KMCH Radio

Spring bringing Winter Storm to Eastern Iowa
03/20/2008

It may officially be the first day of spring today, but winter's not giving up without a fight this year. Heavy snow and sleet is expected to hit the area late tonight and tomorrow, with anywhere from 5 to 10 inches of snow predicted for the Highway 20 Corridor. The National Weather Service says Delaware, Dubuque and Buchanan counties are under a Winter Storm WARNING from 1 am to 7 pm Friday. They predict rain will change over to snow around midnight, with thundersnow possible overnight, which could bring snowfall at a rate of one to two inches an hour. Snow and sleet will continue through Friday, gradually tapering off Friday evening. Meanwhile, a Winter Storm WATCH has been issued for Jones, Linn, Clayton and Fayette counties late tonight through Friday evening. Clayton and Fayette counties could see anywhere from six to ten inches of snow, while Jones and Linn counties will likely see a few inches with some freezing rain and sleet mixed in. Meteorologists with the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities say it may seem outlandish to be predicting a massive snowstorm on the first day of Spring, but it's actually not that unusual.

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While winter may officially be over, this winter weather will still count toward the snowfall total, which may reach an all-time high. So far this winter, the Manchester area has recorded 63 inches of snow, while the Dubuque area has gotten more than 71 inches. For Dubuque, that's about four inches from the record, and with up to ten inches in the forecast, this could end up being the snowiest winter ever.