A cold weather advisory remains in effect Saturday night, Dec. 13, through Wednesday morning, Dec. 17, after a winter storm hit large swaths of the state and shut down part of Interstate 80. Frigid temps are expected to follow the snow, dipping below -10 degrees.
Snow totals reached more than half a foot in some areas across the state as the storm started to dissipate by early afternoon.
Des Moines police responded to more than 40 crashes Saturday, Dec. 13, by 4:30 p.m., and asked drivers to refrain from driving if it wasn’t necessary.
“As road crews continue to work to clear roadways, vehicles have packed snow into ice, creating very slick approaches to controlled intersections and challenges on hilly streets,” the department said in a statement. “As temperatures fall dangerously low, refeeze will occur, creating slick roadways in areas that appear wet.”
Snowplows were scheduled to hit Des Moines residential streets at around 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Police warned residents not to park on snow-route streets and to park only on the odd side of the street on Sunday.
Snow-covered roads were expected to remain slick and difficult through the night, and the weather service advised caution.
In the Des Moines area, wind chill values are expected to drop to as low as -15 Saturday night. The National Weather Service warned frostbite can happen in minutes in such cold temperatures.
The counties affected by the winter storm included Pocahontas, Sac, Calhoun, Webster, Hamilton, Crawford, Carroll, Greene, Boone, Story, Marshall, Guthrie, Dallas, Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek, Warren, Marion, Mahaska, Monroe, Wapello and Davis.
Where did snow fall the most in Iowa?
Southern and eastern Iowa felt the brunt of the winter storm, with some areas experiencing six inches of accumulation on Saturday. Here are the highest totals so far in Iowa:
How much snow has fallen in Des Moines?
The Des Moines International Airport reported 3.7 inches of snow as of noon Saturday. Norwalk, just south of Des Moines, reported 3.8 inches of snow by 10:30 a.m. Clive reported 2.7 inches of snow by 10 a.m.
How much snow did Iowa City get?
Iowa City reported 4.5 inches of snow at 12:26 p.m.
Roads across the state are covered in snow
By 11 a.m. Saturday, many of central Iowa’s highways and interstates were completely covered with snow, accompanied by “dangerous whiteout conditions.” Travel was not advised on I-80 from central Iowa to the Illinois border, the DOT reported.
“Visibility and road conditions are deteriorating rapidly, causing multiple crashes and closing lanes,” the DOT said in a social media post.
Interstate 80 closed in both directions in eastern Iowa
The Iowa DOT closed Interstate 80 in both directions across a 44-mile span in eastern Iowa shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday, from the I-380 interchange (exit 240) in Coralville to exit 284 in Walcott, where the Iowa 80 truck stop is located. DOT officials say the road is “impassable” due to severe winter weather and “numerous” crashes. The stretch of I-80 will remain closed until weather conditions improve.
The Iowa State Patrol announced in a social media post around 12:30 p.m. Dec. 13 that I-80 east of West Branch near the Cedar River bridge was closed in both directions, eastbound and westbound.
The closure was due to several crashes and vehicles in the ditch, according to the State Patrol. The organization said it would be several hours before the stretch of interstate is open once again. Authorities encouraged vehicles to avoid the area to allow first responders “room to assist” motorists and to clear the scene.
The DOT issued a press release shortly before 3 p.m. with additional closure details.
All entrance ramps to I-80 at each of the intersecting roadways between exit 240 and 284 are closed. Travelers near that area are advised to seek shelter rather than continuing their route.
“Travelers already within the closed section will be allowed to exit,” the DOT said in a release. “If vehicles are stranded, emergency crews will attempt to assist travelers to safety. However, due to conditions, emergency response could be impossible or significantly delayed.”
The DOT said the decision to close the interstate means a serious safety condition exists. Drivers should never attempt to enter a closed roadway or go around barricades or gates.
The DOT reopened the interstate around 9 p.m. Saturday, though road conditions were expected to remain tricky throughout much of Sunday.
For traveler information anytime, visit www.511ia.org, call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047.
(This article has been updated to include new information.)
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: How much snow did Iowa get? See the state’s latest snowfall totals
Reporting by Lee Rood, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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