Cedar Rapids, Iowa – Blowing snow and wind gusts up to 45 mph are creating hazardous travel across eastern Iowa late Monday morning, with slick bridges and sudden visibility drops expected to impact drivers through early afternoon.
According to the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities, a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 1 p.m. Monday for much of east-central and southeast Iowa as well as nearby parts of Illinois and northeast Missouri. While the earlier blizzard warning has expired, strong winds continue to whip remaining snowfall across highways, producing brief whiteout conditions in open areas.
Communities including Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Iowa City, Muscatine, Burlington, and Fairfield may see less than an inch of additional snow, but drifting and blowing snow remain the main concern. Wind gusts around 45 mph can quickly push snow across roads, especially on rural highways and elevated bridges.
Conditions may be particularly slick on major routes such as Interstate 80 near Iowa City, U.S. 61 through Muscatine and Burlington, and U.S. 20 near Dubuque, where crosswinds could make travel difficult for high-profile vehicles. Tree branches may also snap under strong gusts.
Transportation officials urge drivers to slow down and check conditions through 511ia.org in Iowa, GettingAroundIllinois.com, or MoDOT road reports before traveling.
Wind-driven snow should gradually ease after 1 p.m. Monday, though slick spots may linger into the afternoon as temperatures remain near freezing.
