National Weather Service issues Winter Storm Watch
Approaching Winter Storm for January 31st
***Updated information as of 7:17 am 1/31/11***
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 1032 AM CST SUN JAN 30 2011
…LONG DURATION WINTER STORM EXPECTED FOR MUCH OF IOWA…
MARSHALL-TAMA-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-JASPER-POWESHIEK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-MARION-MAHASKA-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-APPANOOSE-DAVIS-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF… MARSHALLTOWN… TOLEDO… AUDUBON… GUTHRIE CENTER… ADEL… DES MOINES… NEWTON… GRINNELL… ATLANTIC… GREENFIELD… WINTERSET… INDIANOLA… KNOXVILLE… OSKALOOSA… CORNING… CRESTON… OSCEOLA… CHARITON… ALBIA… OTTUMWA… BEDFORD… MOUNT AYR… LEON… CORYDON… CENTERVILLE… BLOOMFIELD 1032 AM CST SUN JAN 30 2011
…WINTER STORM WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING…
THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING.
* TIMING…SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL BE PRECEDED BY PATCHY FREEZING DRIZZLE THIS MORNING. LIGHT SNOW IS EXPECTED TONIGHT BEFORE RAPIDLY INTENSIFYING TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO END WEDNESDAY MORNING.
* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS…1 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED WITH THE FIRST STORM THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS FROM BOTH STORMS OF 14 TO 18 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE WATCH AREA. SOME UNCERTAINTY STILL EXIST WITH THE EXACT TRACK OF THE SECOND STORM.
* WINDS/VISIBILITY…NORTH WINDS AT 25 TO 35 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS ARE EXPECTED TUESDAY AFTERNOON INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING. VISIBILITIES COULD BE REDUCED TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES DUE TO BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW CREATING NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING.
* IMPACTS…ROADS ARE ANTICIPATED TO BECOME SNOW PACKED AND SLICK. TRAVEL WILL LIKELY BECOME DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW…SLEET…OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS FOR ADDITIONAL UPGRADES.
Source: National Weather Service Des Moines
