Holiday travelers be aware: Possible heavy snow in the forecast

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

Folks with Thanksgiving travel plans will need to keep a close eye on the weather, as much of northeast and north central Iowa and southern Minnesota are under a winter storm watch that predicts snowfall accumulations of 5 to 9 inches possible in some areas Tuesday night through Wednesday morning.

Currently, the Charles City area is at the lower edge of a band of snow that is predicted to mostly pass northwest of this area, but the National Weather Service in La Crosse, Wisconsin, warns that the area of heaviest snow could shift.

The current forecast for Charles City is for rain mixing with snow Tuesday, becoming all snow after 8 p.m. and snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible. Wednesday has a chance of snow and freezing rain in the morning.

“The storm is still two days away and there is uncertainty on the storm track,” NWS said Sunday evening. “Should the storm shift further north, snow amounts will be less. Slight variations in temperature could cause snow amounts to change as well.”

The winter storm watch is in effect for Floyd, Mitchell and Howard counties in Iowa and includes Charles City, Osage and Cresco.

“If you have travel plans Tuesday night or Wednesday, be sure to check on the latest forecasts as the storm approaches,” the Weather Service said. “Total snow accumulations of 5 to 9 inches are possible, and winds could gust as high as 40 mph.”