Cedar Rapids, Iowa – Violent wind gusts up to 60 mph are whipping snow across eastern Iowa early Monday, creating blizzard conditions that are shutting down safe travel across multiple counties during the morning commute.
According to the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities, a Blizzard Warning remains in effect until 10 a.m. Monday for a large portion of east-central, northeast, and southeast Iowa, including Linn, Johnson, Muscatine, Dubuque, Washington, and Lee counties. Snowfall totals will add 1 to 3 more inches, but the biggest threat comes from intense wind gusts capable of producing sudden whiteouts.
Communities including Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Dubuque, Muscatine, Burlington, and Fairfield are seeing rapidly changing visibility as blowing snow sweeps across highways. Major routes such as Interstate 80, Interstate 380, and U.S. Highway 61 could quickly become impassable as drifting snow covers lanes.
Farther north in Benton and Buchanan counties, blizzard conditions are expected to ease slightly earlier, with the warning scheduled to expire around 7 a.m. Monday, though winds will remain strong.
Across the Mississippi River corridor, including Davenport, Moline, Rock Island, Freeport, and Sterling, the Blizzard Warning continues until 1 p.m. Monday with 3 to 6 inches of additional snow and wind gusts up to 55 mph expected.
Officials urge residents to avoid non-essential travel and check road conditions through 511ia.org or Illinois’ gettingaroundillinois.com before leaving home. Drivers who must travel should carry emergency supplies and remain with their vehicle if stranded.
Conditions are expected to slowly improve late Monday morning, but drifting snow may continue to create hazardous travel across eastern Iowa and northwest Illinois into the afternoon.
