating blowing and drifting snow that could bury rural roads and limit visibility across open stretches of highway. Snowfall rates could exceed 1 inch per hour in the heaviest bands Saturday afternoon.
This powerful system will usher in a sharp early December cold snap, with highs barely reaching the mid-20s by Sunday and wind chills in the single digits. Meteorologists note this storm could mark the beginning of a broader below-normal temperature trend for much of the Midwest through early December.
Residents are urged to complete travel early Friday, prepare emergency kits, and avoid unnecessary driving during the height of the storm.
