BLIZZARD WARNING
Warning Issue Date: 309 AM CST WED DEC 09 2009
...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS
EVENING...
A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING.
* SHORT TERM TRENDS: LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW WILL REMAIN WIDESPREAD
ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL IOWA THROUGH DAYBREAK. SOME AREAS OF HEAVY
SNOW WILL ALSO CONTINUE FROM EAST OF DES MOINES TO THE WATERLOO
AREA...ALTHOUGH SNOWFALL INTENSITY IS EXPECTED TO DECREASE
THROUGH MID MORNING. ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS WEST OF INTERSTATE
35 OF A INCH REMAIN POSSIBLE WITH 1 TO 3 ADDITIONAL INCHES EAST
OF THE INTERSTATE. VERY STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS WILL SPREAD
ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL IOWA BY DAYBREAK AT 25 TO 40 MPH WITH
GUSTS OVER 50 MPH. EXPECT WHITEOUT CONDITIONS TO BECOME MORE
WIDESPREAD THROUGH 6 AM...ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AND OPEN AREAS.
* STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS: SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO 18
INCHES ARE ANTICIPATED FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL IOWA. THE BEST
THREAT FOR RECEIVING OVER A FOOT OF SNOW IS GENERALLY
SOUTHEAST OF A LINE FROM DENISON TO ALGONA AND NORTHWEST OF A
LINE FROM BEDFORD TO GRINNELL.
* WINDS/VISIBILITY: NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS AT 25 TO 40 MPH WITH
GUSTS FROM 50 TO 60 MPH THROUGH MUCH OF THE MORNING.
VISIBILITIES WILL BE NEAR ZERO BY DAYBREAK IN MUCH OF CENTRAL
IOWA...ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS. A GRADUAL DECREASE IN WIND
SPEED IS EXPECTED DURING THE AFTERNOON.
* IMPACTS: SIGNIFICANT TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
DANGEROUS WINTER STORM...AND TRAVEL WILL LIKELY BECOME
IMPOSSIBLE IN MANY LOCATIONS. IN ADDITION TO THE SNOW
ACCUMULATING ON ROADWAYS...VERY STRONG NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS
WILL CAUSE SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW AND WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS TODAY...LEADING TO THE POTENTIAL FOR ROAD CLOSURES.
SNOW DRIFTS OF 8 TO 15 FEET ARE POSSIBLE BY WEDNESDAY. THE
POTENTIAL FOR POWER OUTAGES EXIST AS WELL WITH THE VERY STRONG
WINDS. WIND CHILL READINGS ON WEDNESDAY WILL RANGE FROM 10 TO 20
BELOW ZERO.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF
YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.
$$
COGIL
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