A winter storm warning is in effect for Tama County from 6 a.m. Saturday through midnight Saturday night. Southern Iowa is expected to feel the highest impacts of the storm with forecasted snowfall totals tapering off to the north. (Image: National Weather Service)

Tama County is among 51 Iowa counties in central and southern Iowa under a winter storm warning that will take effect Saturday morning at 6 a.m. and is expected to last until midnight Saturday.

According to a Friday morning report from the National Weather Service, the storm is expected to bring 4-5 inches of snow north of I-80 and up to 9 inches south of I-80.

The storm will be coming in from the west with snow beginning to fall sometime after midnight Friday.

Strong winds and bitter cold temperatures will make for hazardous and very difficult travel conditions throughout the day Saturday.

Snow will be light and fluffy meaning high winds could lead to reduced visibility and drifting across roadways. Wind gusts are expected up to 35 mph.

Wind chills are expected to stay below zero in and around Tama County from Saturday morning through Sunday morning. A brief warm-up is forecasted for Monday and Tuesday with highs in the 20s and 30s according to a National Weather Service forecast.

Winter weather reminders

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. If you have to be outside in extreme cold make sure to limit outdoor exposure and bundle up in layers.