The National Weather Service in Des Moines reports a potential winter storm may impact the state Saturday night into Sunday night. Officials say “At this time, confidence is increasing that this system will impact central and southern Iowa with the potential for moderate snowfall and strong winds.”  If you have travel plans from Saturday night through Sunday night, please monitor the weather forecast very closely. This system, according to the Weather Service, may cause significant travel impacts during this time period. Have alternate travel plans in place, and if you must travel, have a full tank of gas in your vehicle, and keep a winter weather survival kit in your vehicle.

The kit should include: A cell phone charger; 1st aid kit; jumper cables; a spare tire; road flares; sand or kitty litter for traction; a tow rope; blankets; snow shovel and brush; a flashlight; hats, mittens and snow boots; water and snacks.

If you must drive during a storm, take the following precautions:

• Slow down!Even if the roads just look wet they could still be slick. More than 6,000 fatalities occur on the roadways each year due to weather conditions.
• Make sure your vehicle is completely clear of ice or snow before starting the trip. Flying snow from cars causes accidents.
• Let someone know where you are going and what route you will take. If something happens, this person will know where to start a search.
• If you are driving and begin to skid, remain calm, ease your foot off the gas and turn your wheels in the direction you want the front of the car to go. If you have an anti-lock braking system (ABS), apply steady pressure to the brake pedal. Never pump the brakes on an ABS equipped vehicle.
• If you are having trouble seeing due to weather conditions, pull over to the side of the road and stop your car until visibility improves. Turn off your lights and use your parking break when stopped so that another car won’t mistakenly follow your tail/brake lights and end up hitting you.

If your car gets stuck during a storm:

• Stay in the vehicle!If you leave your vehicle, you will become disoriented quickly in wind-driven snow and cold.
• Run the motor about 10 minutes each hour for heat. While running the motor, open the window a little for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Clear snow from the exhaust pipe to avoid gas poisoning.
• Be visible to rescuers.Turn on the dome light at night when running the engine.
• Tie a bright colored cloth, preferably red, to your antenna or door.
• After snow stops falling, raise the hood to indicate you need help.

Today: Area of fog this morning; Partly cloudy & windy. High 57. S @ 15-30.

Tonight: P/cldy to cloudy. Low 40. S @ 5-10.

Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy w/light rain. High around 46. S @ 10-20.

Saturday: P/Cldy to Cldy. High 48.

Sunday:Cloudy & windy w/snow, especially in the morning. High around 31.

Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 51. Our Low was 20. Last year on this date our High was 37 and the Low was 11. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 69 in 1966. The Record Low was -10 in 1937.

(Radio Iowa) — Tens of thousands of Iowans will be traveling for Thanksgiving and they could face a challenge getting home a few days after the holiday. The immediate forecast calls for warmer temperatures for much of Iowa with highs in the 40s and even low 50s in some areas. The National Weather Service say that should last into midday Saturday.

A still-developing storm system may move in late Saturday, with the potential to drop temperatures into the 20s and drop several inches of snow into Sunday or Monday. Iowans are warned to pay close attention to the forecast, especially if they’ll be on the road later this weekend.

Today: Area of fog this morning; Partly cloudy. High 46. SE @ 10.

Tonight: P/cldy. Low 30. S @ 5-10.

Tomorrow (Thanksgiving Day): P/cldy & windy. High around 55. SW @ 15-30.

Friday: Cloudy w/light rain. High 45.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy. High around 47.

Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 38. Our Low was 12. Last year on this date our High was 59 and the Low was 32. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 71 in 1990. The Record Low was -14 in 1937.

Today: Partly cloudy. High near 40. SW @ 10-15.

Tonight: P/cldy. Low 24. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow: P/cldy. High around 46. SE @ 10.

Thursday: P/Cldy. High 55.

Friday: Mostly cloudy w/a chance of light rain. High near 50.

Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 42. Our Low this morning was 11. Last year on this date our High was 50 and the Low was 18. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 75 in 1933. The Record Low was -1 in 1937 & 1985.

Today: Partly Cloudy. High around 35. S winds becoming NW @ 10-15 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 14.

Tomorrow: Mostly sunny. High 40. SW @ 10-15..

Wednesday: P/Cldy. High 48.

Thursday (Thanksgiving): P/Cldy. High 55.

Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 30. Our Low was 6. Last year on this date our High was 46 and the Low was 18. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 73 in 1930. The Record Low was -1 in 1914.

Today: Sunny, with a high near 35. Winds becoming SW @ 5-10. Wind chill values as low as 5.
Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 25. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 38. Southwest wind 10-15 becoming north in the afternoon & gusting to around 20 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 17.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 38. W/SW wind @ 10-15 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 49.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31.
Thanksgiving Day: Sunny, with a high near 51.

Saturday’s High in Atlantic was 31. Our Low this morning, 6. We received .2″ snow yesterday afternoon through the overnight hours. That melted into .09″ liquid precipitation (Rain).  Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 54 and the Low was 37. The All-time Record High for this date was 72 in 1990. The Record Low of 0 was set in 1891.

Roads partially covered with snow from about Highway 44 southwestward to Highway 92 were causing numerous accidents Saturday evening. Dispatch reports continue to indicate vehicle were sliding off the road along Interstate 80 as the evening progressed. Just before 7-p.m., a moderate traffic jam was reported on I-80 in Cass County, from just west of the Olive Street Exit to Highway 173.

Road conditions as of 7:16-p.m. 11/17/18 (511ia.org)

Bridges and overpasses were said to be icy in spots. So far, there have been no reports of injuries.

Further south, from the Highway 34 corridor to the Iowa-Missouri line, roads were completed covered with snow. Blowing snow was also an issue. For more on current road conditions, go to 511ia.org on the web, or call 511.

Today: Cloudy & windy, w/light snow or flurries ending this morning. High around 30. N winds @ 15-30 mph.

Tonight: Cloudy to partly cloudy w/diminishing winds. Low 13.

Tomorrow: Mostly sunny. High 36. W @ 10.

Monday: P/Cldy. High 40.

Tuesday: P/Cldy. High 44.

Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 53. Our Low this morning 31. We received .01 “ rain overnight here in Atlantic. Last year on this date our High was 49 and the Low was 18. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 73 in 1941. The Record Low was -2 in 1959.

Today: Partly cloudy to cloudy. High 47. NW winds becoming SE @ 10.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy w/light rain late changing to light snow. Low 30 N @ 10-20.

Tomorrow: Any light snow will be ending in the morning. Mo. Cldy. High 31. N @ 15-30. Less than 1″ snow accumulation is expected altogether.

Sunday: P/Cldy. High 36.

Monday: P/Cldy. High 43.

Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 49. Our Low 25. Last year on this date our High was 50 and the Low was 18. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 73 in 2001. The Record Low was 1 in 1955.