(Spirit Lake)– Another significant winter storm is about to impact the region. The National Weather Service has issued an ice storm warning that includes most of the region, including the Iowa Great Lakes, from noon today (Monday) until 6:00 pm Tuesday. Forecasters say precipitation will likely break out as we head into the afternoon today (Mon.), possibly starting off as snow. A transition to sleet and freezing rain will be likely this (Mon.) evening into the overnight hours as warmer air moves in aloft. That will likely continue through most of Tuesday with anywhere from a quarter to a half inch of ice accumulating on exposed surfaces. Officials say that could result in downed tree limbs and power outages, while also making travel extremely hazardous.
A winter storm watch has been posted for Lyon county in Iowa, along with Cottonwood, Murray, Nobles and Rock counties in southwest Minnesota and all of southeast South Dakota. More than a foot of snow could fall in some of those areas.
Forecasters say a strong north wind will also develop as the system moves through causing even more trouble.
