An early look at the travel situation across the state shows continued deterioration of road conditions. Visibilities have been reduced to under a mile for many areas. Hazardous conditions has led to several accidents in west central and central Iowa and travel is not advised for much of north central Iowa, including Interstate 35 from Exit 128 to the Iowa/Minnesota border. Several other highways are also included within that. Tow bans have been posted for 14 counties: Winnebago, Hancock, Cerro Gordo, Worth, Floyd, Mitchell, Howard, Chickasaw, Hamilton, Wright, Franklin, Boone, Pottawattamie, Adair, and Cass.

Winds this morning are sustaining themselves in the 25 to 35 MPH range and gusting to nearly 50 MPH at times. This is easily blowing around the new snow that has fallen and creating near-whiteout conditions. Over time, the hardened snow overnight will eventually be cracked away by the continual sustained winds, and the complete extent of the blizzard conditions will be realized. The worst impacts will be in the open fielded country where snow will be completely unobstructed to the wind. The impact within cities are not expected to be as significant. However… travel will still be extremely dangerous to impossible across many areas… with blizzard conditions reported already early this morning across the area.

Headlines have been refined further this morning with the Blizzard Warning generally over northwest and north central Iowa. Winter Weather Advisories have been posted on the fringes of this for basically the northwestern half of the state. Products in the western side of the state go until about noon while those in the central and east go until this evening.

Stay tuned to the Iowa Weather Network for the latest updates!