[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXzQNhLqI1c?hl=en&fs=1&w=425&h=349]

STORMY DAYS: The storm we’ve been talking about the last few days is now on the doorstep of the state. The amounts of snowfall have come down substantially and have been shifted southward. This is the reason the Winter Storm Watch was cancelled over the northwest and moved into southwestern Iowa. Snowfall will be significant, but only for areas southwest of Des Moines where 3-5″ of snow is possible there. Lesser amounts off to the east. The northern counties may get by with only a few sprinkles or flurries as a high pressure center will be bringing drier air into the state from the northeast keeping a lot of the heaviest precipitation to the south and west of the state.

AFTERWARD: The storm moves off Sunday after bringing snow to the SW, Rain and a bit of wintry mix south of US Hwy 20 and colder readings. The rest of the following week looks rather seasonal with readings in the 30s (maybe a few 40s) with partly to mostly sunny skies.

MID-MONTH: The pattern changes a bit with a ridge over the west and trough over the east spilling cold arctic air into the eastern half of the country. Iowa will be in the battleground again. If this is right, some clipper systems may sweep by from time to time with a bit of precip, but this likely will change on the next run given the NAO still trending positive.