CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – When freezing rain hits tonight, roads will quickly become slick.

Your first warning: Conditions will be icy tonight through Saturday

The good news is that it will remain calm for the rest of Friday afternoon and even into the evening hours. Temperatures will remain cool, especially considering an easterly wind blowing at 10 to 20 miles per hour. Nevertheless, the thermometer is slowly rising and today values ​​in the 20s are likely.

However, these will still be well below freezing and the cold air will be in a shallow layer near the surface. Above this, a layer of warmer air will move up and ahead of a frontal boundary that remains to our south. This is the type of situation that poses a risk of freezing rain and is centered on the state of Iowa.

An ice storm warning is in effect for much of the area between Highway 30 and Highway 20. A winter weather advisory is in effect for the remainder of the TV9 viewing area. Both areas are intended to show where there is a risk of freezing rain.

Precipitation will continue in the TV9 viewing area until at least 8:00 or 9:00 p.m., initially reaching some of our far southern and western counties. It will last until midnight or later in many parts of the observation area, with particularly heavy rainfall later tonight.

This makes for a very icy start to Saturday, with most areas still experiencing freezing rain or a wintry mix during and after daybreak. Warmer temperatures will spread further north, so the threat of further ice accumulation will end as temperatures reach or exceed 32 degrees in locations.

The exact timing of this change is notoriously difficult to pinpoint, but we should expect it to begin around 9:00 a.m. near Interstate 80. Areas along and south of Highway 20 have a good chance of light rain around midday. North of this corridor the colder air will be more persistent, allowing a mix of rain, snow and some freezing rain to be possible.

In areas where an ice storm warning is in effect, ice accumulation may be significant. Total values ​​could reach up to 0.25″ or be slightly higher in places. Outside this central part of the viewing area, we still expect at least a layer of ice. Any small amount is enough to cause travel problems. Heavier accumulations could result in some tree damage if the easterly wind blows.

There may be some snow, particularly in our northern areas, further complicating travel issues.

How you should respond to this storm system

The biggest danger of freezing rain is the impact on movement, whether on foot or in a vehicle. If possible, avoid both in icy conditions.

If you have to drive, slow down! Leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle in front of you. Avoid sudden braking or sharp turns that could cause you to lose traction. Approach intersections with particular caution. Pack winter survival gear when traveling away from populated areas.

When walking, pay particular attention to untreated paved areas, including sidewalks and parking lots. These may be smoother than they appear. Use a railing for balance if available, or walk in the grass where plants will provide additional support. Wear appropriate footwear to reduce the risk of a fall.

We also recommend the KCRG-TV9 First Alert Weather App, which allows you to receive customized alerts for your location and road conditions via a button on the app’s home screen. Of course, we will also provide updates on KCRG.com and KCRG-TV9 as conditions warrant.

Generally calmer with some chances of precipitation

Warmer air will continue to move in after this storm system leaves the region. This pushes our highs Sunday through Monday well above normal, with lows in the 30s and highs in the low to mid 40s. However, clouds will remain common.

Another disturbance will bring some showers overnight from Sunday to Monday. Our air should be warm enough not to cause ice problems this round, and the heaviest precipitation will fall east and southeast of the viewing area.

Another break is likely on Tuesday as cooler air returns. The downward trend in temperatures continues for the rest of the 9 days. Most of us will see lows in the 10s and 20s, with highs in the upper 20s to mid 30s during this period.

A storm could cause some snow on Wednesday in the middle of the week. However, this result is not entirely certain because there are some significant differences between the computer models we use to make our predictions about the timing and evolution of the system. We’ll keep a close eye on it and bring you the latest as we know it.

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