A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO NOON CST FRIDAY

* TIMING…SNOW WILL DEVELOP OVER THE SOUTHERN THIRD OF IOWA AROUND NOON TODAY. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL WILL DEVELOP QUICKLY AFTER ONSET AND LAST FOR AROUND SIX HOURS BEFORE DIMINISHING SOMEWHAT THIS EVENING. LIGHT SNOW WILL STILL PERSIST INTO FRIDAY HOWEVER BEFORE COMING TO AN END ALTOGETHER LATER IN THE DAY.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS…SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL RANGE FROM 6 TO 9 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY...EASTERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 15 TO 25 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON…THEN DIMINISH LATER TONIGHT. SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR COINCIDENT WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY TO ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS FOR SEVERAL HOURS.

* IMPACTS...CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE VERY RAPIDLY AS THE SNOW MOVES IN THIS AFTERNOON. AT THE ONSET…VISIBILITY OF LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE AT TIMES CAN BE EXPECTED. TRAVEL WILL BECOME HAZARDOUS DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY AND THE ROADS RAPIDLY BECOMING ICY AND SNOW PACKED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST…COMBINED WITH BLOWING SNOW…THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL…KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT…FOOD… AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.