(Des Moines, IA) -- The National Weather Service is predicting snowfall in most of Iowa starting late Wednesday night thru Thursday morning. Amounts will vary from trace amounts in western and northwestern Iowa to up to six inches in northeast Iowa.
Forecasters expect rain to transition to snow tonight with snow lasting through Thursday morning. The heaviest snow rates and amounts are expected on Thursday morning when a brief period of 1-2 inch per hour snow accumulation rates is possible. A sharp cutoff in snow totals is expected outside of the main snow band as well.
A Winter Storm Warning will go into effect from 3 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday for Buchanan, Delaware, Dubuque, Benton, Linn and Jones counties. The area could pick up 3-5 inches of snow and ice up to a tenth of an inch. Sleet is also possible.
A Winter Weather Advisory will be in effect from 3 a.m. Thursday thru Noon for Bremer, Grundy, Black Hawk, Marshall, Tama, Jasper, Poweshiek, Marion, and Mahaska counties. Those areas could receive 1-4 inches of snow.
The NWS cautions drivers that road conditions could be slick early Thursday morning.