While a round of winter weather will impact especially the northern half of the state today, needed precipitation is expected in south central Iowa. According to the National Weather Service, most of the region will receive between a 1/4″ to a 1/2″ of rainfall, mainly starting this evening. No accumulating freezing precipitation is expected at this time, but travel will be more difficult across the state, especially north of Highway 30 and in far western Iowa. This marks the first of many chances of rainfall coming over the next week, with showers possible again Saturday and more likely next Monday and Tuesday. The rainfall comes as most of central Iowa remains in a moderate drought that stretches back to early summer.