DES MOINES, Iowa — The clouds can tell you a lot about the weather you will experience on a given day. Many Iowans woke up to seeing these stripes in the sky on this Friday morning.

Altostratus Undulatus Clouds

These striped-looking clouds are called Altostratus Undulatus Clouds. This type of cloud usually appears wavy. Some describe this cloud as looking like ripples on a pond or rumble strips on the road. The cloud typically develops near an inversion boundary. This happens when the air temperature increases from the ground. The clouds even look like “cloud streets” parallel with the man flow of the wind. The wind today is out of the east.

Alto means high when describing clouds, stratus means layered, and undulatus means wavy. These usually develop out ahead of a storm system.

Two storm systems will be impacting parts of Iowa this weekend. The moisture continues to look weak across the state. The best chance for freezing drizzle will hit near the Metro after 10 PM on Friday and before 10 AM on Saturday. Northern Iowa will see mainly light snow early Saturday morning with around an inch possible. A light glazing of ice will impact travel in the state Saturday morning with less than a tenth of an inch developing.

Freezing Drizzle Falling Saturday Morning around 5 AM

Light Glazing of Ice Saturday Morning

Light Snow in Northern Iowa

Sunday is looking drier with more cold air moving in next week. There will be more chance for snow on Tuesday and Wednesday.