Des Moines, IA – Drivers across west and southwest Iowa face visibility reduced to 0.25 miles or less along Interstate 35 and Interstate 80 early Sunday, creating sudden slowdowns and hazardous travel through the morning hours.
According to the National Weather Service in Des Moines, dense fog expanded into portions of west-central Iowa by 6 a.m. Sunday, with the thickest fog concentrated across southwest Iowa. Visibility has dropped to a quarter mile or lower at times, particularly near Council Bluffs, Atlantic, Creston and areas along the Interstate 29 and Interstate 80 corridors. Patchy dense fog has also developed in parts of central Iowa, including areas near Des Moines along I-35.
The greatest travel impact is occurring on I-29 from Council Bluffs northward, I-80 between Council Bluffs and Atlantic, and US-34 near Creston, where drivers may encounter rapid changes in visibility within a few hundred feet. Low-lying areas and river valleys are seeing the densest fog.
Iowa DOT traffic cameras show visibility fluctuating significantly before sunrise. Officials urge motorists to reduce speeds immediately, use low-beam headlights and increase following distance to at least five seconds between vehicles. High beams can reflect off fog droplets and further reduce visibility.
Conditions are expected to gradually improve by mid-morning Sunday as temperatures rise and mixing increases. Until visibility improves above one mile, drivers should allow extra travel time and consider delaying non-essential trips. Additional advisories could be issued if fog lingers beyond 10 a.m. Sunday.
