Watch for slippery roads early Wednesday as temperatures drop

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Another arctic chill is on the way, and there could be a light chance of snow.

Your first warning: Stormy with scattered snow

Snow showers occurred across the state Tuesday evening and continued into the night. Although they occur readily in nature, there have been minor accumulations, particularly on grassy areas. In some places the roads can become slippery. So check this before you go.

Overnight temperatures will drop again to the low to mid 20s.

Scattered snow activity will continue through the morning, with the majority tapering off or moving eastward by 9:00 or 10:00 a.m

As colder air moves in, we could see a small accumulation of snow showers. This can be up to an inch in some places where this activity moves repeatedly over the same area. Many others may only be a little white around the edges.

However, even small amounts can cause slippery roads. Since some of this takes place during the Wednesday morning commute, it’s a good idea to allow yourself a little extra time to get there. Visibility can also be limited during snow showers.

With this in mind, winds will become stronger as the night progresses into Wednesday. Wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph are possible, especially during the late morning and afternoon hours. This causes an even cooler air mass to be sucked in.

As a result, temperatures will remain fairly consistent in the upper 10s to lower 20s for the first few hours after daybreak and then begin to fall. Air temperatures will be in the low 10s at best by dinnertime, with wind chills dropping below freezing late Wednesday evening.

While winds will weaken tomorrow evening, air temperatures will be in the single digits below or above zero Thursday morning. Any additional wind will bring the wind chill into the -5 to -15 range. So plan for a very cold start to the day on Thursday.

Your first warning: There will be some light snowfall on Thursday

Amidst this arctic air, a weak disturbance is moving through the region, giving us another chance for some lighter snowfall. The latest evidence suggests that the southern half of the observation area would be slightly more favorable for observing this activity. Very light accumulations may occur, with one or two slippery spots also possible.

The rest of the area will remain cold, with high temperatures only reaching the low to mid 10s Thursday afternoon. Winds should remain relatively light during the day, limiting the effects of wind chill but also providing little to no relief.

Your first warning: Another storm system brings wintry mixed potential

The active weather pattern continues into the weekend, with the possibility of some more widespread precipitation.

Friday will start out dry and calm with lows in the upper single digits to low 10s. As the storm system approaches from the southwest, it brings some warmer air with it. As a result, highs will trend into the upper 20s to low 30s.

Precipitation will begin from the evening to Friday night, with different types of precipitation possible. Initially there may be rain, snow or a slightly icy mix. This mixed potential continues into the night and early Saturday morning.

As the system continues to track northeast, warmer air continues to flow into eastern Iowa. Precipitation is likely to transition to full rain during the day, reducing the risk of major problems.

If you have travel plans during this period, consider what you may need to do to change them. For example, even a small amount of freezing rain or sleet can cause headaches. We will be monitoring this closely in the coming days and will provide you with further updates as we know them.

A short break, but overall active and a little warmer

After the precipitation ends on Saturday, there will be a decent break with additional rain or snow. This lasts until the end of the weekend, when Sunday represents a decent mid-December day. Highs in the upper 30s to lower 40s are likely to occur under mostly cloudy skies.

Another storm system gives us the chance for some precipitation in the first half of next week, but its timing and direction are subject to much uncertainty in this area. We currently have an extended period of time with a low chance of rain or snow. However, as we get closer, we hope to narrow down this time frame somewhat.

Temperatures will trend cooler towards the middle of next week, regardless of the rainfall outcome, with highs returning closer to normal after a brief warm-up period.

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