Snow Disrupts Eastern Iowa
Eight to Twelve Inches of Snow Make Travel Treacherous in Region
A winter storm dumped eight inches of snow followed by a light glaze of ice on Marion yesterday making travel difficult throughout the area. By nine o’clock last night, many residential streets were impassible without a high clearance four wheel drive vehicle.
Light snow began falling early yesterday afternoon. Bands of heavy snow and a brisk southeast wind reduced visibilities to less than one quarter mile making travel treacherous at times. One car slipped off Highway 151 west of 44th Street and down into the ditch between the divided highway lanes.
Though not substantial, the wind was strong enough to blow the snow into drifts three and four feet high around parts of the city.
Snow was out of the area at 8:30 leaving behind a think white blanket and the drone of snowblowers as residents began to clear driveways and sidewalks.
State crews worked through the night clearing snow and Highway 13 in Marion has normal winter driving conditions as does Interstate 380 between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. North and east, however, roads remain partially snow covered.
In Marion, not all residential streets are cleared making the morning commute challenging for some, delaying home newspaper deliveries in town. However, weather conditions are favorable for a city-wide clearing of all streets with partly cloudy conditions and light winds expected both today and tomorrow. WeatherUnderground forecasts highs in the upper twenties on both days.
The next chance for snow occurs New Year’s Day followed by five days of pleasant winter weather before another storm looms.