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

COUNTIES AFFECTED IN WESTERN IA: MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY- FREMONT

…POTENTIAL WINTER STORM HEADED TOWARD REGION…

RAIN WILL MIX WITH AND CHANGE TO SNOW FROM WEST TO EAST ON FRIDAY NIGHT. SNOW IS THEN EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY ON SATURDAY…ENDING SATURDAY NIGHT. SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 INCHES OR GREATER IS POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH AREA.

THERE REMAINS UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE EXACT TRACK OF THE STORM SYSTEM. IN ADDITION…THERE IS ALSO  UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHEN THE RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SNOW ACROSS THE AREA ON FRIDAY NIGHT. THE SOONER RAIN CHANGES TO SNOW THE HIGHER THE SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE. IF THE CHANGE OVER TO SNOW IS DELAYED…LOWER SNOWFALL TOTALS WILL BE EXPECTED.

ONCE THE RAIN DOES CHANGE TO SNOW ON FRIDAY NIGHT…TRAVEL WILL BECOME DIFFICULT. DUE TO THE WET NATURE OF THE SNOW…ROAD SURFACES WILL BECOME SLUSHY MAKING DRIVING DIFFICULT. HEAVY SNOW IS ALSO POSSIBLE REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO LESS THAN A QUARTER OF A MILE AT TIMES. NORTHEAST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WILL ALSO LEAD TO BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

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.