textproduct: Des Moines

KEY MESSAGES

- Snow showers continue across central and southeast Iowa this afternoon. Periods of reduced visibility with light snow accumulation will occur with showers.

- Mild start to the work week with temperatures in the 40s and 50s, then more seasonal temperatures through the end of the week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 230 PM CST Sat Jan 10 2026

An area of snow showers has moved from northwest to central Iowa through the morning and will continue through central and southeast Iowa this afternoon. So far, these showers have resulted in periods of reduced visibility to around 1-2 miles along with light accumulations of under an inch. These snow showers as associated with a larger upper level cut off low, easily identified as the big swirly across Minnesota today. So far today a couple variables have prevents more robust shower development. The first is dry low levels and lack of deeper saturation. This has prevent more efficient snow development and snow rates within showers. Second, the stronger cold air advection and subsidence that would help to further steepen lapse rates and increase the instability already in place lags behind this leading frontal boundary. As this lobe of energy swings into southeast Iowa and Illinois it will encounter better moisture which could help with intensification of the snow showers, but this will be east of the area. Meanwhile, that area of cold air advection and subsidence has reached northwest Iowa this afternoon. Winds have increased with gusts of 25-30+ mph. These stronger northwest winds will spread across the state behind the area of snow showers with winds remaining breezy through the overnight.

Sunday will be seasonable cold and dry behind the system, and by afternoon winds will shift to southerly and kick off warm air advection into the area. Temperatures Monday are expected to warm into the 40s and reach the 50s on Tuesday in central to southwest Iowa. By Tuesday night a robust clipper drops out of Canada into the midwest, rapid deepening into a longwave trough that will dominate the weather pattern for the central and eastern US through the middle to end of the week. Colder temperatures make a return to the area, along with a few chances for precipitation.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1143 AM CST Sat Jan 10 2026

Snow showers have reached central Iowa, resulting in periods of MVFR ceilings and visibility. Isolated IFR conditions are possible within more robust showers. These will last 1-2 hours at a time with the area of snow showers continuing southeast this afternoon. Winds increase this afternoon with gusts of 20-25+ kts out of the northwest. These gusts continue overnight, diminishing Sunday morning.

DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.