COUNTIES: GUTHRIE-DALLAS-ADAIR-MADISON; 406 AM CST TUE FEB 18 2014

BLIZZARD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WATCH…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT.

* TIMING…THE PRECIPITATION WILL SWITCH TO SNOW THURSDAY MORNING AND MAY BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES WITH SNOW FALL RATES OF ONE TO TWO INCHES PER HOUR POSSIBLE FOR A BRIEF PERIOD. VERY STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS WILL DEVELOP BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING AND MAY CREATE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW/ICE ACCUMULATIONS…3 TO 7 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED. MINOR ICE ACCUMULATIONS MAY OCCUR.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY…THE WIND WILL BE LIGHT INITIALLY WITH THIS SYSTEM AS THE PRECIPITATION CHANGES TO SNOW. THE WIND WILL QUICKLY INTENSIFY AS IT BECOMES NORTHWEST AT 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 50 MPH POSSIBLE THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

* IMPACTS…IN ADDITION TO THE BLIZZARD POTENTIAL…A BAND OF WET AND HEAVY SNOW IS ALSO POSSIBLE. THE WET SNOW MAY BE HEAVY ENOUGH TO CAUSE TREE DAMAGE ONCE THE WIND  INCREASES AND COULD LEAD TO DOWNED POWER LINES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITIES. THIS CAN LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE TRAVEL VERY DANGEROUS.