The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for the Perry area as another potentially potent storm system is forecast for Monday afternoon into Tuesday.
Mixed precipitation Monday afternoon will give way to heavy snow Monday night, the NWS said. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches and a light glace of accumulated ice are possible, with winds gusting as high as 35 mph by Tuesday.
As one system departed Iowa late Sunday afternoon, another in the southwest U.S. is expected to enter the state Monday, with a widespread wintry mix developing Monday afternoon and changing to all snow by Monday night and ending by Tuesday morning.
Strong winds on the backside of the storm front will likely produce blowing and drifting snow into Tuesday, the NWS said.
Along with Dallas County, the Iowa counties under the winter storm watch include Sac, Calhoun, Crawford, Carroll, Greene, Boone, Story, Marshall, Tama, Audubon, Guthrie, Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek, Cass, Adair, Madison, Warren, Marion, Mahaska, Adams, Union, Clarke, Lucas, Monroe and Wapello.
Along with Perry, cities under the winter storm watch include Sac City, Lake View, Odebolt, Wall Lake, Schaller, Early, Rockwell City, Manson, Lake City, Pomeroy, Denison, Carroll, Jefferson, Boone, Ames, Marshalltown, Tama, Toledo, Traer, Dysart, Gladbrook, Audubon, Exira, Guthrie Center, Panora, Bayard, Casey, Waukee, Adel, Des Moines, Newton, Grinnell, Atlantic, Greenfield, Stuart, Adair, Fontanelle, Winterset, Earlham, Indianola, Norwalk, Carlisle, Pella, Knoxville, Oskaloosa, Corning, Creston, Osceola, Chariton, Albia and Ottumwa.
Travelers should plan on slippery and poor road conditions. Visibility will be reduced to below one-half mile at times from falling and blowing snow. Drifting and increasing winds might pose problems for travelers by Wednesday. The Monday evening and Tuesday morning commutes will likely be quite difficult.
ThePerryNews.com will update this weather story as forecasts evolve.
