Des Moines, IA – Snow could begin sticking to roads as early as 3 p.m. Thursday across western and central Iowa, setting up a slick and slow evening commute with up to 8 inches falling before sunrise Friday.
According to the National Weather Service in Des Moines, a Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 3 p.m. Thursday until 6 a.m. Friday for Webster, Boone, Dallas, Carroll, Greene, Guthrie, Audubon, Cass and Crawford counties. Cities including Fort Dodge, Boone, Carroll, Adel, Perry and Atlantic are in the heaviest snow corridor, where totals of 5 to 8 inches are expected.
Precipitation may start as a rain-snow mix in southern and western areas before quickly changing to all snow. Once that transition occurs, snowfall rates could exceed 1 inch per hour during the late afternoon and evening, rapidly covering Interstate 80, U.S. Highway 20 and Highway 30 with snow-packed conditions.
Forecasters caution that snowfall will fall in a narrow band with sharp cutoffs, meaning a small shift could significantly change totals in communities like Waukee, Denison or Jefferson.
Drivers should delay non-essential travel during the evening hours, keep emergency supplies in their vehicles and monitor road conditions through the Iowa 511 app or 511ia.org. Snow tapers toward daybreak Friday, but icy spots may linger into the morning commute.
