Eastern Iowa scurries for first snow of the season

CEDAR RAPIDS — The first snow of the season was a clear reminder that winter is right around the corner. Cities and schools around Eastern Iowa braced for impact Friday with a sprinkling of snow emergencies, canceled activities and warnings to stay indoors.

'This is our first snowstorm of the season,' Britley Ritz, a meteorologist with KCRG-TV9, said Friday, predicting 6 to 9 inches of snow in Eastern Iowa by this morning, with flurries in the morning and afternoon.

The snowfall is expected to be coupled with 15 to 20 mph winds and temperatures in the low 20s, or single digits with the wind chill. Visibility is anticipated to be reduced and roads slick.

'It could potentially be white-out conditions depending on how much snow falls in the overnight,' Ritz said.

The National Weather Service declared a winter storm warning in effect until noon today for 18 counties, including Linn, Johnson, Benton, Iowa, Washington, Cedar and Jones. A low-pressure weather system is coming from the northwest from Nebraska, Ritz said.

Often, winter eases in with a series of 1- or 2-inch snow storms, rather than a major storm to kick off the season, such as the one predicted for Friday by NOAA — the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — other weather-forecasting services and the media.

'It's unusual, but last year had an ice event and a snowstorm with 4 inches in November, so we do prepare for an event like this,' said Michael Duffy, Cedar Rapids street superintendent. 'On the positive side, we are ready for it. Equipment is prepared and supplies are all in, and we can bring in the bulk of our staff at 4 a.m.'

Duffy anticipated having the roads, particularly main arterial streets, clear by the time most people wake up this morning.

Cedar Rapids declared a snow emergency from 5 p.m. Friday until 5 p.m. today. This means residents must remove cars parked on emergency snow routes, typically main arterials, bus routes, school zones and areas near hospitals. Vehicles not moved from these routes during this period may be ticketed and/or towed.

Jon Resler, Iowa City street superintendent, agreed it is unusual for the first storm of the year to come in 'this early ..., but the silver lining is the weather looks good for next week ...

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Iowa City street crews were still collecting leaves this week, and moved quickly to convert the trucks to snowplows, Resler said. Road crews will be ready, he said, noting on Friday that Iowa City was not planning to declare a snow emergency.

Street crews are contending with the weather and an influx of fans for the last home football game for the undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes. More than 63,000 tickets had been sold.

'I think people will be pretty dedicated wanting to see this football game because the Hawkeyes are undefeated,' Resler said. 'We are being conservative that we will see that level of traffic. Instead of assuming people won't make it because of the weather, we are expecting people to still come.'

Among the other actions in preparation for the storm:

l North Liberty declared a snow emergency from 6 p.m., Friday until 11 a.m., today. No on-street parking. Residents are reminded to clear their sidewalks within 48 hours of a snowfall and urged to clear around storm drains and fire hydrants.

l Mount Vernon declared a snow emergency from 6 p.m., Friday until snow removal operations have concluded.

l Fairfax declared a snow emergency through Saturday with no on-street parking.

l Mechanicsville declared a snow emergency with parking on the even side only.

l Some school and athletic activities were canceled in school districts of Iowa City, Clear-Creek Amana, Highland and Iowa Valley.

l Weather threats prompted the cancellation of the Christmas tree Lighting Ceremony on Gov. Terry Branstad's public schedule on Friday.

l Comments: (319) 339-3177; brian.morelli@thegazette.com