Plows clearing Eastern Iowa roads of wet snow

Rain that morphed into heavy, wet snow Thursday morning in Eastern Iowa left highways — including interstates 380 and 80 — completely covered in snow, the state Department of Transportation reported.

The department said it had more than 190 snowplows on Iowa roads — in addition to city and county crews — as the winter storm focused its attention on Eastern Iowa.

A winter storm warning issued Wednesday night has expired for the Corridor, following the snowfall as its travels east. That leaves the area including Cedar Rapids and Iowa City under a winter storm advisory until 6 p.m.

The National Weather Service predicted 2 to 5 inches of snow and wind gusts up to 35 mph for Buchanan, Delaware, Benton and Linn counties. It urged drivers to be careful of slick streets.

Reports to the weather service around 9 a.m. said there were 1.5 inches of snow in the Oakdale area of Coralville, in northeast Cedar Rapids and in Lisbon as snow continued to fall at a good clip.

Although the temperatures were above freezing during the day on Thursday, highs on Friday are predicted to reach only in the high 20s — giving the wet snow and rain the chance to freeze.

The Iowa DOT said state roads in Eastern Iowa — including around Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, North Liberty, the Amanas, Anamosa and Mount Pleasant — were completely covered in snow Thursday morning. But roads around Central City and Center Point were only partially covered or were in seasonal condition