Iowa
Snow blanketed the state overnight and more is on the way. How much did we get?
Winter driving tips: Staying safe on icy, snowy roads in Iowa
Five tips to stay safe on icy, snowy roads in Iowa.
Des Moines Register
The snow continues to fall in Iowa and more is expected throughout the weekend.
A thick band of snow swept through the state in the overnight hours and into Saturday morning, depositing varying amounts outside of the metro. Light snow continues to fall in some areas of the state, likely adding to the below totals.
What are the highest snowfall totals in Iowa?
It looks as if most of the overnight snow fell in western and north central Iowa. Here are the areas across the state that received the highest snowfall as of 9 a.m.
- Clayton County: 3.2 inches
- Templeton: 3 inches
- Fort Dodge: 2.5 inches
- Iowa Falls: 2 inches
- Ames: 0.8 inches
How much snow did Des Moines get?
Des Moines and the surrounding metro area avoided any significant snowfall overnight. Neither the National Weather Service nor Iowa Environmental Mesonet had reported accumulation by 8:45 a.m. Saturday.
How are road conditions in Iowa?
Iowa road conditions, according to Iowa 511, were “completely covered” as of 9 a.m. in a west-to-east band from just north of Omaha through Caroll and Boone. Many roads surrounding Fort Dodge and up to Interstate 35 were also completely covered.
The arc of the winter storm seemed to curve around Des Moines and make its way back to north-central Iowa.
Much of Highway 30 from Denison and east to just outside Ames was completely covered while I-35 from Ames to Randall was partially covered. Interstate 35 north of Ellsworth is completely covered until just south of Clear Lake.
Winter weather advisory capable of producing snow, ice and rain in place for much of Iowa
The snow isn’t quite done, as the National Weather Service out of Des Moines expects another system to drop off precipitation west and north of the metro. Ice and blowing snow are anticipated to cause problems as well.
Much of Iowa remains under a winter weather advisory, but not a winter weather warning, throughout Saturday. National Weather Service officials warn of snow across much of Iowa and freezing rain contained to the south.
Des Moines could get two inches of snow or less. A band of snow could produce 2-4 inches from Carroll to Mason City.
Blowing snow thanks to wind gusts beyond 25 mph may impact drivers, especially on “east-west facing roads and rural areas,” the NWS said in a 5 a.m. briefing. The wind could cause drifting along highways and visibility could be reduced to less than a mile in some areas.
Temperatures begin falling Saturday night
Temperatures are expected to plummet as the day bleeds into the night. Wind chills will start falling below zero in Ames, Carroll, Fort Dodge and Creston as midnight hits. The wind is only supposed to worsen as the cold works its way into Monday with most of the state expected to expect wind chills well beyond -10, including Des Moines.
Temperatures may start to dive well beyond zero Sunday night in Des Moines, possibly bottoming out at -3 by 5 a.m. Monday.