Winter storm could bring several inches of snow to Upper Midwest

DES MOINES, Iowa — A strong winter storm began making its way Tuesday across the Upper Midwest, creating treacherous travel conditions and spurring warnings urging people to stay off the roads.

The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings for parts of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Illinois.

By Tuesday morning, snow was so heavy in western Nebraska that Interstates 80 and 76 were closed for several hours in both directions after numerous accidents, and the Nebraska Department of Transportation warned people to avoid unnecessary travel.

“Conditions remain hazardous & we anticipate they will remain so all day Tuesday. Please avoid travel,” the department said on Twitter.

It's a near white out in Des Moines with 5" so far in just over 3 hours from Winter Storm #Ivy
Some spots across IA/WI will pick up at least 10".
We're out in it live on @weatherchannel#snowstorm pic.twitter.com/gBafkU9x2F

— Mike Seidel (@mikeseidel) December 29, 2020

Police in Omaha reported several accidents blamed on slick roads. Some parts of Nebraska had already seen 3 inches of snow by mid-morning, and the area near Creston, Iowa, already had 5 inches of snow.

Heavy snowfall of up to a foot, and perhaps more in some spots, was forecast in parts of Iowa, where the state Department of Transportation urged people to delay travel plans. The department’s road conditions map showed most highways in the western part of the state covered or partly covered with snow by midday Tuesday.

“Travel conditions are likely to go downhill all day/night, the Iowa department said on Twitter. “If you must travel in the impacted areas, buckle up, slow down and allow plenty of space between vehicles.”

A lot more snow and ice to come with THE NEXT winter storm taking shape Weds-Fri. Expect snow and/or ice from the deep south the midwest to the northeast. New Year's Eve and New Year's Day could prove dangerous. Please use extra caution if you are traveling. pic.twitter.com/l9k0w36dW9

— Mike Bettes (@mikebettes) December 29, 2020

By 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, snowfall was heavy, causing visibility problems for motorists and rapidly deteriorating road conditions, Iowa State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Alex Dinkla said. He added that crashes were happening across the state with heavy post-Christmas travel.

“All our troopers are very busy right now covering crashes all over Iowa. Road conditions are very dangerous,” he said.

The city of Des Moines had more than 200 employees from public works, parks and recreation, and wastewater reclamation departments on snow removal duty. Public Works Director Jonathan Gano said 100 snow plows, trucks and other equipment were activated to 24-hour operation until the snow stops.

“We’re looking at 8 inches followed by some ice so that’s going to be a wonderful complication and I think I’ve seen the forecast for Jan. 1 which has another 4 to 5 inches,” he said.

Wisconsin was also bracing for up to 10 inches of snow in some areas. The forecast called for 3 to 6 inches of snow in the Milwaukee area.

Snow is quickly approaching from the southwest early this afternoon. Expect conditions to rapidly deteriorate at the onset of snow, which has been observed in west-central Illinois. Be prepared for hazardous road conditions by late this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/IxwoXDAXeu

— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) December 29, 2020

AccuWeather said parts of southeast Nebraska, northeast Kansas, northern Missouri and southern Iowa could see ice accumulations of up to a quarter of an inch, which could weigh down power lines and branches and cause power outages.

In Topeka, morning snow was expected to give way to freezing rain before eventually becoming rain.

In the Kansas City area, light snow on Tuesday morning resulted in several accidents. Among them were several rollover wrecks on the Kansas side of the metropolitan area.

The Missouri Department of Transportation said roads were mostly or partly covered with snow in the northern third of the state.