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Winter Weather Advisory continues until Noon today (Monday)….

Weather

January 23rd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

357 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012 NWS /Des Moines

…PRECIPITATION WILL TRANSITION TO SNOW TONIGHT…

LOW PRESSURE OVER NORTHWEST ILLINOIS WILL LIFT NORTHEAST THIS MORNING AND BE OVER NORTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN BY MID DAY TODAY. COLDER AIR FILTERING IN BEHIND THE LOW WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS…SNOW…AND SOME BLOWING SNOW.

Counties in the Advisory area include….EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-BUTLER-BREMER-SAC-CALHOUN-WEBSTER-HAMILTON-HARDIN-GRUNDY-BLACK HAWK-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-BOONE-STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-JASPER-POWESHIEK

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY...

* SHORT TERM TRENDS…SNOW OVER THE AREA WILL TAPER OFF GRADUALLY FROM THE SOUTHWEST. ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL END WEST OF AN OTTUMWA…DES MOINES…ESTHERVILLE LINE BY 7 AM AND OVER ALL OF CENTRAL IOWA BY 10 AM.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW/ICE ACCUMULATIONS…SOME ADDITIONAL MINOR GLAZING IS POSSIBLE EARLY THIS MORNING. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL RANGE FROM 1 TO 2 INCHES SOUTH…WITH 2 TO 3 INCHES NORTH BY MID MORNING.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY…WINDS WILL BECOME NORTHWEST AND INCREASE TONIGHT WITH SPEEDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH THIS MORNING WILL RESULT IN CONSIDERABLE DRIFTING OF SNOW AND AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW.

* IMPACTS…ICY ROADS AND VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH MID MORNING. LOCAL VISIBILITY WILL FALL TO ONE HALF MILE OR LESS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW…SLEET…OR FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITY. BLOWING SNOW MEANS THAT VISIBILITY WILL BE LIMITED DUE TO STRONG WINDS BLOWING SNOW AROUND. USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING…ESPECIALLY IN OPEN AREAS.

Forecast for Cass & area counties Mon., Jan. 23rd 2012

Weather

January 23rd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

313 AM CST MON JAN 23 2012 National Weather Service/Des Moines

EARLY THIS MORNING…CLOUDY WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. BREEZY. NORTHWEST WIND AROUND 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.

TODAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON THEN BECOMING MOSTLY SUNNY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW THROUGH MID MORNING. BREEZY…COLDER. HIGH IN THE UPPER 20S. NORTHWEST WIND 20 TO 25 MPH DECREASING TO 10 TO 20 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. COLDER. LOW 5 TO 10 ABOVE. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

TUESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 30S. NORTHWEST WIND NEAR 5 MPH IN THE MORNING BECOMING LIGHT.

TUESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. NOT AS COLD. SCATTERED FLURRIES. LOW IN THE LOWER 20S. LIGHT WIND BECOMING SOUTHEAST UP TO 5 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT.

WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 30S. SOUTH WIND NEAR 5 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE MID 20S.

THURSDAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 40S.

Find your local forecast here: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dmx/

For Road Condition reports: http://lb.511ia.org/ialb/

3 killed in Greene County high speed crash Sunday

News

January 23rd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Three people died Sunday afternoon during a crash between a car and a pickup in Greene County. The accident happened at around 1:30-p.m., one-mile east of Rippey, on Greene County Road E-57. The Iowa State Patrol had not identified the victims as of early this (Monday) morning. Officials say a 2002 Pontiac Firebird was traveling east at a high rate of speed, when it went out of control, spun around on the road, crossed the center line, and was hit on the right side by an oncoming Ford F-150 pickup.

Both vehicles then entered the ditch and rolled over, coming to rest on their sides. Both drivers, and a passenger in the Firebird died at the scene of the crash, which remains under investigation.

Penn State wrestlers rally for win

Sports

January 23rd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — On the day former football coach Joe Paterno died, Penn State’s third-ranked wrestlers honored his memory in a way he would have approved — by winning. The No. 3 Nittany Lions rallied from a 12-0 deficit after three weights to win the final seven bouts and hand the No. 2 Hawkeyes a 22-13 defeat. Before the match started, an image of a smiling Paterno, arms crossed, and the words Joseph Vincent Paterno 1926-2012, appeared on scoreboards at either end of the arena. A moment of silence was followed by a 30-minute standing ovation in honor of the man also known as Joe Pa. Once the match began, Iowa reeled off three straight wins, two decisions sandwiched around a pin. But Penn State’s top-ranked 149-pounder, Frank Molinaro, brought the momentum the Nittany Lions’ way with a 10-5 win that started a streak of seven consecutive wins.

Tuttle, Koch help Northern Iowa sweep Drake 66-52

Sports

January 23rd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Seth Tuttle scored 13 points as Northern Iowa completed a season sweep of Drake with a 66-52 victory Sunday night. Jake Koch added 10 points for the Panthers (14-7, 4-5 Missouri Valley), who snapped a two-game losing streak. Marc Sonnen hit one 3-pointer among his eight points, marking the 15th consecutive game in which he has scored from long range. Kurt Alexander scored 21 points to lead the Bulldogs (12-8, 5-4), whose season-best four-game winning streak ended. Drake failed to avenge an 83-68 loss to Northern Iowa on Jan. 7. The game turned late in the first half. With the Panthers trailing 19-17, Johnny Moran hit a 3-pointer with 9:27 left that started a 17-4 run and gave Northern Iowa a 34-23 edge at halftime. The lead topped out at 53-28 on a three-point play by Matt Morrison with 12:59 to go. Drake never got closer than 12 after that.

No. 22 Penn State women honor JoePa then top Iowa

Sports

January 22nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Alex Bentley scored 21 points and No. 22 Penn State beat Iowa 68-52 on Sunday, hours after longtime Nittany Lions football coach Joe Paterno died of cancer. There was a pregame moment of silence for Paterno, the winningest coach in college football. The Lady Lions also sported black bands on their uniforms as a tribute.

Down 48-50 with 6:32 remaining, Penn State (15-4, 5-2 Big Ten) closed with a 20-2 run. Ariel Edwards added 17 points and 11 rebounds for Penn State, which shot 24 of 71 (34 percent) and 1 of 7 (14 percent) from 3-point range. Kamille Whalin led Iowa (11-9, 3-4) with a season-high 21 points. The Hawkeyes committed 15 turnovers and were outrebounded 53-34. The Lady Lions, who entered Sunday ranked 15th in the nation in field goal percentage, started off  sluggish. They shot 12 of 37 (32 percent) in the first half and trailed 32-31 at the break.

Iowa State women beat No. 17 Texas Tech 66-49

Sports

January 22nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) – Hallie Christofferson had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Iowa State beat No. 17 Texas Tech 66-49 on Sunday to end the longest losing streak in coach Bill Fennelly’s 17 seasons. Leading 26-23 at halftime, Iowa State (10-7, 1-5 Big 12) missed its first seven shots in the second half, then ran off 12 straight points to start a 17-3 run that put the Cyclones in control and ended their five-game losing streak.  Texas Tech (14-4, 2-4) missed 12 of its first 13 shots in the half and never recovered, falling behind by as many as 20. points The Lady Raiders have lost four straight after a 14-0 start. Lauren Mansfield added 12 points, while Chelsea Poppens had 10 points and 15 rebounds for the Cyclones, whose 0-5 start in the Big 12 had been the program’s worst under Fennelly.  Monique Smalls’ 13 points led Texas Tech, which shot just 28 percent.

Updated forecast for Cass & surrounding counties

Weather

January 22nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

3:44-pm NWS Des Moines
Dense Fog Advisory until Midnight for: Adair, Adams, Ringgold, Taylor & Union Counties.
Winter Weather Advisory until Noon Monday for: Guthrie & Dallas Counties, and all counties along and north of Highway 30.

Tonight…Cloudy…breezy. Light rain and light sleet in the evening. Light snow through midnight…then a chance of light snow after midnight. Snow and sleet accumulation around 1 inch. Low in the mid 20s. Northwest wind 10 to 20 mph with gusts to around 30 mph. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.

Monday…Mostly cloudy. Breezy…colder. High in the upper 20s. Northwest wind 15 to 25 mph.
Monday Night…Partly cloudy. Colder. Low 5 to 10 above. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Tuesday…Mostly sunny. High in the lower 30s. Northwest wind near 5 mph in the morning becoming light.
Tuesday Night…Mostly cloudy. Not as cold. Low in the lower 20s. Light wind.

Wednesday…Mostly sunny. High in the upper 30s.
Wednesday Night And Thursday…Mostly clear. Low in the mid 20s. High in the lower 40s.

Thursday Night…Partly cloudy. Low in the upper 20s.

Winter Weather Advisory Until Noon Monday

Weather

January 22nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-JASPER-POWESHIEK-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...GUTHRIE CENTER...ADEL...DES MOINES...
NEWTON...GRINNELL
340 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
UNTIL NOON CST MONDAY.

* SHORT TERM TRENDS...LIGHT RAIN ALONG WITH AREAS OF DENSE FOG
  WILL BE POSSIBLE EARLY THIS EVENING AS A FRONT PASSES THROUGH
  THE AREA. BEHIND THE FRONT...THE PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE TO
  SNOW...POSSIBLY MIXED WITH SLEET FOR A SHORT TIME BEFORE THE
  FULL TRANSITION TO SNOW.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW/ICE ACCUMULATIONS...SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 1
  TO 2 INCHES WITH ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS IS LIKELY BY MONDAY
  MORNING.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY...WINDS WILL BECOME NORTHWEST AND INCREASE
  TONIGHT WITH SPEEDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH OVERNIGHT AND FROM 20 TO 30
  MPH DURING THE DAY ON MONDAY WITH HIGHER GUSTS. THIS WILL
  PRODUCE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WITH THE VISIBILITIES REDUCE
  TO UNDER 1/2 MILE IN OPEN AREAS...ESPECIALLY ON MONDAY MORNING.

* IMPACTS...ICY ROADS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AS WATER REFREEZES
  AS THE TEMPERATURES DROP AND THE SNOW INCREASES. VISIBILITY
  RESTRICTIONS ARE EXPECTED LATE TONIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING AS
  BLOWING SNOW INCREASES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW...SLEET...OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITY. BLOWING SNOW MEANS THAT
VISIBILITY WILL BE LIMITED DUE TO STRONG WINDS BLOWING SNOW
AROUND. USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN AREAS.

Dense Fog Advisory in effect until midnight

Weather

January 22nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Counties: ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-MARION-MAHASKA-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-
TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-APPANOOSE-DAVIS-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...GREENFIELD...
WINTERSET...INDIANOLA...KNOXVILLE...OSKALOOSA...CORNING...CRESTON...OSCEOLA...
CHARITON...ALBIA...OTTUMWA...BEDFORD...MOUNT AYR...LEON...CORYDON...CENTERVILLE...
BLOOMFIELD. 340 PM CST SUN JAN 22 2012

...DENSE FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A DENSE FOG
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT.

* VISIBILITY...VISIBILITIES FREQUENTLY BELOW ONE QUARTER OF A MILE
  WITH VALUES APPROACHING ONLY A FEW HUNDRED FEET CAN BE EXPECTED
  THIS EVENING. CONDITIONS SHOULD IMPROVE BEHIND A COLD FRONT
  WHICH WILL PASS THROUGH THE AREA THIS EVENING.

* IMPACTS...VISIBILITIES BELOW ONE QUARTER OF A MILE WILL MAKE
  TRAVEL HAZARDOUS THIS EVENING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A DENSE FOG ADVISORY MEANS VISIBILITIES WILL FREQUENTLY BE
REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE. IF DRIVING...SLOW DOWN...
USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS...AND LEAVE PLENTY OF DISTANCE AHEAD OF YOU.