NWS issues winter weather advisory ahead of season’s first snow storm

Daily Staff

Update (10 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8):

More snow than originally forecasted could be headed toward Ames according to the latest update to the NWS’ winter weather advisory. Storm totals could reach 3-5 inches, with some areas seeing as much as 6 inches.

The revised forecast for Ames calls for 2-4 inches of snow overnight and less than half an inch Wednesday morning. The heaviest snowfall is expected from near Creston to Des Moines to Marshalltown in the east.


Update (4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8):

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has updated its winter weather advisory for Ames with new accumulation totals and an updated timeline.

The rain is expected to change to snow after 10 p.m. and increase in intensity around midnight. The highest snowfall rates and accumulation are expected from midnight to 5 a.m. Wednesday. Snowfall is expected to taper off early Wednesday morning.

The Ames forecast now calls for 1 to 3 inches of snow.


The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a winter weather advisory for 9 p.m. Tuesday until 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Cold air behind a low pressure system will cause today’s rain to mix with and change over to snow later this evening and tonight, according to the advisory. Light to moderate wet snow is expected to produce a 2-4 inches of accumulation in Ames.

Today’s NWS forecast for today calls for rain with temperatures dropping to around 40 by 5 p.m. Rainfall amounts are expected to be between a quarter and a half of an inch. A rain snow mix is expected between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., with the precipitation changing completely to snow after 3 a.m.

Wednesday’s forecast calls for a 50 percent chance of snow before noon.