The Local 5 Weather Team issued a Weather Impact Alert Thursday morning as heavy snowfall continues to impact the morning commute.

A Snow Squall Warning was issued this morning for parts of western and central Iowa, due to visibility being greatly reduced by heavy snow. The Iowa DOT says many roads across Iowa’s western half are completely snow-covered and National Weather Service meteorologist Brooke Hagenhoff says the storm system is headed east,

Your phone may be buzzing start the new year and showing an alert you're not accustomed to: A snow squall warning. So, what's a snow squall? According to the National Weather Service, "a snow squall is an intense short-lived burst of heavy snowfall that leads to a quick reduction in visibilities and is often accompanied by gusty winds.