349 AM CST FRI DEC 2 2011…WINTER STORM TO AFFECT PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND NORTHERN IOWA THIS WEEKEND…

A STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION ACROSS IOWA LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. THE PRECIPITATION WILL BE IN THE FORM OF SNOW IN WEST CENTRAL TO NORTH CENTRAL IOWA ON SATURDAY INTO SATURDAY NIGHT. SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED PRIOR TO THE SNOW ENDING EARLY SUNDAY MORNING.

COUNTIES INCLUDED IN THE WINTER STORM WATCH: EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-SAC-CALHOUN-WEBSTER-CRAWFORD-CARROLL–

…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING…

TIMING…A MIXTURE OF LIGHT PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED LATE TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING. HOWEVER…THE MOST SIGNIFICANT  SNOW IS EXPECTED TOWARD MIDDAY SATURDAY INTO SATURDAY EVENING BEFORE ENDING EARLY SUNDAY MORNING.

STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS…SNOWFALL OF 4 TO 7 INCHES IS  EXPECTED IN THE WATCH AREA WITH LOCALIZED HIGHER AMOUNTS. SOME SLEET ACCUMULATIONS MAY OCCUR ON THE SOUTHERN END OF THE WATCH AREA BUT THIS APPEARS MINOR AT THIS POINT.

WINDS/VISIBILITY…WINDS WILL INCREASE FROM THE NORTH NORTHWEST  AT 10 TO 20 MPH ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY NIGHT. SOME MINOR BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW MAY OCCUR AT THESE WIND SPEEDS. THE MAIN RESTRICTION TO VISIBILITY WILL BE DUE TO BRIEF PERIODS OF HEAVIER SNOWFALL.

IMPACTS…ROADS AND HIGHWAYS MAY BECOME SNOW COVERED AND SLICK, WHICH COULD LEAD TO DIFFICULT TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

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.

IN ADDITION, A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 9AM-9PM SATURDAY, FOR THESE COUNTIES IN NW IOWA: DICKINSON-OBRIEN-CLAY-PLYMOUTH-CHEROKEE-BUENA VISTA-WOODBURY & IDA.