Potentially dangerous winter storm seen moving into Charles City area before Christmas weekend

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A potential winter storm could affect holiday travel later this week, according to the National Weather Service.

“If you have travel plans ahead of the Christmas weekend, consider altering or delaying them if possible,” NWS said.

“A major winter storm is expected to impact the central part of the country late this week. This storm is expected to produce heavy snow and high winds that will create blowing snow and possibly blizzard conditions,” according to the La Crosse, Wisconsin, office of the National Weather Service, which covers northeast Iowa including Floyd County.

“Arctic air spreading in with and behind the storm will also create bitterly to dangerously cold wind chills,” the report said.

A winter storm watch is in effect from late Wednesday night through Friday night.

Snow accumulations of 4 to 6 inches are possible through Thursday with additional accumulations through Friday night likely, it said. Total snowfall could be 6 to 10 inches in the Charles City area, and winds could gust as high as 55 mph.

Although snow totals are uncertain at this time, even smaller amounts of snow could develop blizzard conditions with blowing snow significantly reducing visibility, NWS said.

“The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commutes starting Thursday morning. Strong winds could cause tree damage,” the weather service report said.

“The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 35 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes,” it said.