Ice storm warnings issued for central Iowa

For Friday morning, most of Iowa will be cold and calm with temperatures in the single digits to around 10 degrees. The wind has brought the cold down to almost zero in many places. We will continue to experience calm weather for most of the day, but ice storm warnings have been issued for parts of central Iowa starting this evening. Closures | Interactive Radar | Weather Warnings Cloudy and cold conditions are expected for most of Friday. The morning drive will see temperatures in the single digits and below freezing, with wind chills near freezing. There may be a few rays of sunshine, but expect more clouds than sunshine today. Temperatures are starting to warm up, but will only reach the low 20s this afternoon. The dry weather will continue into the late afternoon and early evening, so the journey home should also be problem-free. Light drizzle or freezing rain is expected over western Iowa early this evening, especially after 5 p.m. This will initially impact certain areas around Atlantic, Creston and Lamoni. The freezing drizzle and light freezing rain were then expected to expand to the Des Moines metro between 7 and 9 p.m. and spread across the rest of the state between midnight and 3 a.m. Freezing rain should generally be light, but ice accumulation will occur with temperatures around 20°C. Rain rates are expected to increase between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. Saturday, leading to larger ice accumulations. This is most likely to occur east of Des Moines, affecting areas from Ottumwa to Marshalltown and further west to Newton and Pella. Ice accumulations of about or slightly more than a quarter of an inch are possible in this area. That’s enough to not only cause treacherous rides, but also potentially cause minor tree damage and isolated power outages. In the Des Moines metro, ice accumulations should be slightly lighter and end around 7 to 8 a.m. as temperatures move higher toward freezing. However, very slippery roads and light ice formation on trees and power lines are to be expected. The warmer temperatures should spread across the rest of the state during the morning hours, turning the freezing rain into a plain, cold rain and ending the threat of icing. Forecast for Des Moines: Today: Cloudy. High 25F. Winds out of the east at 10 to 20 mph. Tonight: Winter weather warning. It will be cloudy and light freezing rain is expected, becoming heavier overnight. Some icing probably. Low 25F. Wind Directions: East easterly winds at 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow: early freezing rain, turning to rain in the afternoon. Some icing possible. High temperature around 35°F. Winds out of the east at 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow night: The showers will ease in the evening, it will be foggy overnight. Low 32F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.

DES MOINES, Iowa –

For Friday morning, most of Iowa will be cold and calm with temperatures in the single digits to around 10 degrees. The wind has brought the cold down to almost zero in many places. We will continue to experience calm weather for most of the day, but ice storm warnings have been issued for parts of central Iowa starting this evening.

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Cloudy and cold weather is expected for most of Friday. The morning drive will see temperatures in the single digits and below freezing, with wind chills near freezing. There may be a few rays of sunshine, but expect more clouds than sunshine today. Temperatures are starting to warm up, but will only reach the low 20s this afternoon. The dry weather will continue into the late afternoon and early evening, so the journey home should be easy.

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A light freezing drizzle or freezing rain is expected over western Iowa early this evening, especially after 5 p.m. This will initially impact the Atlantic, Creston and Lamoni areas. The freezing drizzle and light freezing rain were then expected to expand to the Des Moines metro between 7 and 9 p.m. and spread across the rest of the state between midnight and 3 a.m. Freezing rain should generally be light, but with temperatures around 20°C we will see some ice accumulation.

Rain rates are expected to increase between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. Saturday, which will lead to larger ice accumulations. This is most likely to occur east of Des Moines, affecting areas from Ottumwa to Marshalltown and further west to Newton and Pella. Ice accumulations of about or slightly more than a quarter of an inch are possible in this area. That’s enough to not only cause treacherous travel, but also potentially cause minor tree damage and isolated power outages.

In the Des Moines metro, ice accumulations should be slightly lighter and end around 7 to 8 a.m. as temperatures rise above freezing. However, very slippery roads and light ice formation on trees and power lines are to be expected. The warmer temperatures should spread across the rest of the state during the morning hours, turning the freezing rain into a plain, cold rain and ending the threat of icing.

Forecast for Des Moines

Today: Cloudy. High 25F. Winds out of the east at 10 to 20 mph.

Tonight: Note on winter weather. It will be cloudy and light freezing rain is expected, becoming heavier overnight. Some icing probably. Low 25F. Wind Direction: East-East at 10 to 20 miles per hour.

Morning: Freezing rain early turning to rain in the afternoon. Some icing possible. High temperature around 35°F. Winds out of the east at 10 to 20 mph.

Tomorrow evening: The showers will subside in the evening and it will be foggy overnight. Low 32F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.