Travel is still not advised across a large portion of Iowa following Thursday’s crippling blizzard that brought some areas of the state 20-inches of snow. Strong winds, with gusts approaching 60 miles an hour, are whipping drifts over roads up to eight-feet high. Iowa State Trooper Doug Cutts recommends -not- trying to drive unless absolutely necessary.
Cutts says the roads are treacherous, just stay home. Travel isn’t advised for central, west, northwest, southwest parts of the state. Interstate 80 is still closed from Des Moines to Council Bluffs as several large semi trucks are stuck in the middle of the roadway. Cutts says blizzard conditions are reducing visibility and making roadways impassible.
He says Atlantic reports eight-foot snow drifts, Johnston reports three-foot drifts. As people see the Interstates are closed, they try primary highways and are finding them in worse condition, getting stuck and clogging those roads too. Highway 30, west of Ogden, is now closed due to so many vehicles that are stuck.
In addition to Interstate 80 being shut down from Des Moines to the Nebraska border, Cutts says many other main roadways are closed. He says I-35 north of Ames is still closed, I-29 is still closed and many other primary roads are closed. Even state patrol cars are getting stuck and they’re having to be dug out so they can help the people who need help. For more details on the roads, surf to “ www.iowaroadconditions.com ” or call 5-1-1.