Blizzard conditions expected to shut down state today

The official word for today: Stay home and off the roads if at all possible.

Blizzard conditions are widely predicted, with wind gusts of up to 60 mph and temperatures below zero tonight.

Some 6 to 12 inches of snow are forecast in Eastern Iowa, with heavier accumulations in some areas.

But given the wind, “no one will have any method of measuring that, because it's going to be blowing around,” said Andy Ervin, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities.

It's been about a decade since a snow of this magnitude has hit Iowa, and “it has probably been 20 to 30 years since the impacts of a winter storm of this strength have been seen in the area,” Erwin said.

Last night, Highway Assistance Teams were positioned around the state - including at Department of Transportation facilities in Cedar Rapids and in Coralville/Iowa City - to respond to emergencies and help stranded motorists.

Gov. Chet Culver said state officials are prepared to open the emergency operations center at Camp Dodge near Johnston if necessary.

“It's very serious, and it's progressing fast,” Culver said. “Conditions are not good, and they're only going to get worse. We are really urging people to stay off the roads.”

Iowa DOT workers will keep working on roads around the clock, said Gretchen Gresslin, district maintenance manager in Cedar Rapids.

“We won't pull off unless we're not making any headway and the visibility is very poor,” Gresslin, who manages plowing operations in 12 counties, said last night.

The main roads in Cedar Rapids are now winter driving condition, with one-half to two inches of loose snow with packed snow under it, said public works maintenance manager Craig Hanson.

"We are about one-fourth done in the residential areas," Hanson said just after 9 a.m. "We did the main roads, but in the last four hours, there has been more snow. Drifting is starting was the report from one police officer. We are going to finish the residential roads and then go back to the mains as crews are available."

John Sobaski, Iowa City's assistant streets superintendent, said it would help “if people could have any obstacles out of the way for us.”

High winds likely will complicate, and perhaps stall completely, efforts to remove the snow from rural roads, said Kevin Hackathorn, Johnson County's road maintenance superintendent. “If it's going to do what they're talking about doing, there's no sense getting in a big hurry because nobody's going anywhere anyway,” he said.

Both Johnson and Linn counties are following their winter procedures: Plows off the road at 6 p.m., with crews ready to return at 4 a.m.

The region's utility companies spent Monday and Tuesday reviewing winter plans and supplies, but they were hopeful the lack of ice would reduce the number of power outages.

Light snow began to fall early Tuesday - just enough to complicate the morning commute. Cedar Rapids police responded to seven accidents by 10 a.m., including two that involved minor injuries. The snow picked up again at 3 p.m., slowing the evening commute, with numerous reports of vehicles in ditches.

All departures from The Eastern Iowa Airport have been canceled until at least 1:45 p.m., airport officials said this morning. Travelers are encouraged to call their airline's 800 number for up-to-date information.

Most schools canceled classes or dismissed early Tuesday, and many schools and businesses have delayed or canceled operations for today. Check the full list at gazetteonline.com/cancellations

Rod Boshart, Spencer Willems and Jeff Raasch contributed to this story.