Blizzard conditions are causing all sorts of travel problems on the ground and in the air in Iowa today (Tuesday). Travel is not recommended by the D-O-T in many areas and tow bans are in place. National Weather Service Meteorologist Kelsey Angle says it’s a storm that is going to last awhile. “We have a big area of low pressure that moving threw the plains and the Midwest. And with temperatures cold enough, as well as well enough moisture, that is producing snow across Iowa,” Angle says.

He says the storm is bringing in colder temperatures. “Well we do expect temperatures to remain below freezing for much of the week,” Angle says. “And with strong winds we will see blowing and drifting of the snow continuing throughout the day, as well as tonight.”

The National Weather Service predicts the strong winds in western and northern Iowa will increase throughout the day. The winds have already caused problems in western Iowa, as American Airlines gate agent Troy Martin says their flights out of Sioux City were canceled. “It’s just a lot of heavy winds, a lot of heavy snow. Visibility is less than a half mile, and we are not going to be flying today,” Martin says.

He says the flights tomorrow morning may be canceled too if the planes cannot get in from Chicago.He says the airline will be rebooking people and they can call and find out what flight they are on if they haven’t gotten a call from the airline. There’s either a blizzard, winter or ice storm warning for most of Iowa. Parts of the state will get six-to-twelve inches of snow, as well as extremely hazardous travel conditions.

(Radio Iowa)

THE CITY OF AUDUBON WILL BE DELAYING GARBAGE/RECYCLING PICKUP BY ONE DAY. PICKUP THIS WEEK WILL BE WED/THURS DUE TO THE STORM.

Public Works is issuing a SNOW EMERGENCY NOTICE that will become effective on Wednesday from 5-am to 4-pm. The code reads as follows: In the event of a snow emergency proclamation, no person shall park, abandon, or leave unattended any vehicle on any public street, alley, or City-owned off-street parking area during any snow emergency unless the snow has been removed or plowed from said street or alley or parking area and the snow has ceased to fall.

During such emergency, parking shall specifically be prohibited between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. expect that parking shall be allowed after the snow has ceased to fall and cleaning operations have been completed.

Also: parallel park in the business district if there is a windrow of snow in the street.

The City of Corning has extended its Snow Emergency Declaration for 12 hours, effective tonight (Tuesday), at 8-p.m.  At that time, all parking restrictions will be in effect the same as a new snow emergency. No parking will be allowed on marked snow route streets during the first 12 hours of the snow emergency.

Except for the business district in Corning, parking during the first 12 hours on all other streets will be on the south and west side only. For the remainder of the snow emergency, parking will be allowed on the north and east side of the street, if not prohibited by signs. All NO PARKING signs and direction of travel parking, will be enforced.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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A Creston woman has reported to police the theft of two bicycles. A black and orange Mongoose Pacific bicycle, and a Mongoose Freestuke Outerlimit boys BMX bicycle were stolen from a residence in the 600 block of W. Adams Street someone around 7-p.m on Jan. 29th. The loss was estimated at $200.

With whiteout conditions being experienced in Atlantic and the rest of the area this morning, Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green says he and other authorities are advising you to stay home, warm and safe, today. Travel conditions are extremely dangerous, with near zero or zero visibility at times due to heavy snow and blowing snow. Roads this morning are, or will be, completely covered with snow. Bridges and overpasses are also reported to be icy. Many businesses, and all schools in the listening area are closed today.

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY. FOR THE AREA.  A HEAVY SNOW BAND DEVELOPED OVER SOUTHERN IOWA AND IS QUICKLY MOVING NORTHWARD THIS MORNING. EXPECT THE BAND TO CAUSE BURST OF VERY HEAVY SNOW AND VISIBILITY WILL RAPIDLY DECREASE TO LESS THE ONE QUARTER MILE…ESPECIALLY ALONG THE INTERSTATE 80 CORRIDOR TO HIGHWAY 30.

THE PERIOD OF HEAVIEST SNOWFALL IS LIKELY TO OCCUR FROM 7 AM TO 11 AM THIS MORNING WHERE 1 TO 2 INCH SNOWFALL RATES ARE ANTICIPATED. EVEN A BRIEF PERIOD OF THUNDERSNOW IS POSSIBLE AND MAY RESULT IN NEAR 3 INCH PER HOUR SNOWFALL RATES. A BREAK IN THE PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON FROM SOUTHWEST IOWA THROUGH DES MOINES AS DRIER AIR IS IS FORECAST TO PUNCH INTO THE STATE. A BRIEF PERIOD OF FREEZING DRIZZLE IS POSSIBLE FURTHER NORTHEAST THIS AFTERNOON. STRONG WINDS AND ANOTHER ROUND OF SNOW LOOKS TO DEVELOP THIS EVENING.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW/ICE…ACCUMULATIONS OF 5 TO 9 INCHES ARE
EXPECTED. LITTLE ICE ACCUMULATIONS ARE POSSIBLE.
* WINDS/VISIBILITY…NORTHEAST WINDS BECOMING NORTH 20 TO 30 MPH
WITH GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 45 MPH. VISIBILITIES BELOW A HALF MILE
TO EVEN NEAR WHITEOUT CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE.
* IMPACTS...EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS TRAVEL TO NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE AT TIMES. PLEASE RECONSIDER ANY TRAVEL PLANS.

Legislators stayed at home Monday to attend their Caucuses last night (Monday), but they’re back in the statehouse today (Tuesday) with a major item on the to-do list. Democrats and Republicans are trying to reach a quick agreement on state spending on K-through-12 schools — for the school year that starts in the fall. House Speaker Linda Upmeyer of Clear Lake, the legislature’s top Republican leader, says “We can do it sooner or we can do it later and there’s no reason not to do it sooner.”

Upmeyer said also, “Our members are talking about this. We’re working with the Senate. We’re visiting with the governor. We’re all looking at this.” Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs says Democrats are leery of the Republican governor’s involvement since Branstad unexpectedly vetoed some education spending last summer.

“So it really behooves the House and Senate to work together, see if we can come to an agree-to number and pass that,” he says. Last year’s school spending debate in the legislature lasted for months, but — like Upmeyer — Gronstal is urging a speedy decision. “Spending an extra two-and-a-half or three months for something that ends up gets vetoed doesn’t really make sense,” Gronstal says. “And so we’re going to strongly encourage our folks to find a way to reach agreement.”

Whatever compromise may be reached must clear the Democratically-controlled Senate and the Republican-led House. The negotiating positions heading in have House Republicans offering a two percent boost in state support of schools. Democrats are calling for twice that much. Governor Branstad’s recommendation is in between — a two-point-45 percent increase.

(Radio Iowa)