Snow forecast overnight, Saturday for much of central, northern Iowa

Snow beginning overnight and continuing through Saturday could bring about an inch of snow to the Des Moines metro, and far more in the northern half of the state, according to the National Weather Service.

The forecast calls for the snow to begin in Des Moines around 2 a.m. Saturday and continue through most of the day, though peak snowfall should be over by midday.

Farther north, Ames is under a winter weather advisory, with up to 5 inches of snow expected. The forecast is similar for counties to the east and north along U.S. 30, extending to Clinton.

Previously:Two January tornadoes touch down in eastern Iowa, first in state since 1967

A swath of northwest Iowa extending from Fort Dodge west and including Storm Lake and Sioux City is under a winter storm warning, with maximum forecast snowfall ranging from 5 to 9 inches.

The temperature in most of Iowa is expected to peak in the mid-to-upper 30s around noon Friday, then fall steadily, reaching zero Saturday night and minus 8 degrees Sunday night in Des Moines and minus 12 degrees or lower Monday night in an area extending north and west from Ames.

Highs in Des Moines will be 22 degrees Saturday and 9 degrees Sunday, with the cold snap continuing at least through Thursday, the weather service says.

Polk County Emergency Management said it was activating its extreme cold weather plan. DART buses will provide free rides to warming centers.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Central, northern Iowa to get snow, followed by extended cold snap