Blizzard Warning Extended as Car Crashes, Blowing Snow Plague Iowa: Cedar Falls Winter Storm Draco Update

Updated 4 p.m.

A blizzard warning issued for Black Hawk County has been extended to 9 p.m. as snow continues to blow and accidents are reported across the state.

Earlier today, 25 vehicles were involved in a fatal car crash on I-35 north of Ames. That was just one of several accidents that shut down highways and interstates across Iowa.

The Department of Transportation pleaded with motorists to stay home as 80 National Guard troops were called out to assist stranded drivers. Several rural roads and patches of the interstate were closed throughout the day.

Original story:

Cedar Falls, and indeed the entire state, woke up this morning to a blanket of deep, blowing snow.

With classes canceled and many businesses delaying opening, Winter Storm Draco made its presence known.

According to the National Weather Service, 9.7 inches of snow had fallen at the Waterloo Regional Airport as of 6 a.m. today.

The blizzard isn't over; widespread blowing snow is predicted to continue throughout the day. At about 9 a.m., winds of 33 mph and gusts of 43 mph were measured at the airport.

Roads across Eastern Iowa continue to be bad, with the DOT labeling most of the state "Travel not advised." Check road conditions at www.511ia.org.

Locally, Cedar Falls road crews started plowing at around 3 a.m. As of 9:30 a.m., the Cedar Falls Police Department said there were no accidents reported Thursday after 6 a.m.

What's next in the forecast? Well, bitter cold, for one thing. Skies are supposed to be sunny Friday, with a high near 18. But the wind chill values could be as low as -15, with a northwest wind 11 to 17 mph and gusts as high as 23 mph.

By Saturday things should improve. The forecast calls for sunny skies, with a high near 23 and a south wind 3 to 5 mph.

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