The Dallas County Emergency Management Agency wants to make sure residents are informed on winter weather watches and warnings with potential snow in the forecast. 

Specialist Josh Heward says there are three different types of winter watches and warnings that includes a winter storm watch, winter storm warning and blizzard warning. Heward explains that a watch is usually issued by the National Weather Service when there’s potential for heavy snow or significant ice accumulations in the forecast 24 to 36 hours in advance. He points out that a warning is when the storm is producing heavy snow and ice and a blizzard warning is when there are winds reaching 35 miles per hour with considerable snowfall that reduces visibility to ¼ of a mile or less. Heward instructs people to get the AlertIowa system before these events can happen because it’s a great resource to be aware of the severe winter weather. 

“So once the user is subscribed to Dallas.IA they then based on their geographical area. That’s where those alerts are going to come to their smartphones.”

Another resource whenever there is severe weather in Greene, Dallas or Guthrie counties, is the Raccoon Valley Radio’s Severe Weather Action Team that provides live coverage of the storms until the storms drop below severe levels or it moves out of the listening area.