(Spirit Lake)– A significant winter storm is about to hit the region in a couple of waves. The first will bring light snow, perhaps a little freezing drizzle to the region today (Tuesday). A winter weather advisory will be in effect for Lyon and Osceola counties in Iowa and a number of counties in southwest Minnesota from noon today (Tues.) until noon Wednesday. A blizzard warning then goes into affect for those same locations from Noon Wednesday until noon Thursday. The rest of northwest Iowa, including the Iowa Great Lakes, will be under a winter storm warning from Noon Wednesday until Noon Thursday.
Wind gusting as high as 45 mph at times Wednesday in early Thursday will result in considerable blowing and drifting snow and blizzard or near blizzard conditions.
The National Weather Service says 5 to 8 inches of snow can be expected in the Iowa Great Lakes with much heavier amounts along and just north of the Minnesota border. Amounts in those areas will be in the range of 8 to 14 inches, with some isolated areas to the north and east of that possibly seeing even higher amounts.
