Winter storm updates: I-35 fully reopens in both directions

What are current road conditions?

Travel is not advised in northwest Iowa, as major highways and interstates deal with blizzard-like conditions.

As of 3:11 p.m. Friday, large portions of the northwest corner of the state are labeled "travel not advised" by the Iowa Department of Transportation road conditions map. Interstate 35 is reopened in both directions after closures Friday afternoon. 

"The wind is really starting to cause some problems out there. More roadways have been upgraded to Travel Not Advised, and a few areas are impassable," the DOT said Friday afternoon. "If you can avoid travel today, please do."

A few select areas of northern and northwestern Iowa are colored red, meaning roads are "impassable."

A Blizzard Warning in Minnesota has closed many of the state's roads.

The easiest way to check real-time road conditions is to visit Iowa 511's website.

Is any more snow expected? What is today's forecast?

Blizzard conditions have been officially reported across northern Iowa as strong winds have led to intense periods of blowing snow and near-zero visibility. Iowa Falls, Algona, Webster City, and Clarion, have all recorded wind gusts of 40+ mph and visibility of a quarter mile or less.

A Blizzard Warning remained in effect until 6 a.m. Saturday for northern and north-central Iowa. Gusts could reach 40-55 mph in those areas Friday afternoon and evening. The Blizzard Warning has been canceled for the Des Moines metro but has been replaced with a Winter Weather Advisory to account for blowing snow concerns throughout the day. Travelers are urged to avoid being on the roads unless it is absolutely necessary.

The brutal cold continues as well. 

Wind chills will remain in the -20s and -30s all day Friday, and there will be little to no improvement overnight and early Saturday. The sun should come out Saturday, slowly improving road conditions over the weekend.

Wind Chill Warnings have been issued for the region until 12 p.m. Saturday. It is dangerous to be in the elements for more than 20-30 minutes at a time. Be sure to cover all areas of exposed skin to avoid frostbite whenever you're outdoors. 

What is the weekend forecast? Will it be safe to travel? 

Travel will slowly improve over the weekend, but patchy blowing snow and slick roads are still expected Saturday. It will be sunnier and a little "warmer" Saturday with highs in the mid to upper 0s. 

Christmas Day will start sunny, but clouds will arrive in the afternoon along with an additional chance for snow. Snow showers are forecast for the second part of Sunday and first part of Monday. Accumulation is possible, but 3" will likely be the high end of the totals when it's all over.

It will be cold still on Monday and Tuesday morning, but a warmer air mass moves in by Tuesday afternoon and the rest of the week. 

Highs may actually reach the 40s towards the last few days of 2022.

Are there any power outages? 

As of around 10: 47 p.m. Friday, MidAmerican Energy noted 14 current customers impacted by a power outage in the metro due to the severe weather.

Polk County Emergency Management is monitoring power outages and will re-evaluate shelter capacities if "significant or prolonged power outages arise".

What cities are under snow ordinances or snow emergencies?

Currently, the following cities have instated snow ordinances and/or parking bans: 

• Ames
• Ankeny
• Bondurant
• Carlisle
• Clive
• Des Moines
• Grimes
• Indianola
• Johnston
• Osceola
• Perry
• Waukee
• West Des Moines

More information about snow ordinances across the metro is available here.

Des Moines International Airport delays, cancellations

Representatives for the Des Moines International Airport told Local 5 earlier this week they are equipped to keep runways operational. 

However, decisions about flights are made by individual airlines. If you are worried about a flight being delayed, downloading the airline's app will keep you up to date on what to expect, and that will also let you rebook your flight, if necessary. 

Many airlines flying out of DSM have issued travel fee waivers, including American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Delta Airlines. 

Learn more here.

Friday, Dec. 23 airport updates via FlyDSM.com (as of 6:28 a.m.)

Departures

• Delta 2340 to Atlanta (ATL): 5:45 a.m. canceled
• Southwest 1888 to St. Louis (STL): 5:50 a.m. canceled
• Delta 4915 to Detroit (DTW): 6:20 a.m. canceled
• American 2189 to Charlotte (CLT): Delayed from 6:45 a.m. to 7:55 a.m.
• Southwest 3107 to Denver (DEN): 6:50 a.m. canceled
• American 2326 to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW): 7:03 a.m. canceled
• Delta 5208 to New York (LGA): Delayed from 7:10 a.m. to 8:05 a.m.
• American 1795 to Phoenix (PHX): 7:36 a.m. canceled
• Allegiant 4434 to Punta Gorda (PGD): 7:30 a.m. canceled
• Allegiant 42094 to Fort Lauderdale (FLL): 10 a.m. canceled
• American 3346 to Chicago (ORD): Delayed from 11 a.m. to 12:17 p.m.
• Southwest 1435 to Denver (DEN): Delayed from 12 p.m. to 12:36 p.m.
• American 3447 to Washington D.C. (DCA): Delayed from 12:42 p.m. to 1:14 p.m.
• Delta 5429 to Minneapolis (MSP): Delayed from 12:59 p.m. to 1:35 p.m.
• American 2467 to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW): 1:31 p.m. canceled
• United 752 to Denver (DEN): 1:31 p.m. canceled
• Allegiant 4435 to Orlando (SFB): 2:15 p.m. canceled
• Delta 5042 to Detroit (DTW): 2:21 p.m. canceled
• Allegiant 4472 to Las Vegas (LAS): 3:06 p.m. canceled
• Southwest 1635 to St. Louis (STL): Delayed from 6:15 p.m. to 6:35 p.m.
• American 2071 to Phoenix (PHX): Delayed 6:15 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Southwest 1635 to St. Louis (STL): Delayed 6:15 p.m. to 7:36 p.m.

Arrivals

• United 1333 from Denver (DEN): 12:40 p.m. canceled
• American 1497 from Charlotte (CLT): 1:13 p.m. canceled
• American 2467 from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW): 1:24 p.m. delayed
• Delta 5213 from Detroit (DTW): 1:36 p.m. canceled
• Allegiant 4457 from Punta Gorda (PGD): 2:16 p.m. canceled
• United 4767 from Houston (IAH): 3;02 p.m. delayed
• American 3933 from Chicago (ORD): 3:11 p.m. canceled
• United 5223 from Chicago (ORD): 3:58 p.m. delayed
• Allegiant 4461 from Fort Lauderdale (FLL): 5:14 p.m. canceled
• American 2071 from Phoenix (PHX): 5:25 p.m. canceled
• Southwest 1635 from Denver (DEN): 5:50 p.m. delayed
• American 1869 from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW): 6:38 p.m. canceled
• Allegiant 4454 from Orlando (SFB): 8:45 p.m. canceled
• Delta 5069 from New York (LGA): 9:01 p.m. delayed
• Delta 4883 from Detroit (DTW): 9:03 p.m. canceled
• Allegiant 4439 from Las Vegas (LAS): 10:01 p.m. canceled
• Southwest 660 from St. Louis (STL): 2:24 a.m. canceled

Are medical facilities like hospitals and clinics open?

Due to the weather, some clinics and departments in the Des Moines metro will be closed Thursday and Friday. 

For a full list of UnityPoint closings, click here.

Broadlawns' Main Campus Urgent Care will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. Their emergency department, surgery, inpatient units and crisis observation center are open currently, but all other clinics and offices are closed. For more details, click here. 

All MercyOne family medicine and internal medicine clinics are open and caring for patients on Friday, Dec. 23. To see what other MercyOne facilities are open and closed, click here.

Are any businesses closed?

 Merle Hay Mall is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday.

• All Iowa State Bank branches will open late at 10 a.m. on Friday
• All Midland Credit Union locations are closed Friday
• All Iowa Bankers Trust locations will open late at 10 a.m. on Friday

Are there any warming centers or homeless shelters open? 

According to Polk County Emergency Management, "overnight homeless shelters remain open with adequate space, staff, food, and drink". 

The agency is in contact with both Central Iowa Shelters and Services (CISS) as well as Bethel shelters. 

As of 12:30 p.m. Thursday, there is no need to open any additional overnight shelters. 

Some warming centers are closed due to weather and scheduled holiday closings, but of the open warming centers, there have been no issues with capacity as of 12:30 p.m.

For a full list of warming centers across Polk County, click here.

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