COUNTIES IN THE KJAN LISTENING AREA: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR & RINGGOLD- 401 AM CST TUE FEB 19 2013...

WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL MOVE INTO SOUTHWEST IOWA BY SUNRISE THURSDAY AND SPREAD NORTHEAST INTO CENTRAL IOWA BY MID TO LATE MORNING…AND TO NORTHEAST IOWA IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL RANGE FROM 5 TO 10 INCHES WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS UP TO 12 INCHES. THE HEAVIEST SNOW WILL FALL WEST OF INTERSTATE 35.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY...EASTERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 15 TO 25 MPH AND GUSTY ON THURSDAY…THEN DIMINISH BY LATER THURSDAY NIGHT. SNOWFALL OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR DURING THE PERIOD OF STRONGEST WINDS WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY TO 1/4 MILE OR LESS FOR A PERIOD OF SEVERAL HOURS.

* IMPACTS...CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE RAPIDLY AS THE SNOW MOVES IN. AT THE ONSET…VISIBILITY WILL FALL TO UNDER 1/2 MILES WITHIN 15 MINUTES OR SO. TRAVEL WILL BECOME HAZARDOUS DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY AND THE ROADS RAPIDLY BECOMING ICY AND SNOW CLOGGED.

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.