Things are beginning to pick up once again across the area with sustained winds at many airports across the state hanging out in the 20 to 30 MPH range with gusts to over 50 MPH at times. Several roadway stations have reported wind gusts over 50 MPH with the airport in Sioux City reporting a 52 MPH gust at 10:04 p.m. The overall conditions are not terribly bad across the area at this point in time, but that will likely change as we head into the overnight hours. A light snow to a light mist was reported across much of the state from Waterloo and Cedar Rapids to Des Moines to Council Bluffs and up through northwest Iowa into the Spencer area. Our own Iowa Weather Network chaser Charles Dean reported drifting of snow in northwest Iowa with whiteout conditions in some areas (especially in the country). There are five airports reporting under 2 mile visibility, with half a mile in Orange City, 3/4th of a mile in Oelwein, 1.25 miles in Fort Madison, and 1.75 miles in Webster City and Red Oak. The rest of the state is seeing only slight visibility reductions.
Road conditions are not too bad across the state. There is some partially covered snow or mixed covered roads across much of the northwestern side of the state. The worst conditions are expected later tonight as a colder rush of air comes through and boosts winds yet again. Any snow that falls alongside this wind will be easily blown around with visibility reductions. It is still unclear on to how far the blizzard conditions will go. High temperatures today reached the upper 30s to low 40s for many areas which led to some melting of snow, and therefore, things will have a hard freeze tonight as temperatures dip to the teens. The possibility of the blizzard threat being reduced due to the hardened snow is possible. The overall confidence in all of this is rather low and we will have to see come morning on how bad the conditions are. Our current thinking is that the sustained 30 MPH wind with gusts to 50 MPH over a long period of time will eventually break up the snow and lead to this being tossed around. The worst impacts will be seen over the open-fielded country, rather than in cities themselves.
Blizzard Warnings remain in effect for north central, northwest, and central Iowa until the afternoon hours tomorrow. Winter Weather Advisories have been posted to the west and east of this where the wind threat will not be as great. Nonetheless, travel impacts is expected with this system across the Blizzard Warning area. If things pan out, travel will likely be extremely dangerous to impossible. Please exercise caution as you go to work tomorrow morning.
Stay tuned to the Iowa Weather Network for the latest information.