Cold lingers as snow is cleared off Eastern Iowa roads

CEDAR RAPIDS - The state unleashed 468 snowplows early Saturday to clear blowing snow off Iowa's roads, but there is no brushing aside another aspect of the winter storm that hit this weekend - a cycle of bitter wind chills.

By Saturday morning, the Burlington area had recorded the state's heaviest snowfall at 7 inches, according to the National Weather Service. But other parts of Eastern Iowa were not far behind.

Calamus reported 6.8 inches, Bertram 6.5, Independence 6.3 and Coggon 6.2 inches.

Outside Iowa's top five - but not by much - were parts of Iowa City with 6 and parts of Cedar Rapids with 5.4 inches.

The Iowa DOT estimated its cost for dealing statewide with the storm for a 48-hour period ending Saturday afternoon was nearly $1.7 million - most for materials (about $890,000) and labor (about $435,000).

In the Cedar Rapids region alone, its costs were estimated at nearly $70,000 for work on interstates 80, 380, Highway 100 and others.

That estimate does not include the city of Cedar Rapid's costs. In a tweet, the city said it was out in 'full force,” deploying about 90 pieces of snow removal equipment.

Blustery winds were expected to calm Sunday, the weather service said, but would still be enough to drop wind chill readings to 'the single digits to teens below zero” both Sunday and Monday mornings.

There is about a 40 percent chance of snow Sunday, with the possibility of some accumulation - though that's more likely in Southeast Iowa.

Monday is forecast to be mostly cloudy and cold - about 18 degrees for a high - and Tuesday brings a 90 percent chance of a 'wintry mix” of precipitation - with freezing rain possible for both the morning ane evening commutes.