750 AM CST Wed Jan 24 2018

…AREAS OF DENSE FOG NEAR THE MISSOURI RIVER…

Dense fog dropping visibilities to a quarter mile or less had developed in and area 5 miles or so east and west of the Missouri River from Sioux City down to Omaha.

Motorists should be aware of rapid fluctuations in visibilities while driving this morning. And with temperatures in the teens, the dense fog may freeze on roads causing slippery conditions.

Today: Areas of fog and clouds this morning; Becoming P/Sunny. High 37. SW winds @ 5-10 .

Tonight: Fair to P/Cldy. Low 23.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy & windy. High near 52. SW @ 15-30.

Friday: P/Cldy. High near 50.

Saturday: P/Cldy. High 44.

Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 27 Our Low through 5-a.m. today, was 13. Last year on this date our High was 34 and the Low was 29. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 66 in 1981, and the Low was -24 in 1894.

Today: Mostly Cloudy w/flurries this morning; P/Cldy this afternoon. High 32. NW winds @ 15-30 this morning diminshing this afternoon.

Tonight: Fair to P/Cldy. Low 16.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High near 40. S @ 5-10.

Thursday: P/Cldy, windy & mild. High near 50.

Friday: P/Cldy. High 48.

Monday’s High in Atlantic was 39 Our Low this morning (as of 5-a.m.) was 27. We received 1 inch of snow, along with some sleet and freezing drizzle late Monday afternoon through last night. The liquid value of all those forms of precipitation amounted to .21″. Last year on this date our High was 34 and the Low was 29. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 60 in 1981, and the Low was -24 in 1948.

Getting around on the western side of the state today (Monday) is a challenge as the winter storm moved in brought large amounts of snow with it. The Winter Operations Administrator for the Iowa Department of Transportation, Craig Bargfred says drivers are facing winter conditions in that area.

“Basically from the Sioux City area heading up towards the Minnesota border and then a little further east along the Minnesota border,” Bargfrede says. He says South Dakota has closed Interstate 29 roughly outside of Sioux City north. Bargfrede says they’ve issued an advisory for the Iowa area.

“In that Sioux City area and just south along I-29 we have areas where we are saying travel is not advised due to the blowing and drifting,” Bargfrede says, “but we have not officially closed I-29 if you will.” Things are much better as you head east, and he says they’ve caught one break from the weather.

“The fortunate thing is that most of the rest of the state of Iowa, the air and temperatures have remained high enough that we’re not seeing the icing occur that we had originally forecasted,” Bargfrede says. Bargfrede says drivers in areas where there is bad weather need to be patient.

He says you need to be careful operating around the plows and don’t crowd them or try to pass when the visibility is low. The Iowa State Patrol issued a tow ban for all of northwest Iowa. Reports from Le Mars showed they had received seven inches of snow by 12:30, and the snow was till falling. The city of Le Mars pulled plows off the streets until the visibility improves.

(Radio Iowa)

The National Weather Services has issued a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY in effect until Midnight for the following Counties: Cass-Adair-Audubon-Dallas-Guthrie-Madison. A Winter Weather Advisory continues until 6-p.m. for Shelby-Pottawattamie-Mills and Fremont Counties. A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 6-p.m. for Harrison County. A Blizzard Warning continues until 6-p.m. for Monona County, and until midnight for Crawford and Sac Counties.

A transition of rain and drizzle to a brief wintry mix before switching to all snow is expected during the evening commute. During the changeover from rain to snow, strong winds are expected to develop and are likely to cause visibility restrictions at times. Plan on slippery road conditions. Snow accumulations of up to one inch and very light ice accumulations are expected.

.Winds gusting as high as 40 mph will cause patchy blowing and drifting snow.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A Winter Weather Advisory means that periods of snow, sleet or freezing rain will cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for slippery roads and limited visibilities, and use caution while driving. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

Road conditions are deteriorating in northwest Iowa as a Blizzard Warning is posted for 19 counties across the region, with another 16 Iowa counties under winter storm warnings and advisories. Forecasters say the region may get between six inches and a foot of snow by tonight (Monday), though some areas may see up to 16 inches. Trooper John Farley, with the Iowa State Patrol, is watching over parts of Interstate 29 and says if you don’t have to go out, don’t. “We’re receiving heavy snowfall, snow and sleet, and it is 100% covered on the interstate consistently between Sioux City and I’m just north of Onawa right now,” Farley says. “We are definitely in that ‘travel not advised’ arena.”

There have been some fender benders and cars sliding into ditches along that stretch of road, he says, but not many. “People have taken the heedings, the warnings that were issued even last night about travel,” Farley says. “There has not been a lot of traffic on the interstate, not that they’re completely empty, but the traffic that is moving is light but it’s very slow. Top speeds are around 35 to 40 miles an hour, tops.”

Snow plows and spreader trucks are out in force, scraping the roadways and sprinkling salt, sand and brine solution. “Oh, yes, our partners with DOT roads, you bet,” Farley says. “They are out and they’re doing a great job. They’re keeping up with it. With the amount of snow that’s coming down, I think it’ll be hard to stay ahead of it, but they are definitely keeping up with it.” Many schools and businesses in the region are closed. The snow likely won’t last too long as forecasters say high temperatures in the state may be climbing as high as the mid-50s later this week. Today’s normal high for Des Moines is 31 degrees.

(Radio Iowa)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A winter storm has brought near blizzard conditions to much of Nebraska. The National Weather Service says more than 10 inches (26 centimeters) has already fallen on North Platte in western Nebraska, and near zero visibility has been reported near Cambridge.

Weather service meteorologist Aaron Mangels said around 5:30 a.m. that snow was just starting to fall on Hastings in south-central Nebraska, and he expected 5 to 6 inches (13 to 15 centimeters) to accumulate by the storm’s exit around 3 p.m. The Nebraska Transportation Department websites shows around three-quarters of the state’s roads are covered with snow, but none is listed as impassable. Authorities are encouraging people to avoid any highway travel.

The blizzard warnings extend through northeast Nebraska into northwestern Iowa.

Today: Cloudy w/rain-drizzle changing to mix precipitation during the afternoon before becoming snow. High around 36 this morning, w/temps nearly stead or falling during the day. N/NE @ 15-30.

Tonight: Snow diminishing to flurries. Becoming P/Cldy. Low 20. NW @ 20-40. (1-3” possible)

Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High 32. NW @ 15-30.

Wednesday: P/Cldy. High 38.

Thursday: P/Cldy. High 48.

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 40 Our Low this morning 36 (Thru 5-a.m.). We received .32” of rain overnight Last year on this date our High was 37 and the Low was 31. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 60 in 1967, and the Low was -27 in 1930.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Harrison County, in effect until 6-p.m., today (Monday). This replaces the Winter Weather Advisory for Harrison County. Heavy snow expected. Blowing snow too. Plan on difficult travel conditions to develop during the morning and continue in the afternoon. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 6 inches, with localized amounts up to 7 inches, are expected. Be prepared for significant reductions in visibility at times.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until 6-p.m. today, for Pottawattamie, and Shelby Counties, and until midnight for Monday (12-a.m. Tuesday), for Audubon, Carroll and Greene Counties. Mixed precipitation expected. Plan on slippery road conditions, including during the evening commute on Monday. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches and ice accumulations of a light glaze are expected.

And, a Blizzard Warning continues until midnight tonight, for Sac and Crawford Counties. Travel will be very dangerous to impossible, including during the morning commute. Tree branches could fall as well. Snow accumulations of 6 to 9 inches are expected.

Stay tuned to KJAN and our social media outlets for updates on the weather situation throughout the day.

Guthrie-Dallas-Cass-Adair-Madison-Adams-Union Counties

…DENSE FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM CST MONDAY…

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a Dense Fog Advisory, which is in effect until 4 AM CST Monday.

* VISIBILITY…Below a quarter mile in the advisory area with near zero visibility at times.

* IMPACTS…Travel may be difficult at times due to the reduced visibilities. Drive slowly and allow extra space between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Dense Fog Advisory means visibilities will frequently be reduced to less than one quarter mile. If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.