Iowa Highway 92 near Bridgewater, January 18th, 2023, 2:25 p.m.Photo: Iowa DOT
(Ames, IA) -- The winter storm that's sliding into Iowa is expected to bring moderate amounts of snow in the north and a mix of precipitation and/or snow elsewhere. Craig Bargfrede of the Iowa Department of Transportation says crews have started pre-treating highways in northern Iowa, but the plan of attack in the south is still a bit in question as of this (Wednesday) afternoon. He says central Iowa is likely to get more liquid precipitation, so pre-treating roads would be pointless as the rain would wash it away.
Bargfrede says once the rain turns to all snow, however, up to 600 DOT trucks will be out and about working to keep highways clear.
A winter storm warning will be in effect for the northwest half of Iowa until 9 a.m. Thursday.
The National Weather Service is predicting a wintry mix of snow, freezing rain, and rain spreading north across southern and central Iowa, becoming all snow in northern Iowa. Snowfall rates of 1-to-2 inches per hour are expected. Parts of northern Iowa could 5-to-8 inches of snow. A light glazing office is also possible over the south tonight as freezing drizzle will be possible. Minor blowing snow may happen with wind gusts of 20-to-25 mph. The snow will gradually taper off from southwest to northeast Thursday.