A potent clipper system will hit the area Friday with heavy snow included so read on for the details…
A clipper system will eject out of Canada into the Northern Plains late tonight and then move into Iowa by Friday. We will see snow increase across much of northern Iowa Friday morning and gradually expand to the southeast into central Iowa by the middle of the morning. Some mixing will take place Friday morning back into interior northwest Iowa mainly west of highway 59 for places like Le Mars and Sioux City to name a few towns. Temperature profiles are fairly warm higher up but have some cold mixing to them so this would likely promote a risk for sleet/rain/freezing rain before precipitation does finally change to all snow in that area. We will also have a heavy snow zone with the system and my numbers here at the office indicate an area extending from northwest Iowa into central Iowa where the best bet will be at to see those high snowfall rates of 1-2″ per hour for a time Friday.
The highest amounts will be found from northwest into central Iowa where 4-8″ of snowfall accumulation is expected and then T-2″ of accumulation for the extreme eastern part of Iowa and an area of 2-6″ in between. While this isn’t blizzard criteria, this should lead to some gusty winds of level 1 on my wind scale indicating the risk for blowing of snow later Friday afternoon/evening into early Saturday morning. Finally snow should start to shut off across northern Iowa by Friday night and eventually southern Iowa before daybreak Saturday.
Forecast radar Valid Friday morning through Saturday morning –
Snow Risk –
Iowa Storm Center Wind Gust Intensity Scale –
Level 6. Damage may occur to buildings and trees. Power outages possible. High Profile Vehicle Roll-Over Likely. Do NOT recommend traveling in this zone.
Level 5. Some trees are broken, building damage possible. High Profile Vehicle Roll-Over Likely. HIGH WIND WARNING CRITERIA
Level 4. Slight damage may occur to trees/buildings. High Profile Vehicle Roll-Over Possible.
Level 3. Small branches may break, walking is difficult.
Level 2. Large trees sway, becoming difficult to walk. WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA
Level 1. Small trees sway, breezy
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