This may be the warmest January 28th on record for many Iowa cities as temperatures are expected to reach into the upper 50s and low 60s in some areas.
While it’s refreshing news for outdoor lovers, it’s more of a nightmare for road crews in rural parts the state. Dan Waid is the Hamilton County Engineer in Webster City and he warns motorists using gravel roads to be very careful.
“It is unusual for this time of the year to get the thawing that we’re seeing now,” Waid says. “With the recent moisture, there’s a lot of wet, muddy roads and they’re pretty sensitive to loading right now.” As the snow and ice melt, gravel may wash away, too, leaving rural roads slippery and unstable.
Forecasters say the warm-up won’t last long, as a cold front is predicted to arrive Thursday night, with snow possible by the weekend.
(Reporting Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City)