Timelapse: Watch nearly a foot of snow fall in downtown Des Moines
The 10.3 inches of snow measured Monday in Des Moines broke a daily snowfall record that stood for more than 125 years.
City of Des Moines
What is more Iowa than snow falling during a holiday?
Long-term weather forecasters are warning of a storm that will start as rain and transition to snow in Iowa during the week of Thanksgiving, which could impact travel. While conditions could still evolve as Thanksgiving gets closer, here’s what we know so far.
Will there be snow in Iowa on Thanksgiving?
Iowa will most likely see fresh snow for Thanksgiving. Long-term forecasters with AccuWeather predict there will be at least several inches of snow, but it is too early to forecast if there will be more than 10 inches. The heaviest snowfall accumulation will be in northwest Iowa.
A large storm could sweep the Midwest during the week of Thanksgiving, said Chad Merrill, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather. The storm will start as rain in most of Iowa. Temperatures will begin to drop, accompanied by high winds, by Thanksgiving Day and into Friday, Nov. 28, creating snow for much of Iowa. The snow will start out wet and become light and fluffy, which could cause it to blow.
Will there be a Thanksgiving blizzard in Iowa?
In order to qualify as a blizzard, the storm will need to produce falling or blowing snow. Winds will need to reach 35 mph and reduce visibility to less than a quarter of a mile for at least three hours, according to the National Weather Service.
It is too soon to tell if the storm will reach those blizzard conditions, but it is possible, according to AccuWeather. Travelers should prepare for possible delays, disruptions and cancellations in Iowa.
What else is in the Thanksgiving weather forecast for Iowa?
Temperatures are expected to be at least 6 to 10 degrees below average. In Des Moines, the average high is 41 degrees, meaning temperatures could reach as low as 24 degrees, according to AccuWeather. Highs will linger near freezing with lows in the midteens.
Gusty winds combined with cold real-feel temperatures could trigger spotty power outages. This will be the coldest air mass of the season so far, Merrill said.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
Kate Kealey is the growth and development reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.