THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN QUAD CITIES HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH… WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.

* TIMING… SNOW BEGINNING IN SOUTHEAST IOWA AND NORTHEAST MISSOURI BY NOON THURSDAY AND REACHING NORTHEAST IOWA AND WESTERN ILLINOIS LATER IN THE AFTERNOON. THE SNOW WILL CONTINUE OVER ALL THE AREA THURSDAY NIGHT AND THEN DIMINISH ON FRIDAY.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS… 5 TO 7 INCHES.

* WINDS… EAST WINDS GUSTING TO 30 MPH THURSDAY AFTERNOON INTO THURSDAY NIGHT. THIS MAY CAUSE SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF THE SNOW.

* VISIBILITIES… REDUCED TO LESS THAN A MILE IN THE HEAVIER SNOW.

* TEMPERATURES… IN THE 20S.

* IMPACTS… CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE RAPIDLY ONCE THE SNOW BEGINS. TRAVEL WILL BECOME HAZARDOUS DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY AND ROADS BECOMING QUICKLY SNOW COVERED AND ICY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW… SLEET… AND/OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT WOULD SERIOUSLY IMPACT TRAVEL. MONITOR LATER FORECASTS FOR UPDATES.