textproduct: Des Moines

KEY MESSAGES

- Scattered snow showers linger this afternoon and evening, though little additional accumulation is expected.

- Cold and blustery on Sunday with highs in the low 30s and northwest winds gusting 25-30+ mph.

- Warmer Tuesday through the rest of the upcoming week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 211 PM CST Sat Nov 8 2025

Rain and snow continues to move across the area this afternoon. Precipitation types have generally evolved as expected so far with snow across the north, transitioning to a mix across central Iowa, and rain in the south. Snow amounts have been highest in northwest Iowa where the winter weather advisory was in effect in the area where the deformation zone pivoted across. Areas in our west central to northwest counties, and into the Sioux Falls CWA Iowa counties have seen 2-4 inches within the advisory area with under 2 inches across northern Iowa east of the advisory. Higher snow rates this morning were able to overcome initial warm ground temperatures with partially snow covered roads in the northwest. As rates have slowed into the afternoon and the DOT has been able to treat roads, conditions have quickly improved. In most cases roads are generally wet with accumulations in grassy areas. Even so, slick spots are possible in areas where snow is falling.

As the low continues to skirt across our south and continues lifting east snow will begin to taper off across the area later this afternoon. Dry air is already beginning to filter in across western Iowa, and if we zoom out for a wider view of the midwest we see the secondary boundary with much colder air sitting north of the area and rotating around to push south into the area. As this surge of cold air advection reaches the area winds will increase with enhanced pressure gradient and subsidence behind the surface low. Model soundings note lingering shallow moisture across the area within the dendritic growth zone this evening, and overnight into Sunday morning. This moisture, combined with weak instability noted by steepening lapse rates in the lowest levels and increasing winds hint at the potential for lingering light snow of a more shower-y variety. These would not be widespread and would produce little in the way of additional accumulation, but could result in brief visibility restrictions.

Temperatures will continue to fall overnight into the teens to low 20s and remain cold on Sunday with highs in the low 30s. As temperatures fall after dark roads should quickly cool as well and may ice up, especially elevated and untreated surfaces. Be ready for slick spots this evening and on Sunday morning. Northwest winds remain breezy through the day on Sunday with continued cold air advection across the state. Model soundings indicate 25-30+ mph gusts possible, resulting in wind chills in the teens to around 20 degrees through the day on Sunday.

Cold air sticks around through Monday, but this will be the end as winds lighten and the upper level trough shifts east. By Tuesday ridging returns with warm air advection sending temperatures back to the mid 50s. The 50s stick around through the upcoming week with 60s possible by the end of the week.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/

Issued at 1051 PM CST Sat Nov 8 2025

Precip shield has pushed east out of central Iowa this evening, leaving generally VFR CIGS across northern Iowa with MVFR central and south. Upstream obervations show fairly widespread area of 2500-3500 ft ceilings across the Dakotas with more breaks noted across Minnesota. For now, have kept the TAFs more optimistic favoring the solution that the area of more breaks across MN is more likely the source region to impact the state. That said, will need to keep a keen eye on how this evolves overnight and adjust accordingly. Lastly - some 00z output continues to suggest pockets of snow showers mainly across southern Iowa, with highest likelihood to impact KOTM. As such have added a Prob30 group 13-18z Sunday there. Otherwise, breezy winds from the northwest set up for Sunday.

DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.