Fort Dodge saw light snow Monday and more is predicted for today along with gusty winds.
A two-storm system is expected to slam into the Midwest, bringing as much as 12 to 18 inches of snow to the southern regions of Iowa.
The northwest portion of the state is on the edge of the storm and is predicted to receive 3 to 5 inches of snow, according to Tony Jorgensen, Webster County Emergency Management coordinator.
"At this moment it appears the greatest threat is snow and wind, which makes visibility a challenge when traveling out of town," Jorgensen said Monday afternoon. "On the positive side, our area is not predicted to have ice problems at this time."
Blustery north winds are expected to reach 15 to 25 miles per hour with gusts around 35.
"The northwest will probably be spared the brunt of the storm, but the winds will be a problem," said Dena Grey-Fisher a spokeswoman with the Iowa Department of Transportation.
In addition to high winds, temperatures will plummet, with wind chills as low as 20 to 30 below zero tonight and into Wednesday.
"That makes for very dangerous travel conditions," Grey-Fisher said. "Make sure you have a travel kit packed just in case."
Kits should include blankets, extra clothes, water, snacks, shovels, jumper cables, flashlight with extra batteries. For a full list, visit the DOT's website with winter driving tips at www.iowadot.gov/maintenance/wintersafety.html.
For those traveling to central or southern Iowa, plans may change as those areas are predicted to receive up to 7 to 12 inches of snow in the Des Moines area and up to 18 inches of snow in the Quad Cities area.
Jorgensen said due to the dynamic nature of the storm, predictions for tonight and Wednesday could change significantly.
Contact Lindsey Mutchler at (515) 573-2141 or lindsey@messengernews.net