A powerful cold front will move through Iowa this morning and afternoon, bringing strong northwest winds, falling temperatures and wintry precipitation. Significant impacts to travel conditions are likely. Scattered precipitation will initially start as rain or drizzle early this morning before the front quickly crosses the area from west to east. Any wet or slushy roads may flash freeze and quickly become icy as temperatures fall. Strong northwest winds gusting above 45 mph will create widespread blowing snow and potential blizzard conditions at times, especially in rural areas of north central into central Iowa. Snowfall totals are not expected to be heavy, perhaps 2 to 4 inches, but even light amounts may be enough to worsen impacts. Wind chills fall below zero by sunset, which could serve as another hazard should motorists become stranded.
Blizzard conditions are expected throughout the state, and various warnings have been issued by the National Weather Service until sunrise tomorrow. With those wind gusts up to 45 miles per hour, visibilities will easily be a quarter mile or less in many areas due to blowing snow. Plan on slippery road conditions, and as noted, flash freezing on travel surfaces. Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, you are advised to have a winter survival kit with you…and if you get stranded, stay with your vehicle. The latest road conditions for the state can be obtained by calling 511.
A bill proposed by Janesville state representative Sandy Salmon to allow legislators to question state Supreme Court justices and potentially overturn their decisions found little support in the House Judiciary Committee this week. House File 109 was termed a “judicial accountability bill” which would have provided the legislature with a process for reviewing and possibility overturning court decisions that invalidate a law or has the effect of creating new state law.
Iowa Third District Congresswoman Cindy Axne’s office announced yesterday that she is self-quarantining while she awaits a COVID-19 test after a member of her staff tested positive this week. A staff member who worked on the Congresswoman’s district tour over the last week tested positive after experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. Congresswoman Axne says she is not experiencing any symptoms but will isolate herself as a precaution until she can be tested. Her office says all events last week on her Iowa tour took place with strict COVID-19 protocols in place, including the wearing of masks and socially distancing. Axne says she will continue her regularly scheduled business in Washington, D.C. while she isolates, including attending committee hearings and casting votes virtually.
Around 32,000 Iowans who are 65 and older in a handful of Iowa counties will soon be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine at their local Walgreens and CVS stores. The 64,000 doses (two doses per person) were originally allocated for long-term care facilities, but fewer staff members than anticipated at nursing homes are taking the vaccine, leaving doses unused. Those doses were redistributed to the pharmacies in select counties. You can register online for an appointment if a Walgreens or CVS near you is a part of the program. There are a limited number of appointments based on the limited supply of the vaccine. Both Walgreens and CVS stores in Black Hawk and Linn counties are a part of the program, while Walgreens in Dubuque and Johnson counties in eastern Iowa are participating.
Division III college athletes were informed by the NCAA yesterday that for a second straight year…there will not be winter sports championship events. NCAA officials said more than half the schools in D-3 had not met established safety protocols to allow post-season competition. They maintain hope that spring championships will be held. The decision means no NCAA post-season for men’s and women’s basketball, swimming and diving, hockey and indoor track, as well as wrestling. The decision affects schools including Coe, Cornell, Loras, Luther, Wartburg, and Dubuque.
