I-80 OPEN! Wind Chill Advisory...Snow Totals

Interstate 80 is open again! Around 9:45 the DOT opened the interstate and allowed tow trucks to get out to help those stranded vehicles.

The light blue counties in the state map indicate where the wind chill advisory is through 3 PM today. Wind gusts could reach 40 mph and the temperatures are going to stay in the single digits. The combination of the wind and cold temperatures will create wind chills of -20 to -30.

Check out the snowfall totals for the state. Very interesting that we had 4.4" at the Des Moines International Airport. It is not easy to measure snow totals when the wind is blowing around 50 to 70 mph.

In my neighborhood...Waukee...I estimate about 2" of snow. There were some drifts around the corners of the house that were 4 to 6 inches deep.

Roads are improving....but if you are driving today...make sure you fuel up, have the emergency kit in the car...and keep your cell phone with you and fully charged.

Stay safe this weekend.

Ed

8:45 PM Update:Extreme Wind/Blizzard Conditions

Do not travel tonight. That is what the Iowa DOT is asking of drivers.

The DOT has pulled snow plows off the western 1/2 of Iowa. Travelers are warned that if they venture out...they may not be rescued tonight.

Flights have been cancelled through the Midwest. Check with your airline at the Des Moines International Airport before you leave to make a flight tomorrow.

We have seen only 1 to 2 inches of snow...but the wind gusts have reached 60 mph. White-out conditions continue for the area...even tree damage has been reported in the Urbandale area.

The high today was 46....tonight we will see single digits with wind chills at -15 to -25.

Iowa State Patrol says I-80 west of West Des Moines is closed because of jack-knifed semi-trucks. They are working to set up road-blocks...but ask folks not to drive that way tonight...they will not get far.

6:00 PM Saturday Storm Update

Road conditions are going down-hill right now. Travel is not recommended in most of northwest Iowa tonight. Civil emergency messages are clear about keeping people off the roads.

ABSOLUTELY NO TRAVEL IN SIOUX COUNTY TONIGHT. THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION HAVE PULLED ALL REMAINING PLOWS AS OF 5 PM FOR THE
REST OF TONIGHT. ALL RURAL ROADS ARE OR SOON WILL BE IMPASSIBLE.
CITY STREETS ARE ALSO IMPASSIBLE. VISIBILITY IS DOWN TO ZERO IN
RURAL AREAS AND LITTLE IMPROVEMENT IN CONDITIONS IS EXPECTED
OVERNIGHT. RESCUE OF ANY STRANDED INDIVIDUALS TONIGHT MAY BE
IMPOSSIBLE. IF YOU DO BECOME STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.


The snow pellets that are falling right now over much of the metro look like the stuffing that falls out of a beanbag chair. This is sometimes referred to as graupel. It occurs when warm air is wrapping around the snow storm and colliding with the extremely cold air on the other side of the system.


Stay home if you can tonight. Dangerous road conditions will continue through the early morning hours.

3:15 Update...Saturday's Storm

A BLIZZARD WARNING is still in effect for the state tonight into tomorrow morning.

The worst travel conditions are right now in the northwest corner of the state. Many roads are closed from I-20 north of Council Bluffs to Highway 18 near Algona. That northwest 1/4 of Iowa has very high wind that is reducing visibilities and keeping road crews off the interstate and state highways.

The DOT camera picture was taken just before 3PM and shows the wind blowing light snow around the area west of Des Moines on I-80 at Adair. More snow is expected to move into that area of central Iowa tonight. They could still see another 5 inches of snow.

In Des Moines we are still expecting about 1 to 2 inches of snow...but the wind will gust over 40 mph to around 50 tonight. That is going to cause blizzard conditions. Travel is going to be more difficult in central Iowa tonight. If you don't have to travel...stay at safe at home.

Make sure you have your emergency travel kit in your car.

This picture shows a storage tub with blanket...gloves...water...cat litter to use for traction...booster cables...ice scraper...first aid kit...non-perishable food items and extra boots.

Always make sure you have your cell phone ready with a full charge.

We will have live reports from the road tonight at 6 PM. We are always updating live on Iowa's Weather Plus...WHO HD 13.2.

Here are a couple of web sites that will keep you updated on everything from road conditions to blizzard warnings.

Iowa D.O.T. road conditions: www.511ia.org/roadConditions.asp?area=IA_statewide&textOnly=False

NWS warnings: www.crh.noaa.gov/hazards/dmx

1:00 PM Update on Blizzard Warning

www.511ia.org/roadConditions.asp

If you have not been out today... you are lucky.

The side streets are very slick as the cold air under-cut the rain this morning and gave us an instant freeze on the rain that fell overnight.

The highways are being treated across the state. I drove from Waukee to Indianola at 11:00 this morning...and had no problem with road conditions on the highway. The biggest problem will be the driveway to neighborhood streets.

The road map is from 1:00 PM. Remember RED means travel is not advised. PINK indicates the roads are completely covered with snow and or ice. ORANGE means the roads are mostly covered...Yellow=partially covered and BLUE shows where the roads are wet.

A BLIZZARD WARNING is still in effect for central Iowa late this afternoon through tomorrow morning. The NWS is calling for 3 to 5 inches of additional snow. I think that could happen just to the west of the metro...as the storm pulls in the moisture late today. It still looks like Des Moines will see 1 to 2 inches of snow...then very windy conditions.

THE WIND is the big monster in this storm. Wind gusts over 50 mph are expected tonight. That will reduce visibilities to around zero. Road conditions will be very slick as the temperatures fall to the single digits.

More updates coming through the day.

Ed

Blizzard Warning...We all get some today

This morning the National Weather Service expanded the Blizzard Warning from northern Iowa through most of the state...including the Des Moines metro.

The snow started to fly in central Iowa around 9 AM...sooner than expected. The cold air was pulled in before the rain could be cut off with drier air that stopped the snow by mid-morning.

At the time of this post...it was still raining in northeast Iowa!

There is a chance for more light snow in central Iowa this afternoon and evening... but the big issue is going to be the wind.

The Northwest wind will whip up to 50 mph. Even walking will be difficult with wind gusts at that level. When you add in light snow and darkness...visibilities will be reduced.

Tonight wind chills will reach -20 to -25. There will be slick spots on roads...but the roads in northern Iowa will be dangerous.

So...we will not see much snow...but the wind...the cold...and visibilities are enough to issue the blizzard warning.

Be careful... if you have to travel...make sure you have your emergency winter kit in your car. Always have your cell phone fully charged.

Another Saturday Storm Update

A Winter Weather Advisory is in place for central and southern Iowa Saturday. There is also a Blizzard Warning for northern Iowa...and a Blizzard Watch for eastern Iowa.

Temperatures will be warm overnight...we will see all rain tonight. Tomorrow the rain will continue through mid-morning...then it will be dry through early afternoon.

Temperatures will continue to fall through the day and we will see snow wrapping around the storm with very gusty wind.

The Winter Advisory is issued because of the wind blowing the inch-or-so of snow...reducing visibilities and creating dangerous wind chills.