Snowplow3Most of Iowa is digging out from Monday’s snowstorm that dropped between five and seven inches across a wide section of the state, diagonally from the northwest to the southeast.

In central Iowa, Dan Waid is the Hamilton County engineer who’s been dispatching snow plows around the Webster City area, which was blanketed by a half-foot of flakes.

“Our staff was out late last night and early this morning,” Waid says. “Roads are starting to shape up a little bit. We’ve been around on the pavements at least once and we’re starting the second round on those. The gravels, we’re getting out on those and it’ll take the better part of the day.”

Temperatures are expected to top off in single digits and teens, as wind chills reach dangerously low levels between 20 and 40 below zero. That extreme cold is tough on people — and the heavy equipment.

“Along with wind coming up this afternoon, that will require us to be out again tomorrow, I’m sure, doing similar things that we are today,” Waid says. “It will take us a couple of days to get things cleaned up off the gravels.”

No precipitation is expected for the rest of the week but wind chill warnings and advisories will be posted for a good part of the state through Wednesday.

By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City