English Bulldog Puppies for Sale in Des Moines, IA

Iowa towns photo collage

Sons of the American Revolution is collecting a photograph of every Iowa city and town for a combined collage of all 934 in Iowa. Do you have a great photo from an Iowa town to contribute? Send it to MJR1825@gmail.com.

Declaration Book Club

March 15: Declaration Book Club, 2 p.m., Sioux City Public Museum, 607 Fourth St., Sioux City

Continue the study of the Declaration of Independence with a reading group designed to bring people together to read, discuss and reflect on the Declaration of Independence, one of the most influential documents in American history. This is a three-part study that began in January. Free admission.

America's Eras Day Camp

March 16: America's Eras Day Camp, 9 a.m., Living History Farms, 11121 Hickman Road, Urbandale

Spring break day camp for grades four and five honoring the 250th birthday of our country. Explore life before this land became America and how westward expansion and industrialization changed our lives. Then, take what you have learned and imagine what the future may hold. End the week with a 250th birthday party for America. Registration required at lhf.org. Cost is $345 for nonmembers, $310.50 for members.

Barnyard Readers: America before 1776

March 21: Barnyard Readers: America before 1776, 9:30 a.m., Living History Farms, 11121 Hickman Road, Urbandale

Children ages 3 to 5 with an accompanying adult will read "The Voyageur's Paddle," a story about the voyageurs who opened the West to expansion. Participate in an activity based on the book and visit a historic site. Dress for the weather ― program occurs both indoors and outdoors. Registration is required at lhf.org. For parent and child $34, for members $30; for each additional child $12, $10 for members. Each ticket purchased is for one session.

Fort Madison and the War of 1812

March 22: Fort Madison and the War of 1812 with State Archaeologist John Doershuk, 1:30 p.m., Fort Madison Riverfront Pavilion, 902 Riverview Drive, Fort Madison

Discover Fort Madison, a key site in U.S. westward expansion. Learn about archaeological finds, battlefield features and Black Hawk’s ravine. John Doershuk has been state archaeologist and director of the Office of the State Archaeologist since 2007. Free admission.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

A powerful winter storm is expected to impact the Midwest this weekend bringing more high winds and the potential for snow, and blowing snow creating significant travel disruptions, especially for northern Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

A winter storm watch is in effect Sunday morning through Monday morning. This is when the high winds could combine with snow to produce whiteout conditions.

Here's what you need to know:

Winter storm watch

All but southern portions of Iowa are now included in a Winter Storm Watch in effect from Sunday through Monday morning. High winds and snow will combine to create potential whiteout conditions at times and extremely difficult or dangerous travel, especially for farther north and east portions of the state. There is a low chance fora brief icy mix, but most areas should not see much in the way of ice.

Blizzard Warnings are already in place for parts of South Dakota and Minnesota. At least portions of the watch area in Iowa will likely be upgraded to a blizzard warning before this system arrives Sunday.

Winter storm moves in Sunday

A strong Colorado Low will move into Iowa Sunday, bringing some rain showers and even a storm or two to central Iowa during the morning. Temperatures will start off in the 40s and even 50s near and south of Highway 30. Colder air could lead to some light mixed precipitation near the Minnesota border, but impacts should be limited through the early morning hours.

A cold front sill surge through by midday, leading to quickly dropping temperatures and increasing winds. At the same time, rain will change to snow from northwest to southeast across the area, likely changing over by mid-afternoon in the metro. By early evening, wind gusts of at least 50mph are likely, with some gusts over 60mph possible.

Snow should taper off overnight, ending for central Iowa by sunrise on Monday, and pushing out of eastern Iowa by mid-morning. However, gusty winds will continue through at least midday Monday. This means blowing snow and potential whiteout conditions could linger through the morning hours.

Remember: A blizzard warning indicates high winds and low visibility, it does not tell you anything about the amount of snow expected. To reach blizzard criteria, winds must be gusting over 35mph with visibility at a 1/4 mile or less for 3 or more consecutive hours.

Expected snowfall accumulations

Parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin have the potential for over a foot of snow with 20 or more inches possible in some areas. For northern and eastern Iowa, several inches of snow is likely, with some potential for over 6 inches close to the Minnesota border. This is the area that will see the worst conditions.

Amounts will be lower in central and southwest Iowa, but there will still be enough snow to cause treacherous travel when combined with the strong winds.

Driving will still be tough Monday morning as snow continues to blow in 30-40 mph winds.

Frigid wind chills follow

Despite temperatures starting in the 50s on Sunday, colder air will quickly take over with readings close to freezing by the afternoon. Temperatures fall into the 20s and teens during the evening, with wind chills approaching zero by 10pm.

Monday morning will bring wind chills of -10 to -20 degrees to most of the state, with only limited warming for the afternoon.

Blizzard conditions are possible in parts of Iowa Sunday.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

While tonight will be calmer, there is a chance for some light snow & rain overnight into early Saturday. This is most likely across northern Iowa and shouldn't amount to much on the ground.

Tomorrow, winds swing around to the southeast and get breezy again. Gusts will reach 25 mph during the afternoon under partly sunny skies. Temperatures will range from around 40° in northern Iowa to near 60° in the south.

Sunday is when our next big weather system crosses Iowa.

Low pressure will move straight across the state, first drawing warmth in Sunday morning. Temperatures in central & southeast Iowa might briefly climb into the 50s after sunrise, then tumble the rest of the day into the 40s, 30s, then 20s.

Snow and some brief icing will start early Sunday along the IA/MN border, with light rain showers for other areas.

The changeover from rain to snow comes during the afternoon as the low pressure moves into eastern Iowa.

Winds turn northwesterly and steadily ramp up during the afternoon. By evening, 50 mph gusts are possible. These strong winds will continue through the night into Monday morning. Even by Monday afternoon, gusts around 40 mph are still likely.

This leads to two issues.

First, actual snow amounts currently don't look significant south of Hwy. 20. The problem is there will be enough snow blown around by 50 mph gusts to cause blizzard conditions as soon as Sunday afternoon.

The falling snow should be done in central Iowa by daybreak Monday, but blowing & drifting snow could last through the morning.

The second issue will be wind chills.

Temperatures will plummet below 10° by Monday morning. Steady winds around 30 mph (with 50 mph gusts) will make the air feel more like -10° to -15°.

At warmest, wind chills will reach single digits above zero Monday afternoon.

After that winter storm, there's another chance at light snow later Tuesday, then a bigtime thaw setting up for later next week.

Keep an eye on weather across Iowa with KCCI's skycams

Weather watchers can keep an eye on conditions by checking our skycam page, which shows aerial views from more than 25 sites across the state.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

Central Iowa drivers dealt with extended backups on Interstate 80/35 eastbound Friday afternoon in the area between Merle Hay Road and the east mixmaster, where two lanes of northbound I-35/eastbound I-80 were closed Friday morning for emergency repairs.

"The type of pavement condition we had out there has really been coming apart over the past couple of weeks, so it's like a really large pothole," Frank Leong with the Iowa DOT told KCCI.

He said it's the type of damage that demands immediate attention, especially with a winter storm on the way.

"Based on the pavement condition, we don't believe that the area could have remained open during the winter storm," he said. "The road could have been closed for several days instead of the 18 to 20 hours that we're looking at right now."

KCCI tested the extent of the traffic between the west and east mixmaster during rush hour on Friday evening. A drive that would, on average, take roughly 12 minutes to complete took over an hour.

The Iowa DOT officials reminded drivers to be patient and obey traffic laws after seeing dozens avoid the backup by turning off the interstate and going the wrong way down the on-ramp toward Merle Hay Road. Those drivers then were seen driving around barricades to go northbound on Merle Hay Road.

"People are not expecting cars to be coming from that part of the intersection. The signal lights are not designed for that. So, there may be a point. It looks safe, but traffic will be coming from a different direction," Leong said.

He says construction is ahead of schedule, and the lanes are expected to reopen around 2 a.m. Saturday morning, rather than the original end time of noon on Saturday.

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Des Moines traffic: Wrong-way drivers ignore barricades in closed intersection

Winter Storm Warnings in effect for portions of central Iowa as a round of moderate to heavy snow moves in tonight.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

Parts of Iowa could see up to 8 inches of snow as winter weather returns Thursday evening and overnight.

Here's what to expect:

Winter storm warning

The National Weather Service on Thursday morning upgraded portions of central Iowa, including Polk County, to a winter storm warning. Some areas west of I-35 will go into effect at 3 p.m., and the rest of the state east of I-35, including the metro, will go into effect at 6 p.m.

Heavy snow totals with isolated locations within the warning area could see up to 8 inches of snowfall. However, not everyone in the warning area will see those extreme totals, as amounts will taper off quickly both to the north and to the south of the heaviest band, perhaps over just a matter of miles.

School cancellations and early dismissals

Thursday's anticipated snowfall around Iowa has prompted school districts to change plans.

Several school districts have announced changes to Thursday schedules due to the updated forecast. As of 11:20 a.m. Thursday, Audubon, Carroll and Greene County schools will dismiss two hours early. Coon Rapids-Bayard and Glidden-Ralston will dismiss at 1:30 p.m.

You can see our full updated list of closings, dismissals and delays here.

Afternoon rain showers develop

Rain showers will develop over central and southern Iowa this afternoon with temperatures in the upper 30s and low 40s. This will keep precipitation as rain initially, and no icy spots are expected to develop through at least sunset. However, rain may mix with snow across far western Iowa as early as 2 to 3 p.m.

Evening drive turns snowy

Between 4 and 6 p.m., rain will mix with and change to snow from west to east. Once the rain changes to snow, it could come down heavy at times. Initially we will see some melting thanks to warm ground conditions, but the ground will cool quickly and snow will likely begin to accumulate around or after sunset.

"If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency," the weather service posted on its website.

Snow accumulates into the night

By 6 to 7 p.m., snow should be falling along the I-35 corridor, including the metro area. This snow could come down heavy at times, potentially resulting in low visibility. There will also be some stronger wind gusts, but the heavy, wet nature of the snow should limit any issues from blowing snow.

How much is possible?

A narrow but heavy band of snow is expected to fall across western and central Iowa, running from around the Omaha metro east through Atlantic and Carroll, affecting the Ames area and Marshalltown to the northeast toward Waterloo. Within this band, isolated totals to around 8 inches will be possible. There is some opportunity for this heavier band to wobble a bit, so the forecast could still be updated slightly.

That heavy band will likely be just north of the Des Moines metro, but substantial snowfall of 2 to 6 inches is possible around Des Moines, with the lightest on the southeast side and the heaviest to the north and west.

Amounts will continue to quickly drop off to both the north and south of the main snow band, with areas likely Algona and Lamoni potentially seeing little if any snow from this event.

Given how warm recent days have been, some of the initial snow will likely melt.

This snow will also be fairly sticky and wet. This means no blowing or drifting snow problems are expected, despite winds that will still be breezy today and Friday.

Keep an eye on weather across Iowa with KCCI's skycams

Weather watchers can keep an eye on conditions by checking our skycam page, which shows aerial views from more than 25 sites across the state.