Davenport, Iowa – A fast-moving winter storm will rapidly deteriorate travel across eastern Iowa and western Illinois late today as rain flips to snow by early evening and wind gusts surge toward 60 mph, creating blizzard conditions overnight.
According to the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities, rain will transition to snow between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. from west to east, beginning near Cedar Rapids and Iowa City around mid-afternoon, then reaching Davenport, Moline, and the Quad Cities during the early evening hours.
As colder air rushes in, temperatures will plunge from the 50s and 60s this afternoon into the teens overnight, causing wet roads to quickly freeze. Officials warn this rapid freeze could create slick highways across Interstate 80, Interstate 74, and U.S. 61.
Snowfall totals of 4 to 6 inches are possible across much of eastern Iowa, including Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and Dubuque, while Davenport and Moline could see around 3 to 4 inches. The biggest concern will be wind. North winds gusting 40 to 60 mph will produce blowing snow and widespread whiteout conditions overnight into Monday morning.
Travel during the overnight hours and the Monday morning commute may become extremely hazardous. Even after snowfall ends by mid-morning Monday, strong winds could continue blowing snow and reducing visibility into the afternoon.
