DES MOINES, Iowa - Meteorologists say it could be an historic blizzard this, with anywhere from 18 to as much of 30 inches of snow possible in parts of a six state region.
The storm system was first reported widely last weekend. WHO Radio News picked up on the story, as the powerful storm was moving into Washington State from the Pacific Ocean, and headed this way.
Some early models suggested there was a chance the blizzard would move across Iowa, but the newest prediction maps put the heaviest snow followed by winds up to 65 miles an hour in parts of Western Nebraska, South Dakota, and into Minnesota.
What will this storm mean for Eastern Nebraska and into Iowa and Illinois?
Rain.
The National Weather Service says parts of northern Iowa will receive 1 to 3 inches, including Mason City, predicted to get 2 inches.
All this rain will runoff into area streams and rivers causing some concern for areal flooding and renewed river flooding.
The precipitation type will be mainly rain, though a rain/snow mix is possible Wednesday morning over far northern Iowa and Thursday night into Friday morning with little accumulation outside of northern Iowa.
Maps below are for snow and rain predictions, in order: South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa.