(Information current as of 8:30-a.m. 11/20)

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY (which replaces a Winter Storm Watch) is in effect from 2-pm today (Friday) until 6-am Saturday, for Cass, Adair, Adams and Union Counties. The Advisory is in effect from 3-p.m today until 3-am Saturday, for Pottawattamie and Montgomery Counties. 3-to 6-inches of snow are possible in the Advisory area.

A WINTER STORM WARNING remains in effect from 3-pm today to 3-a.m. Saturday, for Monona, Harrison and Shelby Counties, from 2-p.m. today until 6-am Saturday for Audubon, Guthrie and Dallas Counties, and from 10-am today until 6-am Saturday, for Sac, Crawford and Carroll Counties. 6-to 10-inches of snow are possible in the warned area.

Forecasters say a wide section of Iowa may get walloped by its first significant snowstorm later today (Friday), so motorists need to take a few precautions, pronto. Ann Avery, the Iowa spokeswoman for State Farm Insurance, says an emergency kit is a must for your vehicle’s trunk. “With the first snowfall of the season coming and Thanksgiving travel beginning for many families, now is a great time to think about looking in your trunk and taking out the things you’ve been using all summer that you won’t be using this winter and making sure you have emergency travel supplies,” Avery says, “so if you are on the road and something unexpected happens, you will be prepared.”

There are several staples that should be in everyone’s vehicle, before the winter winds start whipping. “Some of the things include: jumper cables and making sure you have an ice scraper back in the car,” Avery says. “Check the spare tire, make sure it’s in the car and that it’s at the proper inflation. Be sure you have blankets, extra warm clothing. A cell phone charger — we depend on that cell phone. If you get into an emergency, make sure you are able to charge it.”

Other helpful items to have handy include: road salt or cat litter to help with tire traction, a flashlight (with working batteries), matches or a lighter, duct tape, a small tool kit and a tow strap. Avery offers a few more suggestions. “A first aid kit, water, food that won’t expire in the trunk, and crucial medications,” Avery says. “If you should get caught and stuck on the side of the road, you want to make sure you have those medications.” If there’s a teenage driver under your roof, Avery says you should talk to them about the importance of this kit.

“Our information shows a lot of teens reported not having all the necessary supplies they need in their trunk,” Avery says. “Check the car the teen is using as well. Have them put the emergency kit together with you so they see what goes into it and understand why it’s all there.” Other items that you might consider for your emergency kit are: a hazard triangle with reflectors, flares, a brightly-colored flag or “HELP” sign, and a tarp for sitting or kneeling in the snow for doing exterior work like a tire change.

(Radio Iowa)

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2-P.M. TODAY (FRIDAY) THROUGH 6-AM SATURDAY FOR: CASS and ADAIR COUNTIES, , AND FROM 3-PM TODAY THROUGH 3-AM SATURDAY, FOR POTTAWATTAMIE and MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 

THREE TO SIX-INCHES OF SNOW ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH AREA.

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3-PM TODAY UNTIL 3-A.M. SATURDAY FOR MONONA, HARRISON AND SHELBY COUNTIES; FROM 2-PM TODAY UNTIL 6-AM SATURDAY FOR AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-AND DALLAS COUNTIES; AND FROM 10-AM TODAY UNTIL 6-AM SATURDAY FOR SAC-CRAWFORD AND CARROLL COUNTIES IN THE KJAN LISTENING AREA.

5-TO 9 INCHES OF SNOW ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA.

(Winter Storm Warnings or Watches will be in effect later today – see the Weather page at kjan.com for details.)

Today: Rain and snow, becoming all snow after 4pm. High near 39. Breezy, with an east wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 12 to 17 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Tonight: Snow, mainly before 1am. Low around 20. Blustery, with an east northeast wind 14 to 18 mph becoming north after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 26. Wind chill values as low as 5. North wind 8 to 14 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 11. West wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 36.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 42.

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2-P.M. TODAY (FRIDAY) THROUGH 6-AM SATURDAY FOR: CASS-ADAIR-AND MADISON COUNTIES, AND FROM 9-AM TODAY THROUGH MIDNIGHT FOR HARRISON AND POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTIES. 

THREE TO SIX-INCHES OF SNOW ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH AREA.

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9-AM TODAY UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR MONONA AND SHELBY COUNTIES; FROM 2-PM TODAY UNTIL 6-AM SATURDAY FOR AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-AND DALLAS COUNTIES; AND FROM 10-AM TODAY UNTIL 6-AM SATURDAY FOR SAC-CRAWFORD AND CARROLL COUNTIES IN THE KJAN LISTENING AREA.

5-TO 9 INCHES OF SNOW ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA.

AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS COUNTIES…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM FRIDAY TO 6 AM CST SATURDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10-AM FRIDAY TO 6-AM SATURDAY, FOR SAC-CRAWFORD AND CARROLL COUNTIES. AND FROM 9-AM FRIDAY UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR MONONA AND SHELBY COUNTIES.

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2-PM FRIDAY UNTIL 6-AM SATURDAY FOR COUNTIES ALONG AND SOUTH OF I-80, INCLUDING CASS, ADAIR AND MADISON, FROM 9-AM FRIDAY UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR POTTAWATTAMIE AND HARRISON COUNTIES

* TIMING…SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ACROSS THE AREA DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS AND MAY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING COMMUTE.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS…5 TO 9 INCHES POSSIBLE.

* WINDS/VISIBILITIES…VISIBILITIES WILL BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES IN FALLING SNOW. IN ADDITION…WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH MAY PRODUCE MINOR BLOWING AND DRIFTING…AND ALSO HELP CONTRIBUTE TO REDUCED VISIBILITIES.

* IMPACTS…THE COMBINATION OF SLUSHY AND SNOW COVERED ROADS WILL LEAD TO HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS… INCLUDING DURING THE FRIDAY EVENING COMMUTE. TRAVEL CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY BECOME TREACHEROUS AT TIMES. BE SURE TO USE CAUTION AND USE YOUR WINTER DRIVING SKILLS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL…KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT… FOOD…AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

CASS-ADAIR-MADISON COUNTIES: WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY NOON THROUGH 6-AM SATURDAY. IN ADDITION, A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9-A.M FRIDAY THROUGH MIDNIGHT, FOR HARRISON AND SHELBY COUNTIES, AND FROM 9-AM FRIDAY THROUGH 3-A.M. SATURDAY, FOR SAC-CRAWFORD AND CARROLL COUNTIES.

* TIMING…SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ACROSS THE AREA BY MID FRIDAY
AFTERNOON THEN CONTINUE OVERNIGHT.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS…2 TO 6 INCHES POSSIBLE.

* WINDS/VISIBILITIES…WINDS OF 10 TO 20 MPH DURING THE SNOW MAY
PRODUCE MINOR BLOWING AND DRIFTING…AND ALSO HELP CONTRIBUTE
TO VISIBILITIES UNDER A MILE DURING PERIODS OF HEAVIER SNOW.

* IMPACTS…THE COMBINATION OF SLUSHY AND SNOW COVERED ROADS MAY LEAD TO HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS… INCLUDING DURING THE
FRIDAY EVENING COMMUTE.

CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-DALLAS COUNTIES:WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6-P.M. TODAY (11/19)

POTTAWATTAMIE-MONTGOMERY COUNTIES: WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 5-P.M.

* WINDS…AT THEIR STRONGEST WILL BE SUSTAINED AT 30 TO 35 MPH
WITH GUSTS OF 45 TO 50 MPH.

* IMPACTS…THE STRONG WINDS WILL MAKE TRAVEL HAZARDOUS…
ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES ON NORTH SOUTH ROADS.
LOOSE OBJECTS WILL ALSO BE BLOWN AROUND.

With the chance of accumulating snowfall to occur in Clarinda later this weekend the Clarinda Police Department would like to remind the citizens of Clarinda about the emergency snow ordinance. The ordinance states that; no person shall park any motor vehicle or other apparatus upon any street of the city that will obstruct the removal of snow when there has been an accumulation of two (2) inches or more. Any vehicle left parked on any street in violation of this ordinance may be impounded, and the registered owner of the vehicle will be subject to a $15.00 parking fine, and payment of all applicable towing and storage fees in order for the vehicle to be released.

Today: Wind Advisory from 9am-6pm for Audubon, Guthrie, Carroll. Crawford Sac and Dallas Counties, & from 10am-5pm for Harrison & Shelby Counties; Sunny, with a high near 46. W/NW @ 20-40.
Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 25.
Friday: Winter Storm Watch for part of the listening area beginning at 9-a.m.; Rain-snow mix early, then rain. High 38. E/NE @ 10-20. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Friday Night: Snow, mainly before midnight. Low around 21. E/NE @ 15-30. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible w/higher amounts north & east.
Saturday: P/Cldy. High near 32. NW @ 10-20.
Sunday: P/Cldy. High near 35.

Our 24-hour High in Atlantic as of 7-a.m. today was 46. Our 24-hour Low as of 7-a.m. today, was 31. We received 05 inches of rain over the past 24-hours. Last year on this date, our High was 25 and the Low was 9. The All-Time Record High in Atlantic for Nov. 19th was 73 in 1930, while the Record Low was -1 in 1914.