Kcci: Iowa Weather — Schools Delay and Cancel Friday Classes as Snow Creates Slick Travel Overnight
kcci — Schools across Iowa are delaying or canceling Friday classes as a winter storm warning ushers in a rain-to-snow transition that will create hazardous, slick travel overnight through Friday morning. The storm is expected to produce a concentrated heavy band of snow across eastern counties, with gusty winds likely to reduce visibility and cause blowing and drifting.
Kcci: Timing, transition and where the heaviest snow is expected
A mix of rain and snow will change to all snow across eastern Iowa overnight. The transition is expected to reach a line from Manchester to Cedar Rapids to Iowa City between 10 PM and midnight, then push to the Mississippi River between midnight and 2 AM. Snow will continue through the overnight hours and begin tapering from southwest to northeast Friday morning. Far western counties are expected to see the snow end between 5 and 7 AM, and the system is forecast to clear the region across the Mississippi River by noon.
Snow totals, the heavy band and travel impacts
Forecasters are fairly confident a heavy band of snow will fall across eastern Iowa and could drop 6 to 9 inches in that axis. There is the potential for a sharp cutoff to the north and south of that band, so minor shifts in the storm track could produce large local differences in accumulation. The axis of heaviest snowfall is expected along a line from Waterloo to Fayette to Prairie Du Chien.
Plan on slick travel overnight through Friday morning, especially where the heaviest snow falls. Winds will become gusty overnight and remain strong on Friday, increasing the risk of blowing and drifting snow and further reducing visibility on area roads. Motorists should allow extra time for travel, increase following distance, and be prepared for slower stops.
Safety steps, temperatures and short-term outlook
Essential precautions for anyone who must drive include carrying food, water, a flashlight and a blanket in the car. With gusty winds and fresh heavy snow, pockets of difficult travel and whiteout conditions are possible.
Highs on Friday are expected to range from the mid 20s in the northern counties to the low to mid 30s south of Interstate 80. Friday night lows will fall into the low to mid teens across the area, with the coldest readings over thick, fresh snowpack possibly dipping into the single digits.
Weekend and early next week outlook
The weekend is expected to be mostly cloudy on Saturday and partly cloudy on Sunday, with highs generally in the mid 20s to low 30s and overnight lows in the teens. After a colder Monday with highs in the upper 20s to low 30s, temperatures are expected to rebound into the mid 40s for highs through the middle of next week, with overnight lows in the 20s and 30s as conditions quiet down.
For those tracking local updates and planning travel, kcci should be one of the search terms used to find the latest status on school decisions and road conditions as this situation develops. Details may evolve as the storm progresses and small shifts in track will affect local snowfall totals and impacts.
