Winter Weather Advisory: Dangerous Travel Expected with Up to 5 Inches of Snow, Sleet, Wind

Yes, it was 80 degrees on Tuesday and yes, this is May, but no, you didn't read the headline wrong.

Weather forecasters are predicting up to 5 inches of snow, sleet and high winds that could make travel dangerous today in Central Iowa stretching from Des Moines to Mason City to the Cedar Valley. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for the area that is in effect until 6 p.m.

A north wind of up to 35 mph could reduce visibility to less than a half mile at times, and snow is expected to accumulate at 1 to 2 inches an hour, which is expected make travel dangerous.

The NWS predicts "roads will remain snow covered, slushy and very slick throughout the day," and possible downed power lines and trees.

The high temperature today is supposed to be 35 degrees.

...PERIODS OF HEAVY WET SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON IN CENTRAL IOWA... .A BAND OF HEAVY WET SNOW MIXED WITH SLEET AND RAIN AT TIMES WILL CONTINUE TO SLOWLY PUSH EAST THE REMAINDER OF THE MORNING AND INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS. GENERALLY AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 4 INCHES WITH POTENTIALLY ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS CAN BE EXPECTED THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 3 INCHES OF NEW WET SNOW AND SLEET CAN BE EXPECTED THROUGH THE REST OF THE MORNING AND INTO THE AFTERNOON. GENERALLY A BAND OF 3 TO 5 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE ANTICIPATED. SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO NEAR 2 INCHES PER HOUR UNDERNEATH THE HEAVIEST SNOW BANDS WILL ALLOW SNOW TO ACCUMULATE QUICKLY.