DES MOINES, Iowa — The city of Des Moines is preparing for the blizzard conditions expected Tuesday night into Wednesday morning as a winter storm pushes across the state.

A Blizzard Warning goes into effect at midnight and runs until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday for Polk County. The snow accumulations for the metro are expected to be 2″ to 4″ but strong winds will cause some big issues. The winds will be out of the northwest at 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph. That could drop visibilities below 1/4 of a mile. The winds could bring down trees and power poles.

Des Moines Public Works is preparing for the storm, but because of the rainfall on Tuesday, pre-treating the roads wouldn’t be effective. The city says its snowplows will have plenty of salt and be prepared to go to work on roads as conditions deteriorate following the switchover from rain to snow.

“Things may get a bit dicey at rush hour tomorrow morning,” said Deputy Public Works Director Adam Smith. “If you’re able to delay travel or stay home, it’s best to avoid driving in these types of conditions.”

To stay up to date on snow ordinances and parking restrictions, you can visit DMSnow.org or you can also sign up for text message alerts by texting the word SNOW to (515) 355-8815.