Weather Alert in Iowa
Winter Storm Warning issued February 20 at 2:40AM CST until February 20 at 9:00AM CST by NWS La Crosse WI
AREAS AFFECTED: Howard; Winneshiek; Allamakee; Floyd; Chickasaw; Fayette; Clayton; Houston; La Crosse; Vernon; Crawford; Richland; Grant
DESCRIPTION: ...MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW EARLY THIS MORNING... .A winter storm is impacting the region early this morning and gradually winds down later this morning. The band of heaviest snow amounts is expected to be 30 to 40 miles at most. There will be a very sharp cutoff in amounts on the northwest side of the snow band with impacts varying greatly in the span of just a few miles. Road conditions will deteriorate quickly in the band of heavy snow with slippery to hazardous travel conditions expected. * WHAT...Heavy snow with accumulations between 5 and 9 inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Portions of north central and northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and southwest and west central Wisconsin. * WHEN...Until 9 AM CST this morning. * IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Friday morning commute. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...There will be a sharp cutoff in snow amounts on the northwest side of this warning with impacts varying quickly in the span of a few miles. The city of La Crosse will straddle this line with impacts possibly varying substantially between the north and south sides of the city.
INSTRUCTION: If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. In Iowa, visit 511ia.org for road conditions. In Minnesota, visit 511mn.org for road conditions. In Wisconsin, visit 511wi.gov for road conditions.
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Weather Topic: What is Sleet?
Home - Education - Precipitation - Sleet
Next Topic: Snow
Sleet is a form of precipitation in which small ice pellets are the primary
components. These ice pellets are smaller and more translucent than hailstones,
and harder than graupel. Sleet is caused by specific atmospheric conditions and
therefore typically doesn't last for extended periods of time.
The condition which leads to sleet formation requires a warmer body of air to be
wedged in between two sub-freezing bodies of air. When snow falls through a warmer
layer of air it melts, and as it falls through the next sub-freezing body of air
it freezes again, forming ice pellets known as sleet. In some cases, water
droplets don't have time to freeze before reaching the surface and the result is
freezing rain.
Next Topic: Snow
Weather Topic: What are Stratocumulus Clouds?
Home - Education - Cloud Types - Stratocumulus Clouds
Next Topic: Stratus Clouds
Stratocumulus clouds are similar to altocumulus clouds in their
fluffy appearance, but have a slightly darker shade due to their additional mass.
A good way to distinguish the two cloud types is to hold your hand out and measure
the size of an individual cloud; if it is the size of your thumb it is generally
an altocumulus cloud, if it is the size of your hand it is generally a
stratocumulus cloud.
It is uncommon for stratocumulus clouds to produce precipitation, but if they do
it is usually a light rain or snow.
Next Topic: Stratus Clouds
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