A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING (2/1).

* SHORT TERM TRENDS…LITTLE CHANGE IS ANTICIPATED THROUGH THE MORNING WITH CONTINUED SNOW PRODUCING WIDESPREAD VISIBILITIES OF A MILE OR SO.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW…WIDESPREAD ACCUMULATIONS OF 8 TO 12 INCHES ARE EXPECTED. LOCALIZED LOCATIONS ALONG THE INTERSTATE 80 AND HIGHWAY 30 CORRIDORS FROM DES MOINES EASTWARD MAY RECEIVE OVER A FOOT OF SNOW.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY…NORTHEAST WINDS WILL GRADUALLY INCREASE AND BECOME NORTHERLY DURING THE AFTERNOON WITH GUSTS INCREASING TO 30 TO 35 MPH OVER WESTERN AND NORTHERN IOWA BY MIDDAY.

* IMPACTS…ROADS WILL REMAIN SNOW COVERED AND SLICK WITH HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IS ALSO EXPECTED TO BECOME MORE PROBLEMATIC AND SIGNIFICANT THROUGH THE DAY. VISIBILITIES WILL OFTEN BE BELOW A MILE WITH NEAR WHITEOUT CONDITIONS POSSIBLE…ESPECIALLY IN OPEN AND RURAL AREAS.

THE HEAVY WET NATURE OF THE SNOW HAS ALSO COATED TREES OVER CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN IOWA. TREE DAMAGE AND LOCALIZED POWER OUTAGES MAY OCCUR LATER TODAY AS THE WINDS INCREASE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL…KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT… FOOD…AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

ALTHOUGH THE HEAVY WET CONSISTENCY OF THE SNOW SHOULD DIMINISH LATER THIS MORNING…UP TO SIX INCHES OF WET SNOW WILL HAVE COMPACTED AND SETTLED. THIS WILL MAKE REMOVAL AND SHOVELING DIFFICULT. THE ELDERLY OR THOSE WITH HEART CONCERNS SHOULD TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS…REMOVE THE SNOW IN SMALL AMOUNTS OR SEEK ASSISTANCE.