IOWA — Another surge of mild air kicks off this work week, but another cold blast arrives for the final day of winter on Wednesday. Highs Monday and Tuesday are in the mid-70s, but a strong area of low pressure and dropping temperatures will bring both rain and snow by the mid-point of the week.

A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for north and western Iowa during the period of late Tuesday through Wednesday night. We will see a variety of rain and snow across the state in that time frame.

Clouds will build in overnight on Tuesday with rain beginning very early for the morning commute in Des Moines and Ames. Snow will be falling west of Spencer, Iowa at that time. The snow will continue to move slowly east into Carroll and Fort Dodge. Travel may become difficult as winds will be gusting up to 40 mph and lead to blowing and drifting of snow as well as poor visibility in western and northern Iowa.

Des Moines and Ames will see mainly rain with some lighter snow after 4 PM on Wednesday. A dusting to 1″ of snow could fall in Central Iowa from Ames to Des Moines. The heaviest snow will be along and north of a line from Audubon to Fort Dodge and Mason City. More than 5″ is expected across northwest Iowa.

Temperatures will be cooler through the end of the week, but highs will go above freezing so any snow that falls should melt quickly.