442 AM CST THU FEB 20 2014

SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM AND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS TO IMPACT MUCH OF CENTRAL TO NORTHERN IOWA TODAY AND TONIGHT. .LOW PRESSURE WILL RAPIDLY INTENSIFY AS IT MOVES FROM KANSAS AND THROUGH FAR SOUTHEAST IOWA AND INTO WISCONSIN TODAY. RAIN WILL TRANSITION TO SNOW FROM WEST TO EAST. MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED ALONG WITH EXTREMELY STRONG WINDS BY AFTERNOON PRODUCING POOR VISIBILITIES AND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS.

AUDUBON-CASS-ADAIR-COUNTIES:

BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THURSDAY 6 AM FRIDAY.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WARNING…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 AM CST FRIDAY. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* TIMING…RAIN WILL TRANSITION TO SNOW THIS MORNING. A PERIOD OF THUNDERSNOW MAY OCCUR AND CREATE HEAVY SNOW RATES AND RAPIDLY DETERIORATING CONDITIONS. LIGHT WINDS THIS MORNING WILL INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY LATE THIS MORNING AND INTO THIS AFTERNOON.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW/ICE ACCUMULATIONS…3 TO 7 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED WITH ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY…WINDS WILL BECOME NORTHWEST ON TODAY AND INCREASE RAPIDLY BY LATE MORNING. SUSTAINED WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH. THIS WILL PRODUCE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS…ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREA WITH LIFE-THREATENING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS.

* IMPACTS…THE BAND OF WET AND HEAVY SNOW AND VERY STRONG WINDS MAY LEAD TO LOW VISIBILITY AS WELL AS QUICKLY COVER ROADS MAKING TRAVEL HAZARDOUS.