THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS EXPANDED THURSDAY’S BLIZZARD   WATCH TO INCLUDE SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AND AUDUBON COUNTIES. THE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ADAIR, GUTHRIE AND DALLAS COUNTIES AS WELL, FROM 6-A.M. THURSDAY TO 6-P.M. FRIDAY.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WATCH…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE
THURSDAY NIGHT.

* TIMING…A WINTRY MIX IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVERNIGHT TONIGHT
AND TRANSITION TO SNOW THURSDAY MORNING. THE SNOW MAY BECOME
HEAVY AT TIMES DURING THE DAY THURSDAY. STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS
ARE FORECAST TO DEVELOP THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND PERSIST INTO THE
EVENING HOURS…POTENTIALLY CREATING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS.
HOWEVER…WITH THE LOWER SNOW AMOUNTS AND LITTLE TO NO SNOW
CURRENTLY ON THE GROUND…CONFIDENCE IS LOWER FOR WIDESPREAD
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS OVER WEST CENTRAL IOWA.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW/ICE ACCUMULATIONS…3 TO 7 INCHES OF SNOW IS
EXPECTED. MINOR ICE AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS MAY ALSO OCCUR.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY…WINDS WILL SHIFT NORTHWEST AND QUICKLY
STRENGTHEN TO 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 50 MPH POSSIBLE BY
THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

* IMPACTS…THE BAND OF WET AND HEAVY SNOW AND VERY STRONG WINDS
MAY LEAD TO VERY LOW VISIBILITY AND AS WELL AS QUICKLY COVER
ROADS MAKING TRAVEL HAZARDOUS TO NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE AT TIMES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR
BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITIES.
THIS CAN LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE TRAVEL VERY
DANGEROUS.