textproduct: Des Moines

KEY MESSAGES

- Strong winds this early this morning diminish through midday and the afternoon. Gusts of 50-60+ mph possible. High Wind Warning and Wind Advisory are in effect through mid morning.

- Pockets of blowing snow and narrow snow bands possible through the morning, mainly across northern Iowa. Some additional light snow is also possible later this afternoon with wrap around snow.

- Light snow and some light ice accumulation possible with a system on Thursday.

- Very cold with additional light snow possible this weekend.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 238 AM CST Wed Dec 10 2025

Strong northwest winds are passing across Iowa early this morning with wide spread gusts of 45-55 mph in central and western Iowa so far this morning. Winds in eastern Iowa have gusted 35-40 mph so far today with strongest winds not yet reaching the east. In far western Iowa a few gusts over 60 mph have been recorded as the surge of cold air advection digs into the state. Expect that these stronger 60 mph gusts will expand into northern and central Iowa over the next few hours. So far this morning the snow crust has held and visibility reductions from blowing snow has not yet been a problem. Expect this to continue for the most part through the rest of the morning, however the potential for breaking the crust in northern Iowa still exists, especially as the stronger winds arrive.

The other potential hazard to monitor through the morning is convectively driven snow showers in this push of cold air advection. Soundings continue to indicate weak instability, though the parameter space is not as notable as in previous forecast cycles. There still remains modest instability with saturation into the DGZ, but on the whole the environment is less supportive for squalls this morning. At this writing at 2:30am there is a weak band through Humboldt, Wright, and Hardin counties that has been moving steadily across the state, but so far it has remained light with no noted impacts.

Winds will taper off through late morning and the afternoon as the surface low continues to lift to the east. There is a low end chance for light snow across northern Iowa this afternoon with wrap-around moisture as the low exits, but this should be of low impact with a dusting or less expected.

Our attention now turns to Thursday when the next shortwave is expected to drop across Iowa in this active northwest flow pattern. As the low drops southeast the deformation zone slides across Iowa from northwest to southeast. The southwest half of Iowa will largely remain dry with the northeast half seeing light snow accumulations. A narrow band of 2-3" is possible with lesser amounts on either side. On the southwest side of the snow line, warm air aloft will result in a wintry mix. Soundings show a warm nose of varying depth and magnitude depending on the model. The GFS/Euro lean towards a rain/snow mix for Iowa while soundings from the HRRR/RAP and HREF data shows a more notable warm nose with colder surface temperatures resulting in light ice accumulations. This could have an impact on the Thursday afternoon commute and will need to watch closely.

The forecast remains active into the weekend as much colder air pushes into the state along with another chance for light snow on Saturday. Highs this weekend are forecast in the single digits to teens with morning low wind chills in -20s (nearing -30 for northern Iowa Sunday morning).

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 532 AM CST Wed Dec 10 2025

Widespread wind gusts of 35-45 kts have occurred across Iowa this morning with isolated gusts of 50-55+ kts. This has been combined with light falling snow and blowing snow impacting KMCW this morning. Additional blowing snow impacts are possible at KDSM/KALO, however that threat is diminishing this morning so have not included in the TAFs. MVFR stratus blankets the area this morning. And while winds will taper off this morning into the afternoon, MVFR stratus will last into tonight.

DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

High Wind Warning until 9 AM CST this morning for IAZ004>007- 015>017-023>026-033>037-044>049-057>060. Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM CST early this morning for IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-034>039-048>050. Wind Advisory until 9 AM CST this morning for IAZ061-062- 070>075-081>086-092>097.