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We have an update about the impending winter storm that will impact the Quad Cities area Tuesday afternoon into early Wednesday morning. The National Weather Service of the Quad Cities has updated most of the Quad City area counties to a Winter Storm Warning, and some to a Winter Weather Advisory.

The National Weather Service of the Quad Cities has upgraded most counties in the QCA to a Winter Storm Warning. Counties that are in the Winter Storm Warning include:

  • Iowa
    • Muscatine
    • Scott
    • Clinton
    • Jackson
    • Cedar
    • Louisa
    • Linn
    • Jones
    • Johnson
    • Jefferson
    • Henry

  • Illinois
    • Whiteside
    • Rock Island
    • Carroll
    • Jo Daviess

Snowfall totals in the immediate Quad Cities metro will range between 3-6". Those snowfall totals will increase in more northern counties in the QCA.

Counties in the southern listening area will see more ice than snow. Ice accumulation in the Quad Cities metro will be between 0.01-0.10".  Areas near Galesburg could see ice accumulation totals up to 0.25".

According to the National Weather Service of the Quad Cities, the heaviest snow, with a band of 6-10", is forecasted to impact areas along and north of a line from Sigourney, IA, to Iowa City to Clinton, and Milledgeville, IL. Snow totals of 3-6" are possible immediately south of this band to include roughly the I- 80 corridor near the Quad Cities through Sterling.

Heavy sleet is also possible within that band near I-80. To the south, lower amounts of snow and sleet are forecast, generally under 3 inches.

During the heaviest period of snow, which is expected to be from from late afternoon through 10 p.m., peak snowfall rates are likely to reach 1 to 1.5 inches per hour, especially for locations north of I-80.

Sleet may reach as far north as the highway 30 counties later this evening as temperatures rise. 0.1-0.25" of ice accumulation from freezing rain is possible mostly south of I- 80 before precipitation changes to all rain late Tuesday night. A thin glazing could extended as far north as the highway 30 corridor before the steady precipitation comes to an end after Midnight.

Wind gusts during this store could reach up to 30 mph, which may drop visibilities to a quarter mile in the heaviest bands of snow late this afternoon into the evening.

Travel could be very difficult, especially later this afternoon and evening. Dangerous travel conditions will also likely extend into Wednesday morning.


ORIGINAL: 12/28/2020 @ 10:17 A.M.

A Winter Storm Watch will be put into effect for 26 counties, including Dubuque, Linn, Jones, Jackson, Johnson, Cedar, Clinton, Muscatine, Scott, Keokuk, Washington, Louisa, Henry, IA, and Des Moines counties in Iowa, and Jo Daviess, Carroll,
Whiteside, Rock Island, and Mercer counties in Illinois.

The Winter Storm Watch will go into effect on Tuesday, December 29 at 12 p.m. until Wednesday, December 30 at 12 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service of the Quad Cities, a winter storm is expected to spread snow over the area on Tuesday afternoon. Snow is expected to become heavy at times through Tuesday night, especially along and north of a Fairfield, IA to Quad Cities, to Sterling, IL line.

Officials say that at this time, it appears 3 to 8 inches of snow is likely to fall along and north of that line.

South of that line from Fairfield, IA to the Quad Cities and Sterling, IL, snow will change to a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain Tuesday evening and overnight.

Officials say that travel is expected to become slick and difficult Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning.

Winter Storm Warning has been issued for 37 counties in Iowa that will runs from 9 a.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday. Counties that will be under the Winter Storm Warning are expected to see snow fall totals in the range of 4-8" or more.

What's the difference between a Winter Storm Watch and Winter Storm Warning?

winter storm watch is issued to provide 12 to 36 hours advance notice of the possibility of severe winter weather. A watch is upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning when 6" of snow or sleet is expected in the next 12 hours, or 8" or more in 24 hours, or sleet of 1/2" or more is expected.

Essential Winter Emergency Kit Items

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