3:43-P.M. 2/19/2014…COUNTIES: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GUTHRIE-DALLAS…

WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THURSDAY TO 6 AM CST FRIDAY… THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND SIGNIFICANT BLOWING SNOW…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THURSDAY TO 6 AM CST FRIDAY. THE BLIZZARD WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

TIMING...A WINTRY MIX IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVERNIGHT TONIGHT AND TRANSITION TO SNOW THURSDAY DURING THE MID TO LATE MORNING. THE SNOW MAY BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES DURING THE DAY THURSDAY. STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS ARE FORECAST TO DEVELOP THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND PERSIST INTO THE EVENING HOURS… POTENTIALLY CREATING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS AT TIMES. WITH LITTLE TO NO SNOW CURRENTLY ON THE GROUND…THE CHANCE FOR WIDESPREAD BLIZZARD CONDITIONS IS LOW.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW/ICE ACCUMULATIONS…3 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED. MINOR ICE AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS MAY ALSO OCCUR.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY…WINDS WILL SHIFT NORTHWEST AND QUICKLY STRENGTHEN TO 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 50 MPH POSSIBLE BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

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