Nov. 28, 2025 — A large and long-lasting winter storm is poised to sweep across the Midwest beginning Friday evening, bringing widespread heavy snow, pockets of freezing drizzle and potentially dangerous travel from Iowa to Illinois and Wisconsin.
Winter Storm Warnings now cover nearly all of Iowa, central and northern Illinois, and the southern half of Wisconsin. Snow will continue at varying intensities into early Sunday, making this one of the longer-duration early-season storms in recent years.
In Iowa, the heaviest snowfall is expected across central and northeast sections of the state. Forecasters say communities from Des Moines to Ames, Marshalltown and Waterloo could receive 8 to 13 inches. Western Iowa, including Storm Lake, Ida Grove and Fort Dodge, is forecast to pick up 7 to 12 inches, while southern Iowa may see 5 to 8 inches along with periods of light freezing drizzle. Much of the state will see deteriorating road conditions beginning late Friday afternoon and evening, with visibility at times dropping below a quarter of a mile.
Snow will spread into Illinois overnight, reaching western counties near midnight and moving toward Chicago before daybreak Saturday. Most of northern and central Illinois are expected to receive 6 to 10 inches, with locally higher amounts northwest of the Chicago metro from Ottawa to Waukegan. Central Illinois, including Peoria, Bloomington-Normal, Springfield and surrounding communities, will likely pick up 6 to 9 inches. Travel may become difficult by early Saturday and remain hazardous through Saturday night.
Across Wisconsin, the southern half of the state is bracing for 6 to 11 inches. The highest totals are expected in southwest Wisconsin including Prairie du Chien, Platteville and Richland Center, while Madison, Milwaukee and Racine will contend with broad areas of 6 to 10 inches. Snow arrives early Saturday morning in western Wisconsin and by mid-morning around Milwaukee and Sheboygan.
Officials in all three states urge residents to delay nonessential travel, noting that roads could become snow-covered and slick for long stretches of time. The most treacherous conditions are expected Saturday afternoon and evening, when snowfall intensity peaks across the region.
Forecasters say snow will gradually taper from west to east late Saturday night into Sunday morning, though lingering impacts to holiday travel are likely.
