Mason City, Iowa – Snow will begin covering roads across north central Iowa after 6 p.m. Thursday, creating slick conditions before the Friday morning commute.
According to the National Weather Service in Des Moines, a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 6 p.m. Thursday until 6 a.m. Friday for Winnebago, Worth, Hancock, Cerro Gordo, Wright, Franklin, and Hamilton counties. Forecasters expect 2 to 5 inches of accumulation, with a brief window for heavier snowfall rates overnight.
Precipitation may start as rain or a rain-snow mix Thursday evening before changing to all snow. Roads along Interstate 35 near Clear Lake and Mason City, U.S. Highway 18, and Iowa Highway 3 could become snow-covered by late evening. Communities including Forest City, Garner, Hampton, Webster City, Eagle Grove, and Clarion should prepare for reduced visibility and slick intersections.
The greatest travel impacts are likely between midnight and 6 a.m. Friday, when snowfall rates peak and untreated roads turn icy. Iowa DOT officials urge drivers to reduce speed, increase following distance, and monitor conditions using the Iowa 511 app or by calling 511.
Snow should taper around daybreak Friday, but lingering slick spots could slow the early commute. Additional advisories may follow if heavier bands develop overnight.
