The Iowa Department of Transportation reports some roads in western Iowa were partially or completely covered with snow early Sunday morning. As of 6:30-a.m., Interstate 80 west of Highway 173 in Cass County was partially covered with snow. Interstate 29 from Sloan south to near Nebraska City was completely covered with snow.

For the latest road report, surf the web to www.511iaorg., or call 511.

…A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR CASS AND MOST AREA COUNTIES, EXCEPT THE FAR WEST AND SOUTHWEST, WHERE THE ADVISORY CONTINUES UNTIL 6-P.M. …

* SHORT TERM TRENDS…LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE OVER NORTHERN IOWA AND SPREAD FARTHER SOUTH AND WEST INTO THE INTERSTATE 35 CORRIDOR BETWEEN 7AM AND 10AM. ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL INTENSIFY SOMEWHAT SHORTLY AFTER THOSE TIMES WITH TRAVEL IMPACTS BEGINNING. THE SNOW WILL END IN THE LATE AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING TODAY.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS…ACCUMULATIONS WILL RANGE FROM 2 TO 4 INCHES…WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY…SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 10 TO 15 MPH WILL CAUSE MINOR BLOWING OF SNOW…REDUCING VISIBILITY TO A MILE OR LESS DURING PERIODS OF HEAVIER SNOW.

* IMPACTS…THE SNOW WILL IMPACT TRAVEL ACROSS THE AREA… ESPECIALLY WITH THIS BEING THE FIRST WIDESPREAD SNOWFALL OF THE SEASON. MOTORISTS SHOULD USE CAUTION AND PRACTICE SAFE WINTER DRIVING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES…AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

413 AM CST SUN DEC 8 2013

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING…

TODAY…SNOW. SNOW ACCUMULATION AROUND 3 INCHES. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION 3 TO 4 INCHES. HIGH 15 TO 20. SOUTHEAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW NEAR 100 PERCENT.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY UNTIL EARLY MORNING THEN BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY. VERY COLD. A CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW IN THE EVENING…THEN A SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW BEFORE MIDNIGHT. LOW ZERO TO 5 ABOVE. NORTHWEST WIND NEAR 10 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW 50 PERCENT.

MONDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. VERY COLD. HIGH AROUND 15. WEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

MONDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW ZERO TO 5 ABOVE. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

TUESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. WARMER. HIGH IN THE MID 20S. WEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

TUEESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW. LOW 5 TO 10 ABOVE.

WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. COLDER. HIGH AROUND 15.

253 AM CST SUN DEC 8 2013

…A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR: SAC- CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-CASS-ADAIR-ADAMS-TAYLOR COUNTIES, AND UNTIL 6-PM FOR: SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT AND PAGE COUNTIES.

* SHORT TERM TRENDS…LIGHT SNOW WILL BEGIN BETWEEN 3AM AND SUNRISE…WITH ACCUMULATING SNOW AND TRAVEL IMPACTS BEGINNING SHORTLY AFTER THOSE TIMES. THE SNOW WILL END IN THE LATE AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING TODAY.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...ACCUMULATIONS WILL RANGE FROM 2 TO 4 INCHES…WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE NORTH AND WEST.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY…SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 10 TO 15 MPH WILL CAUSE MINOR BLOWING OF SNOW…REDUCING VISIBILITY TO UNDER A MILE AT TIMES WHILE SNOW IS FALLING.

* IMPACTS...THE SNOW WILL IMPACT TRAVEL ACROSS THE AREA…ESPECIALLY WITH THIS BEING THE FIRST WIDESPREAD SNOWFALL OF THE SEASON. MOTORISTS SHOULD USE CAUTION AND PRACTICE SAFE WINTER DRIVING.

 PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES…AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

 …FIRST WIDESPREAD SNOWFALL OF THE SEASON EXPECTED ON SUNDAY…

A WINTER STORM SYSTEM WILL SPREAD LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW ACROSS THE REGION ON SUNDAY. ACCUMULATIONS IN THE ADVISORY AREA WILL GENERALLY RANGE FROM 2 TO 4 INCHES…WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. THIS WILL POSE A HAZARD TO TRAVEL AT TIMES.

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 9 PM CST SUNDAY FOR SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-CASS-ADAIR-ADAMS-TAYLOR COUNTIES AND UNTIL 6-PM FOR SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-& PAGE COUNTIES.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 9 PM CST SUNDAY.

* TIMING…LIGHT SNOW WILL BEGIN LATE TONIGHT…WITH ACCUMULATING SNOW AND TRAVEL IMPACTS BEGINNING BEFORE SUNRISE SUNDAY IN WESTERN IOWA. THE SNOW WILL END IN THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING SUNDAY.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS…ACCUMULATIONS WILL RANGE FROM 2 TO 4 INCHES…WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE NORTH AND WEST.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY…SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 10 TO 15 MPH WILL CAUSE MINOR BLOWING OF SNOW…REDUCING VISIBILITY TO UNDER A MILE AT TIMES WHILE SNOW IS FALLING.

* IMPACTS…THE SNOW WILL IMPACT TRAVEL ACROSS THE AREA…ESPECIALLY WITH THIS BEING THE FIRST WIDESPREAD SNOWFALL OF THE SEASON. MOTORISTS SHOULD USE CAUTION AND PRACTICE SAFE WINTER DRIVING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES…AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Frigid cold continues to hover over Iowa as the state prepares for coming snow. The National Weather Service says high temperatures in the single digits will continue Saturday in most of the state, while southern portions of Iowa will see temperatures rise to nearly 20 degrees. Snow is expected after midnight and will likely continue throughout Sunday, with accumulations of 4 to 5 inches in western Iowa. Most of the state is expecting between 1 and 3 inches.

Bitter cold will hang on well into the week, with the weather service predicting lows to hover around zero Monday and Tuesday before falling to 10-below in northern Iowa on Wednesdays. Lows in the south on Wednesday should climb to 15 degrees.

Today: Increasing clouds, with a high near 13. Wind chill values as low as -20. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon.

Tonight:  Snow, mainly after 1am. Low around 5. Wind chill values as low as -10. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Sunday:  Snow. High near 19. Wind chill values as low as -10. East southeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming light and variable in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Sunday Night:  A 40 percent chance of snow before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 2. Wind chill values as low as -10. Calm wind becoming west northwest 5 to 10 mph in the evening. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Monday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 12. West northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Tuesday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 24.

Wednesday:  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 17.

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AREA COUNTIES: MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY…

…WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST THIS MORNING…

* WIND CHILL VALUES…WIND CHILLS WILL REMAIN BETWEEN 20 AND 25 BELOW THROUGH MID MORNING. AIR TEMPERATURES OF 5 TO 15 BELOW COMBINED WITH WINDS UP TO 10 MPH WILL CREATE THE DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS THIS MORNING.

AREA COUNTIES: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL…

…WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST THIS MORNING…

* WINDS…NORTHWEST WINDS OF 5 TO 10 MPH WILL COMBINE WITH THE COLD TEMPERATURES TO CREATE WIND CHILLS IN THE TEENS AND 20S BELOW ZERO.

* IMPACTS…PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THE COLD CAN RESULT IN FROST BITE OR OTHER HEALTH HAZARDS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS…MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND GLOVES.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa enters the cold weather season with about a fifth of the state still in severe drought. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says November was drier than normal with the average precipitation for the state at 1.6 inches compared with the 30-year normal of just over 2 inches. A small area of the state that was rated in extreme drought in October has improved and is now in severe drought.

The area of the state in severe drought has fallen to 20 percent from 35 percent at the start of November. Little change is anticipated in soil moisture levels over the winter as soils are likely be frozen statewide by now, and are unlikely to thaw until spring.

406 AM CST SAT DEC 7 2013

TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. VERY COLD. HIGH 10 TO 15. NORTHEAST WIND NEAR 10 MPH. LOWEST WIND CHILL READINGS AROUND 15 BELOW IN THE MORNING.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LIGHT SNOW LIKELY AFTER MIDNIGHT. SNOW EARLY IN THE MORNING. NOT AS COLD. SNOW ACCUMULATION AROUND 1 INCH. LOW 5 TO 10 ABOVE. EAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW 80 PERCENT.

SUNDAY…SNOW. SNOW ACCUMULATION AROUND 3 INCHES. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION AROUND 4 INCHES. HIGH 15 TO 20. SOUTHEAST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW NEAR 100 PERCENT.

SUNDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW THROUGH MIDNIGHT. LOW ZERO TO 5 ABOVE. NORTHWEST WIND NEAR 10 MPH.

MONDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH 10 TO 15. WEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW ZERO TO 5 ABOVE. HIGH 15 TO 20.