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While heavy snowfall is moving out of central Iowa, blizzard winds will ensure difficult travel conditions stick around.
As of 5 p.m. Friday, at least eight stretches of highways across Iowa were listed on the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Iowa 511 traffic conditions web page as blocked because of accidents, with what it said were “treacherous driving conditions” across most of the state.
The National Weather Service warned that more roads were likely to become impassable as blizzard conditions continued in the state, extending through 6 p.m. Saturday.
Snow started falling in Des Moines just before midnight on Thursday. Here are the latest updates as blizzard conditions continue.
5:18 p.m. Latest snowfall totals
The National Weather Service says 8 inches of snow had fallen in Des Moines by 5 p.m. in the latest storm, on top of 11.2 inches that fell in the previous winter storm that concluded Tuesday. Other totals include 8 to 10 inches in the Iowa City area, 10.5 inches in Osceola, 11 inches in Davenport, 11.5 inches in Council Bluffs, about 12 inches around Washington and Clinton, 13 inches in Muscatine, and, tops for the state, 14 inches around Fairfield. Snow is expected to continue for several hours.
5 p.m. Urbandale suspending snow plow operations
Snow plowing operations in Urbandale will be suspended starting at 7 p.m. Friday due to sustained high winds and significant drifting, according to a news release from the city.
Plowing is expected to resume at 5 a.m. Saturday, when it is anticipated that wind conditions will be better suited for plowing.
3:45 p.m. Wind chills not expected to reach positive numbers again until Wednesday
Bundle up and stay indoors! The wind chill at 3:45 p.m. Friday had dipped to minus 4 and it’s only going to go lower.
Wind chills are expected to dip into the negative 20s on Friday night and could reach as low as minus 45 degrees over the weekend.
Des Moines won’t see a wind chill index above 0 until Wednesday, said NWS meteorologist Alexis Jimenez.
4:30 p.m. Des Moines Public Schools cancels Saturday activities
All events at or involving Des Moines Public Schools are canceled Saturday, due to weather conditions.
3 p.m.: Iowa State Patrol responds to dozens of crashes, helps hundreds of motorists
Despite pleas for Iowans to stay off the road, the Iowa State Patrol has been called to help hundreds of Iowans in the blizzard on Friday.
Troopers have been dispatched to 34 crashes, including seven with injuries between 12:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Friday. They’ve also been called for 355 motorist assists.
3:15 p.m.: Travel not advised in more than half of Iowa
If you’re planning to travel anywhere east of Des Moines, you’re likely to encounter difficult conditions and dangerous roads.
Travel is not on most highways east of I-35 in central and southern Iowa. Most highways in the southern third of the state are also rated travel not advised. All highways in the state are at least partially covered by snow and ice, according to the DOT.
Visibility in most of Iowa was less than a mile at times. In central Iowa visibility ranged between 0.8 mile to 0.5 mile because of blowing snow, according to the Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
“As expected, road conditions are going downhill fast this morning with heavy snow and strong winds decreasing visibility and causing drifting on some Iowa roads,” the Iowa DOT wrote on social media.
The DOT has more than 600 snowplows treating roads throughout the state, but high winds and snows are making travel conditions treacherous, according to Iowa 511. In rural areas snow is drifting across roads quickly after plows clear roads.
More:How to check Iowa road conditions, DOT cameras amid winter storms
3:30 p.m.: Some flights are finally arriving at Des Moines airport
Few flights got in and out of the Des Moines International Airport on Friday, but a handful were able to land by early afternoon.
A single commercial flight landed Friday morning — a Frontier flight from Orlando. But, two American Airlines flights and one United flight were able to land as of 2 p.m. and two flights from New York were in the air toward Des Moines as of 3:30 p.m.
As of 3:30 p.m., 69 flights scheduled to go into or leave from the Des Moines International Airport were canceled, according to FlightAware.com. Six other flights were delayed.
That represents 59% of flights originally scheduled to take off from the airport on Friday and 53% of inbound flights.
At least 10 commercial flights have taken off Friday.
Flights across the Midwest were delayed by Friday’s storm. At Chicago O’Hare Airport hundreds of flights were delayed or canceled, according to Flight Aware. The Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids also experienced numerous cancelations Friday morning.
12:30 p.m.: HHS cancels MLK Day event
Iowa HHS has canceled its Martin Luther King Junior celebration scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 13, due to the weather conditions. The capitol building will also be closed.
Questions can be directed to Kim Cheeks, Office on the Status of African-Americans, at kim.cheeks@iowa.gov, or 515-281-3274 or 800-351-4659.
11 a.m.: MidAmerican Energy crews work to prevent power outages
MidAmerican line crews have been surveying overhead lines in areas that were impacted on by storms earlier this week to reduce threats from tree debris and address any equipment concerns, according to an update Friday morning. MidAmerican’s electric and gas delivery teams are fully staffed should any outages occur.
A main concern for MidAmerican is the wind as the storm transitions into blizzard conditions. High winds can cause overhead lines with a freezing precipitation buildup to bounce — known as galloping — which can interrupt service.
Noon: How much snow did Iowa get?
Snow has started to wind down in central Iowa. Reports from across the state are nearing the one-foot mark.
- Des Moines (airport): 6.1 inches
- Johnston (National Weather Service): 7.2 inches
- Fairfield: 11.5 inches
See more:Top snowfall counts from across Iowa
What’s the Iowa radar show and what should we expect throughout the day on Friday?
The morning will start with periods of heavy snow, continuing until about 10 a.m. for central Iowa. An additional 3-5 inches of snow is possible by the end of the day. Snowfall rates of about .75 inch to one inch per hour are possible throughout the morning, according to the NWS.
But the weather service warned that blizzard conditions will make travel dangerous or impossible. A blizzard warning will be in effect from 10 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday for central Iowa as wind speeds pick up and reduce visibility. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph and wind speeds between 35 and 45 mph are likely.
Temperatures are expected to plunge throughout the day to 13 degrees by 5 p.m. Wind chills could feel as low as -10 degrees, according to the NWS, adding to the danger for motorists stuck outside.
Snow is expected to taper off over central Iowa tonight. But even after snow stops falling it will continue blowing and make travel difficult. “Blowing snow impacts will linger well beyond the end of falling snow, especially in rural and open areas,” the NWS in Des Moines warned in its 6 a.m. update.
Blizzard forces GOP presidential candidates to cancel events Friday
Nikki Haley’s campaign has canceled three in-person events scheduled Friday in Fort Dodge, Le Mars and Council Bluffs due to the weather.
Instead, campaign officials said they would be hosting telephone town halls.
“Stormy weather won’t stop us from ensuring Iowans hear Nikki’s vision for a strong and proud America,” Pat Garrett, a Haley spokesperson, said in a statement. “With only three days until the caucuses, we’re going to keep telling voters why they should Pick Nikki.”
Read more:Blizzard warning forces GOP candidates to cancel some Friday events days before Iowa Caucuses
Ron DeSantis also canceled two events Friday morning.
However, candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said he would continue on with every event as “long as we can physically make it.” His campaign went into a ditch earlier this week and needed the help of a passerby to get out.
In 2016, a volunteer for Ben Carson’s campaign died when a campaign vehicle lost control on an icy Interstate 80 and crossed the median.
Traveling on Interstates 35 or 80 and need to escape the blizzard? These are safe places to park.
With difficult travel conditions likely, Polk County has designated the following locations as safe places for interstate travelers to pull over and wait out blizzard conditions.
- Prairie Meadows: 1 Prairie Meadows Drive, Altoona
- Flying J Travel Plaza: 3231 Adventureland Drive, Altoona
- Pilot Travel Center: 11957 Douglas Parkway, Urbandale
- Love’s Travel Stop: 11820 Hickman Road, Clive
After warm December, winter arrives with a vengeance
Iowa had the warmest December on record, dating back to 1895. On Dec. 24, Des Moines had a high temperature of 58 degrees, 15 degrees above average. Now, within about a week in January the NWS has issued almost every type of winter weather watch or warning, except for an ice storm warning. In the last week the NWS has issued a blizzard warning, winter storm warnings, winter storm watches, winter weather advisories, wind chill warnings, wind chill watches and wind chill advisories.
On Wednesday night the weather service even issued a rare snow squall warning when a snow squall hit the Des Moines Metro area. The snow Friday will make travel conditions dangerous, but sub-zero temperatures will settle in through at least Tuesday, according to the NWS. Arctic air will spill into the Midwest, and could lead to record low temperatures of negative 20 degrees or negative 30 degrees, according to an NWS forecast.
Des Moines Public Schools, others cancel classes for Friday ahead of blizzard; Some city buildings close.
Des Moines Public Schools announced Thursday afternoon that classes will be canceled for Friday due to the forecast. All activities are canceled, and Metro Kids Care is closed. All offices will be closed.
Other large metro school districts including Johnston, Southeast Polk and Waukee have also canceled Friday classes. Urbandale had a previously scheduled professional work day without classes on Friday. Staff will work remote and child care will not be available.
Story County offices and buildings will be closed on Friday because of the snow. Grimes also announced its buildings were closed.
NWS issues blizzard warning for most of Iowa on Friday
Wind gusts as high as 40 mph are expected Friday afternoon and night, which will blow around snow and reduce visibility. Travel is expected to be very difficult, and is recommended to be avoided if possible.
What’s the difference between a blizzard warning and a winter storm warning?
Blizzard warnings are issued for frequent gusts greater than or equal to 35 mph accompanied by falling and/or blowing snow, according to NWS. Blizzards frequently reduce visibility to less than 1/4 mile for three hours or more.
A blizzard warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected — as in the case right now — or already occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities are likely, leading to whiteout conditions making travel extremely difficult.
NWS recommends Iowans not travel during a blizzard warning. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle and wait for help to arrive.
Winter storm warnings are issued for a significant winter weather event that includes snow, ice, sleet or blowing snow or a combination of these hazards. Travel is often difficult or impossible when winter storm warnings are in effect. If a winter storm warning is in effect, you should consider delaying your travel plans until conditions improve.
Des Moines Performing Arts postpones STOMP performances
Performances by musical group STOMP, originally scheduled Jan. 12-14 at the Des Moines Civic Center, have been postponed due to “anticipated weather conditions,” according to a Thursday evening press release.
According to the release, all four performances have been rescheduled for June 21-23. All previously purchased tickets will be honored on the new dates.
Ticketholders can contact the Ticket Office at 515-246-2300 or info@dmpa.org.
When is snow supposed to start in Iowa and what does the forecast show?
Snowfall will begin over western Iowa late Thursday afternoon, according to National Weather Service’s Des Moines office.
On Thursday, there’s a 70% chance of snow in Ames at 6 p.m., an 85% chance in Carroll at 6 p.m. and a 75% chance in Des Moines at 6 p.m.
Heaviest snowfall rates will be early Friday morning through mid-day. There is also a chance of freezing rain in the morning on Friday.
How much snow will Iowa get?
The NWS says significant snow will come to most of the state. Snow could fall at as much as an inch an hour during the overnight hours on Thursday. Wind gusts of 35-45 miles per hour will create “near-blizzard” conditions and could create whiteout conditions.
Most of the state is looking at 5-10 inches of snowfall with the heaviest areas landing around Des Moines, Ames and Carroll. Heavier pockets are also possible around Waterloo and Dubuque.
Des Moines has gotten a lot of snow this week. Will it set another record?
The current 5-day record in Des Moines is 22.7 inches (Dec. 28, 1941 – Jan. 1, 1942), according to a post from the NWS. If Des Moines gets 10 more inches, we won’t break that record. But, we could break the second-place record of 20.2 inches (March 14-18, 1923).
DART expects bus service delays as snow approaches
Winter weather will likely delay metro bus services Thursday evening through Saturday, and especially on Friday, according to a news release from the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority.
Those using DART Paratransit, On Demand, or Flex Connect services, should prepare for ride delays depending on the amount of snowfall and blizzard-like conditions, DART officials said. DART officials will not be able to pick up or drop off passengers in parking lots that have not been plowed.
Here are the possible service delays depending on the amount of snowfall, according to DART:
- 2 to 3 inches of snow: Pick-up times could be delayed by 30 to 60 minutes.
- 3 to 5 inches: Pick-up times could be delayed by 60 minutes or more.
- 5 to 8 inches: Pick-up times could be significantly delayed by more than 60 minutes. Customers with non-critical trips are asked to reschedule trips for another day.
Buses running more than 20 minutes late will be posted on DART’s website.
How cold will temperatures get in Iowa?
The winter storm will also be accompanied by bitter cold temperatures.
Highs across the state will be in the teens to mid-20s on Thursday and will drop into the single digits by Saturday.
Wind gusts will be in the 30-40 miles per hour range through the weekend. Wind chills will reach their lowest levels on Sunday with ranges in the -20 to -45 range across the state.
Are snow ordinances and parking bans in place in central Iowa?
Parking restrictions automatically kick in for most cities in central Iowa once 2 inches of snow have fallen. Often cities will activate restrictions in advance of major snowstorms.
More:Des Moines snow parking rules: Where and when it’s safe, and where you could be ticketed
Here are the metro cities that have announced restrictions ahead of this winter storm:
- Altoona: The snow removal parking ban is in effect in Altoona beginning at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 11 through 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13 or until all city roadways are cleared.
- Ames: A snow ban will start at 10 p.m. Thursday for all snow routes marked by red and white signs. The ban continues until roads are completely cleared curb to curb, likely until Saturday morning.
- Ankeny: Parking is not allowed on all public streets, alleys and on-street parking within the city from 9 p.m. Thursday to 9 p.m. Saturday. Vehicles parked on the street during the snow ordinance will be ticketed $40 and may be towed. Parking is also prohibited in The District at Prairie Trail and Uptown Business District from 2-6 a.m.
- Clive: Residents are asked to move their parked vehicles from city streets.
- Des Moines: Snow ordinances are in place. Parking is prohibited on designated snow routes. In odd/even neighborhoods: Drake, Carpenter, River Bend and Sherman Hill. Signage will direct drivers on which side of the street to park based on the day of the week, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
- Indianola: Prohibits parking on any public street or alley, this ordinance remains in effect for 48 hours after the snow has stopped falling or until the streets are clear.
- Johnston: The City of Johnston has declared a snow ordinance effective Thursday at 6 p.m. until Friday, Jan. 12 at 5p.m. During this time, no parking is allowed on city streets. If residents park on a city street, they could receive a ticket.
- Waukee: A parking ban will start at 7 p.m. Thursday and continue until 5 p.m. Saturday. Cars left on city streets are subject to $25 fines and/or towing.
- West Des Moines: An emergency parking ban for snow removal goes into effect Thursday at 10 p.m. and has been extended until 5 p.m. on Saturday. The parking ban applies to all streets in West Des Moines, and cars are subject to a $50 fine and/or towing.
Des Moines Register reporters Virginia Barreda and Stephen Gruber-Miller contributed to this report.
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