Powerful winds swept across Iowa today, easing somewhat after prompting a High Wind Warning earlier in the day. While gusts have begun to taper, the storm’s strongest blasts reached nearly hurricane strength in parts of the state.
National Weather Service meteorologist Brooke Hagenhoff said several locations recorded peak gusts close to 70 miles per hour. Carroll measured the highest so far at 68 mph, while Des Moines topped out at 66 mph. Other areas in western Iowa, near the Nebraska and South Dakota borders, saw gusts up to 69 mph.
Despite the intensity, no serious injuries have been reported. The winds did cause travel issues, including multiple semitrailers blown onto their sides along Interstates 35 and 80. Falling tree limbs also brought down power lines in scattered areas, leading to outages. Many school districts responded by delaying the start of classes by two hours.
Attention now shifts to another round of wintry weather expected tomorrow. Hagenhoff said northeast Iowa could pick up a few inches of snow, while central Iowa may see a mix of rain and snow, with a light glaze of ice possible in spots. Any accumulation is expected to remain minimal.
Looking ahead to the weekend, forecasters are watching yet another light snow chance for Saturday—marking the third straight week with weekend snowfall in Iowa. Totals appear modest, around one to two inches, but the cold will be sharp. High temperatures are projected to stay in the single digits to teens both Saturday and Sunday.
The latest system follows the heavy Thanksgiving weekend storm, which dumped more than 16 inches of snow in some parts of the state.
