(IowaStormCenter.com) — A low pressure system will curve northeast from New Mexico with snow to begin after midnight tonight, maximizing Wednesday afternoon and ending late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.
Light snow will work into the state after midnight and gradually expand in coverage with widespread light to moderate snowfall surrounding the majority of Iowa once Wednesday morning hits.
As the system peaks Wednesday afternoon, this will yield a window of 0.5-1.0″ per hour snowfall rates over the center of Iowa resulting in a total of 4-8″ of snow over the Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, and Dubuque forecast zones.
At this same time, northerly winds will accompany the system during the afternoon extending through the evening with gusts at times up to 25 MPH. This will not be strong but enough to result in a risk for blowing of snow.
Additionally, a swath of 2-6″ of snow will extend beyond that through parts of north and then southeast Iowa due to a developing dry slot in the system.
By Wednesday evening, all activity will gradually diminish from west to east as the system slides eastward.
– Meteorologist Maurer –
