Snow caused issues statewide Tuesday as 12+ inches fell in areas

Record snowfall caused issues across Iowa on Tuesday as road crews struggled to keep up with Mother Nature. Gusty winds made matters worse by causing poor visibility and pushing snow back onto cleared roads and sidewalks.

Totals in some parts of the state topped 12 inches by mid-afternoon and eastern Iowa was on track to see even more snow overnight.

Road conditions have improved some by Wednesday morning, but many portions of the state still have completely or partially covered roads.

Wednesday morning: I-35 southbound experiencing delays, closed lanes following multiple crashes near Ankeny

A portion of I-80 in the Iowa City area remains listed as travel not advised.

Here's a look at the latest updates.

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Des Moines Public Schools announces two-hour delay for Wednesday

Des Moines Public Schools announced Tuesday evening that there will be a two-hour delay for classes Wednesday, Jan. 10 due to “strong winds and drifting snow expected overnight.”

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

Most other big districts in central Iowa are holding classes as planned.

Previous updates from Tuesday:

Travel not advised on I-80 between Des Moines and Quad Cities

The Iowa DOT is warning motorists not to take Interstate 80 east of Des Moines. Its 511ia.org website lists the stretch of the road from Mitchellville to Stockton as travel not advised, meaning conditions are very dangerous and snow plows may be called off the road.

In a post on X, the DOT warned that it may be impossible for emergency vehicles to reach drivers if there was an emergency on the road.

A portion of westbound I-80 is completely closed near Williamsburg due to a multi-vehicle crash

More: Vivek Ramaswamy tried to keep campaigning. A 'good Iowan' had to help him out of a ditch

Most other roads in the state are listed as completely covered. About two-thirds of the state also have "towing not recommended" warnings, meaning tow truck operators will not be available to help motorists out of ditches.

Des Moines issues hundreds of citations to vehicles parked on snow routes

Crews in Des Moines were expected to begin plowing residential streets around 3 p.m., according to a post from the city's police department. As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, the department had written 314 citations for vehicles parked on snow routes or on the wrong side of the street in designated "odd/even neighborhoods."

Iowa DOT has hundreds of plows clearing Iowa interstates and highways, but many eastern Iowa roads are dangerous

Roads in western Iowa have been improving through the afternoon and are now primarily partially covered. Some roads in the Council Bluffs are and Interstate 35 from the Minnesota border to Huxley is listed as seasonal as of 4:30 p.m.

However, roads were worsening in eastern Iowa. Many highways in the Cedar Rapids, Maquoketa and Dubuque areas were listed as travel not advised as of 4:30 p.m.

From 2 p.m. Monday through 2 p.m. Tuesday, Des Moines Police responded to 62 crashes, according to a release from Sgt. Paul Parizek. Five crashes included minor injuries. Officers also responded to 54 motorist assists.

Across the state, the Iowa State Patrol responded to 100 crashes and 314 motorist assists from 8 a.m. Monday to 11 a.m. Tuesday. None of the crashes included fatalities, but 15 caused injuries.

“If you MUST travel, go slow and watch for plows. They travel much slower than traffic and visibility around plows will be limited,” the DOT said.

What is the forecast for snow on Tuesday?

Weather

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Most snowfall has moved out of central Iowa, but is expected to continue into the overnight hours in eastern Iowa. Davenport had already recorded more than 8 inches of as of noon and could see 4-6 more inches.

Gusty winds will cause blowing snow and create travel difficulties.

"If you don't have to travel, stay off the roads," said meteorologist National Weather Service meteorologist Brooke Hagenhoff.

MidAmerican reports few issues, but prepares for worsening eastern Iowa conditions

MidAmerican Energy's spokesperson said the company had responded to isolated incidents, mainly driven by snow limbs stressed by heavy snow falling on power lines or high wind causing lines to lift and bounce.

It is staffing extended hours on Tuesday to prepare for possible issues from heavy snow or high winds as the storm moves into eastern Iowa.

As of 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, MidAmerican did have about 1,200 customers in the Council Bluffs area without power. Alliant had about 1,400 customers without power, mainly in the Washington and Clay counties.

Metro Waste Authority Collection canceled Tuesday, delayed for the rest of the week

Because of the snowy conditions, garbage, recycling and yard waste collection is cancelled Tuesday, according to a Metro Waste Authority release.

There will be a one-day delay in collection for the remainder of the week. Friday collection has been moved to Saturday.

Cities impacted by this delay include:

  • Alleman

  • Altoona

  • Ankeny

  • Bondurant

  • Carlisle

  • Clive

  • Elkhart

  • Grimes

  • Johnston

  • Mitchellville

  • Norwalk

  • Pleasant Hill

  • Polk City

  • Prairie City

  • Runnells

  • West Des Moines

Flight cancellations and delays add up at Des Moines airport

While numbers looked good early in the day on Tuesday, many flights out of Des Moines have been scrapped.

Data from flight tracking website FlightAware shows 24 cancellations as of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. American Airlines and its regional partners had the most canceled flights with 14. United Airlines and its partners canceled nine and Southwest canceled one.

Another 27 flights were delayed.

Anyone with flight plans should check with their airline before heading to the airport and plan extra time to navigate snow-covered roads.

Winter weather to delay delivery of Des Moines Register in some parts of the state

Due to heavy snow and slick roads, some Des Moines Register subscribers may not receive their papers until Tuesday. This includes the Quad City area, large portions of northwest and southern Iowa.

Some Des Moines metro subscribers, particularly those who do not live on snow routes, may have late deliveries on Tuesday or not receive their papers until Wednesday.

We apologize for the inconvenience while we prioritize carrier safety. Our e-Edition is updated at DesMoinesRegister.com/eEdition or in our mobile app.

Weather causes problems for Republican presidential candidates in Iowa

The winter storm warning deterred Republican presidential candidates’ plans Monday. Former United Nations Ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley canceled an event in Sioux City due to “inclement weather.”

Haley will remain in Iowa through Caucus Day and expects to return to northwest Iowa on Friday, a spokesperson told the Register.

Meanwhile Ohio entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy turned to his wife, Apoorva Ramaswamy, to steer a campaign event Monday in Warren County. The GOP presidential hopeful was stuck in Sioux City and unable to travel, a spokesperson said.

The Trump campaign also announced that the former president's scheduled event in Boone is expected to take place Tuesday but that actress and comedian Roseanne Barr, who was slated to make an appearance, will be unable to attend.

How do I check Iowa DOT road conditions?

Nearly 700 Iowa DOT plows were reported to be out on the roads clearing snow and applying salt and brine to roads on Tuesday morning.

More details: How to check Iowa road conditions, DOT cameras amid winter storms

You can check road conditions online through Iowa 511, with an interactive map that can show you road closures, winter weather warnings, interstate cameras, crashes and more.

If you don't have internet, you can call 800-288-1047, or 511 for updated road conditions.

Winter driving tips: How to keep safe while driving on slick Iowa roads

Are parking restrictions in place due to the winter storm in Iowa?

Several cities across the state are activating their snow ordinances, which often restrict parking on residential streets.

Des Moines snow parking rules: Where and when it's safe, and where you could be ticketed

In the Des Moines metro, the following cities have announced restrictions:

  • Altoona. Parking ban on all city roads begins Monday.

  • Ames. Snow ordinance goes into effect at 8 p.m. Monday and bans parking on designated snow routes marked with red and white signs. The ordinance remains in effect until streets are completely plowed curb to curb.

  • Ankeny. Parking is banned on all public streets from 6 p.m. Monday to 6 p.m. Wednesday. Parking is also prohibited at The District at Prairie Trail and Uptown Business District from 2-6 a.m.

  • Bondurant. Snow ordinance bans parking on all public streets starting at 9 a.m. Monday until 24 hours after the snow stops.

  • Clive. Parking is prohibited on city streets until snow has been cleared curb-to-curb (up to 48 hours after snow stops falling).

  • Des Moines. Parking is prohibited on snow routes until further notice. The city also recommends moving parked cars off streets. For updates, go to dsm.city/departments/public_works-division/streets/snow_removal.

  • Grimes. Parking is banned on all city streets from 6 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Wednesday.

  • Johnston. Parking is banned on all city streets from 6 p.m. Monday until 5 p.m. Wednesday

  • Indianola. Ban starts when snow falls and continues for 48 hours after snow stops or until streets are cleared.

  • Waukee. Parking is banned on all streets from 5 p.m. Monday until 5 p.m. Wednesday.

  • West Des Moines. Parking is banned on all streets from 6 p.m. Monday to 5 p.m. Wednesday.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa winter storm: Record snowfall totals seen as snow causes issues