Travel NOT Advised In Northern Iowa Today
Authorities are warning motorists to stay off highways in Iowa until further notice because blizzard-like conditions are creating many travel problems across the state today (Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016).
At 10 a.m., the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) reported a majority of roads across the state were completely covered with snow and many vehicles were already in the ditch.
Senior Trooper Mark Sigwarth with the Iowa State Patrol said travel is NOT ADVISED today in the northern one-third of the state and tow bans are currently in place for all counties along and north of U.S. Highway 20.
The National Weather Service (NWS) is predicting anywhere from 4 to 12 inches of snow will fall in Northeast Iowa over the next several hours. A winter storm warning is posted through 6 a.m. Wednesday for the following counties: Allamakee, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Floyd, Grundy, Hardin, Howard, Mitchell, and Winneshiek. A blizzard warning is in effect for Franklin County, and a winter weather advisory effects Benton and Tama counties.
NWS forecasters said windspeeds of 20 to 25 mph would be common throughout the day, with gusts as high as 35 mph across the state.
The storm forced the cancellation of classes at the University of Northern Iowa and Upper Iowa University. Several school districts were also closed for the day.
School bond referendums are being held in two area school districts today, despite the weather. Voters in Waterloo are going to the polls to decide the fate of a $47 million issue that would finance high school renovations and construction of a new Career Technical Education Center. In Denver, voters are casting ballots on a $10.3 million referendum that would generate funds to build a new gymnasium and performing arts facility.
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