Weather roundup: Des Moines schools on 2-hour delay as winter weather ramps back up

Dangerous weather is back in Iowa and the Des Moines metro. Here's what to expect:

Polk County winter weather advisory

Des Moines Public Schools announced a two-hour delay for Friday amid snowy roads and plunging temperatures.

Elementary schools will begin at 9:45 a.m., middle schools at 10:30 a.m. and high schools at 10:25a.m.

Up to 4 inches of snow accumulated across central Iowa, with a slight amount more expected overnight. There's also a wind chill advisory from midnight to noon Friday, with temperatures forecast to once again dip well below zero Friday night. Another bitter cold night on Saturday also is expected to draw a wind chill warning.

Polk county activated its Extreme Temperature Plan, which includes weather amnesty at area homeless shelters and establishment of warming centers, with free transportation to them on DART buses.

The National Weather Service in Des Moines warned motorists on social media to slow down so as to prevent a catastrophic situation like the 60-plus car pile-up in February 2018 on Interstate 35 near Ames.

It warned in forecast guidance that danger escalates when drivers are moving at different speeds on the same roadway amid low-visibility conditions. It also cautioned that snowdrifts are likely, especially at rural intersections where previously plowed snow is piled high, acting as a windbreak.

Emergency snow parking bans

Numerous Des Moines metro communities activated parking bans to allow plows to clear the snow. They include:

• Ames. Snow ordinance will go into effect 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18. Snow routes are marked by red and white signs. Vehicles must be moved to off-street parking or to streets that are not designated snow routes. The snow ordinance will likely be in effect until 8 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 19, but it could vary throughout the community due to plowing challenges.

• Bondurant. Snow ordinance is in effect.

• Des Moines. No parking is allowed on designated snow routes.

• Grimes. A snow ordinance is in effect from 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18 through 6 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 19. During this time no parking is allowed on city streets as Public Works crews will be clearing the streets. A $50 ticket may be issued to cars parked on the street during the snow ordinance.

• Indianola. Vehicles may not be parked on the street beginning Thursday, Jan. 18, at noon. Once streets are cleared residents may resume parking on the street.

• Johnston. No street parking from 5 p.m. Thursday to 5 p.m. Friday.

• Waukee. No street parking from 8 p.m. Thursday through 5 p.m. Friday.

• West Des Moines. Emergency parking ban for snow removal is in effect from 8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18 until 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19.

The dangers of cold weather, how to prepare and prevent

Since Jan. 10, UnityPoint Health has seen 11 cases of frostbite in emergency room patients across the system’s three metro hospitals, Iowa Methodist and Iowa Lutheran in Des Moines and Methodist West in West Des Moines, said UnityPoint Health-Des Moines spokesperson Mark Tauscheck.

MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center’s emergency room has treated five cases of frostbite, said hospital spokesperson Todd Mizener. One patient was treated for hypothermia.

“MercyOne wants to remind the public that overexposure to cold temperatures or cold water can be deadly and needs to be taken seriously, especially as we head towards the forecasted frigid temperatures this weekend,” Mizener said.

The University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics’ Burn Treatment Center offered these tips to help Iowans prepare for another bout of cold this week:

• Dress in layers and minimize exposure.

• If driving, make sure the vehicle has a full tank of gas and keep additional warm clothing on hand. If stranded in your vehicle, it may be better to stay in your car as you wait for assistance than to risk exposure by venturing away from it.

• Temperature, dampness, and the duration of exposure are all factors that can contribute to frostbite. Consuming alcohol or using recreational drugs may worsen the injury.

• Treatment for frostbite includes rapid re-warming of the affected area in warm ― not hot ― water. The water should be only slightly warmer than body temperature, about 102 degrees to 110 degrees, and the affected area of the body should be warmed only when it can be kept warm afterward. More damage will result if an area is warmed and then chilled again.

• The injured area should be elevated and protected.

• Be sure to seek medical attention for any frostbitten extremity. Time is of the essence. The risk of amputation is drastically reduced with immediate treatment.

Outlook improves

Despite the new onslaught of winter weather, the longer-term outlook, though dreary, is better. Beginning Monday, the weather service says, expect temperatures no lower than about 32 degrees and highs in the mid-30s, with a 20% to 40% chance of rain.

Staff writer Michaela Ramm contributed to this article.

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her atvreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter@VictoriaReynaR.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Dangerous weather is again hitting central Iowa. What to know