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

* TIMING...SNOW WILL DEVELOP THURSDAY MORNING OVER SOUTHWEST IOWA AND SPREAD NORTHEAST THROUGH THE DAY. THE HIGHEST SNOWFALL RATES WILL OCCUR ON THURSDAY AND INTO THE EARLY EVENING THOUGH LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE THE REMAINDER OF THE NIGHT. TRAVEL DURING THE THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING COMMUTE WILL LIKELY BE QUITE HAZARDOUS AND DIFFICULT.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL RANGE FROM 6 TO 10 INCHES WITH LOCAL HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL IS LIKELY TO OCCUR ALONG AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 35.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY...EASTERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 15 TO 25 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS ON THURSDAY…THEN DIMINISH BY THURSDAY EVENING. SNOWFALL RATES 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 THURSDAY AFTERNOON. AT THE ONSET…VISIBILITY OF LESS THAN ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES CAN BE EXPECTED. 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.