DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A strong cold front has brought a blizzard with heavy snow and winds of up to 50 mph to eastern Nebraska and the western half of Iowa. Officials say roads along the eastern border of Nebraska and throughout Iowa are either completely or partially covered by snow, and residents are urged to stay inside and not travel. The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for eastern parts of Nebraska and most of the western half of Iowa until 6 p.m. Friday.

The service says in excess of 5 inches of snow in those regions is expected, along with high winds gusting up to 50 mph.

Roads in western Iowa that were already partially to mostly-covered with snow, are also said to have a sheet of ice underneath the snow cover in some spots. Several vehicles have spun off into the median or ditches across I-80 and I-29, including at least four semi’s, but no injuries have been reported. The DOT’s 511ia.org website shows Travel is NOT ADVISED on I-80 from Highway 25 east to Des Moines, Highway 169 from Highway 92 north to Highway 30, U-S Highway 6 from Des Moines to Adel, and parts of Highway 141 in central Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) – Much of western Iowa was in drought last year and even with a couple of heavy snowstorms already this winter, the drought is expected to continue at least into spring. Dennis Todey, director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Midwest Climate Hub in Ames, says it’s unlikely things will change soon. Todey says, “While a big snowstorm can provide melt-off and provide surface water, which is a positive, our soils are mainly frozen now so we need to get thawing soils before we can get any kind of precipitation into those soils.”

Todey says scientists are most concerned about the western third to western half of Iowa because the soils are the driest there.  “I would expect it to improve some in the spring,” Todey says. “Will it go away? I have a hard time thinking it’ll go completely away.” The U.S. Drought Monitor report released this week shows western Iowa in a moderate to extreme drought. Since 2018 and 2019 were very wet years for Iowa, the Iowa D-N-R’s Tim Hall says that probably helped get western Iowa through last year’s “harsh, dry conditions.” “I think we didn’t see as significant an impact because of the wetness coming out of the two years leading into this one,” Hall says.

Their comments were part of a drought webinar held by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

(By Katie Peikes, Iowa Public Radio)

Today: **BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 6-P.M.** Snow/blowing snow. NW @ 20-40+mph. High around 30. New snow accumulation of 1-3″ possible.

Tonight: Light snow ending. Mostly Cloudy. Low 22. NW @ 20-40.

Tomorrow: Partly to Mo. cloudy. High 28. NW @ 10-20.

Sunday: P/to-Mo.Cldy. High 28.

Monday: P/to-Mo.Cldy. High 32.

Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 37. Our Low this morning (as of 4:45-a.m.) was 28. We had received 5″ of snow at the KJAN studios as of 5:50-a.m. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 28 and the Low -3. The Record High was 61 in 1990 and the Record Low was -23 in 1905.

National Weather Service Des Moines IA
340 AM CST Fri Jan 15 2021

…Blizzard to Near Blizzard Conditions Continue to Significantly Impact Travel Across the Western Half of Iowa…

.Strong and gusty northwest winds coupled with moderate to at times heavy snowfall will continue to produce blizzard to near blizzard conditions into the daylight hours today over the western half of Iowa. Significant travel impacts are occurring or expected, especially along Interstate 35 and Interstate 80 in western Iowa. Over the eastern half of Iowa, lighter winds and lower snowfall amounts are forecast, but hazardous travel is anticipated.

A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING…

* WHAT…Blizzard conditions. Additional snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph.

* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult due to areas of blowing snow, which could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions will impact the morning and evening commutes today.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded,
stay with your vehicle. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

Here is a glimpse of the latest road conditions from 511ia.org, as of 5:15-a.m., 1/15/21

404 AM CST Thu Jan 14 2021

…Blizzard Conditions Western into Central Iowa Tonight into Friday with Significant Travel Impacts Expected…

The first of two waves of wintry precipitation is moving into the state this morning with some limited impacts this morning. There will be a short dry period later this morning into a part of this afternoon before the second wave of precipitation moves into the state. Snow accompanied by strong winds will create blizzard conditions over western Iowa and toward the I-35 corridor tonight into Friday. Significant travel impacts with near impossible travel at times later tonight into Friday is expected. Snow will end Friday night, but travel impacts will linger.

Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Cass-Adair-Madison-Adams-Union-Taylor-Ringgold-Pottawattmie-Mills-Montgomery & Page Counties.…WIND ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT…

* WHAT…Northwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* IMPACTS…Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree
limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

Guthrie-Dallas-Cass-Adair-Madison-Adams-Union-Taylor-Ringgold-Monona-Harrison-Shelby-Pottawattamie-Mills-Montgomery-Fremont-Page Counties..BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM CST FRIDAY…

* WHAT…Blizzard conditions expected. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph.

* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult if not impossible at
times with blowing snow significantly reducing visibility. The
hazardous conditions will impact the Friday morning and evening
commutes. Isolated power outages and tree damage may occur with
the gusty winds.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must
travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded,
stay with your vehicle.

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can
be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

**WIND ADVISORY in effect until 12-p.m. Friday**BLIZZARD WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TO 6-P.M. FRIDAY**

Today: Mostly cloudy w/light rain-snow. Temps nearly steady in the 30’s. NW @ 20-35 mph w/gusts to near 40. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Tonight: Snow & patchy blowing snow. Low around 25. NW 20-35 w/gusts to near 45. Wind chill around 10. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Friday: Snow, mainly before noon. Areas of blowing snow. High near 28. W/NW @ 20-40 w/gusts to near 45. Wind chill values as low as 10. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Saturday: Partly to mostly cloudy. Scattered flurries. High near 26.
Sunday: Partly to mostly cloudy. Scattered flurries. High near 26.

Wednesday’s High in Atlantic was 44. Our Low was 32. We received .01″ rain overnight up until 5-a.m. today. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 35 and the Low was 22. The Record High for Jan. 14th was 54 in 1914, and the Record Low was -29 in 1957.

Today: Partly cloudy. High 50. SW @ 10-20.
Tonight: P/Cldy to Cloudy. Low 35. S@ 5-10.
Tomorrow: Cloudy w/light rain-snow in the morning. Nearly steady temps in the 30’s. NW @ 20-35. (< than 1″ snow expected)
Friday: Mostly cloudy & windy w/snow-flurries. High 37. N/NW @ 20-35 mph.
Saturday: Mo. Cldy. High 26.

Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 45. Our Low was 19. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 34, and the Low was 25. The All-Time Record High here on this date was 62 in 1987, and the Record Low was -24 in 1916.

Today: Partly cloudy. High 48. SW @ 10-20.
Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 28. SW @ 5-10.
Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High 54. SW @ 15-25.
Thursday: Mostly cloudy & windy w/light rain-snow. High 36. NW @ 15-30 (Little or no snow accumulation expected)
Friday: Mo. Cldy & windy w/a chance of flurries. High around 27.

Monday’s High in Atlantic was 40. Our Low this morning, 21. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 27, and the Low was 16. The All-Time Record High here on this date was 57 in 1961 & 1987, and the Record Low was -37 in 1974.