textproduct: Des Moines

KEY MESSAGES

- Strong winds and snow continue to produce blizzard conditions today. Impacts to travel will continue with additional snowfall and strong winds persisting today and tonight.

- Additional snowfall in central and north central Iowa this afternoon and evening could add to already slick roads.

- Winds and associated travel impacts diminish through Monday morning.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 257 PM CST Sun Dec 28 2025

Our first round of snowfall associated with the initial cold front has now departed the area, leading to severely degraded road conditions and even a closure on Interstate 35 due to multiple accidents reported with the blizzard conditions. Strong winds accompanied this mornings snowfall. Sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 55 mph have been and will be common through today and tonight. These winds will continue to blow around freshly fallen snow on the ground, at least until it collects in "storage" areas such as ditches or against structures. However, two more rounds of snowfall are expected through this evening. A second north-south oriented area of snowfall is currently tracking from western into central Iowa this afternoon. Rates and resultant accumulations appear light to moderate, but with the strong winds, visibilities of a quarter mile or less are still being reported thanks to the combination of light falling snow and residual blowing snow, primarily in rural areas. This area will continue to track eastward through the afternoon and evening, leading to at least minor impacts over central Iowa and prolonging significant impacts in northern Iowa. Of note as well, temperatures continue to drop considerably this afternoon. Temperatures are already in the teens north to low 20s central and south, with wind chills in the single digits below zero north and single digits above zero south. This will contribute to the blowing snow aspect by limiting melting and sticking of blowing snow. It will also make it more dangerous should you get stranded due to poor driving conditions, both for the vehicle occupants and those working recovery efforts.

The second round of light snow will progress from west to east through the rest of the afternoon, departing the area by early evening. Unfortunately, that still doesn't mark the end of event. As the responsible surface low deepens to our northeast and the parent wave pivots overhead, moisture and forcing will wrap around the back side of the low bringing additional snow chances later this afternoon and into the evening. This snowfall will be characterized by a very cold low level layer with steep lapse rates and moderate lift through the dendritic growth zone. Because of this, this wrap around snow will have much higher SLRs and will be highly susceptible to blowing. Fortunately, the moisture depth will be waning farther south into Iowa, which should help to negate significant accumulations, but the development of horizontal convective rolls, light fluffy snowfall and strong winds will keep the blowing snow going through the night and into early Monday morning, especially in far northern Iowa along the Iowa/Minnesota border. There has been a slight southward shift in the snowfall, and with this this mornings snowfall already impacting roadways, it's likely we could see blizzard conditions continuing farther south in the area tonight. For this reason have expanded the Blizzard Warning to include counties along highway 20 where this wrap around snow may occur. Regardless of amounts, any additional snow with these strong winds will make travel hazardous tonight into early Monday morning. Avoid travel if you can.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 1048 PM CST Sun Dec 28 2025

Another band of snow is descending south from northern Iowa and will bring a period of light snow to all sites except KOTM. In addition, more blowing snow and a period of near blizzard conditions at KMCW. Conditions will begin to improve after 09z as the snow begins to diminish. The strong and gusty winds will also persist overnight then slowly diminish through the day Monday. Once the snow ends, MVFR cigs will remain over much of central Iowa until the afternoon to early evening before scattering.

DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Blizzard Warning until 9 AM CST Monday for IAZ004>007-015>017- 023>028-033>039. Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM CST Monday for IAZ044>046- 059>062. Winter Weather Advisory until 9 AM CST Monday for IAZ047>050. Wind Advisory until 6 AM CST Monday for IAZ057>062-070>075- 081>086-092>097.