Iowa road conditions today: Winter Storm Warning snarls travel; Omaha and Des Moines brace for more snow into Sunday

A potent post-Thanksgiving winter storm is hammering Iowa and eastern Nebraska today, creating dangerous travel and widespread road coverage from slick to completely snow-covered. A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect across most of Iowa through tonight, with heavy bands continuing this afternoon before gradually tapering to lighter snow and blowing/drifting overnight. Visibility drops and rapidly changing conditions are the main hazards, especially on open stretches of I-80, I-35, US-20, and rural east–west corridors.

Road conditions in Iowa: what drivers are facing now

Iowa’s statewide 511 system shows the majority of primary routes as partially to completely covered with snow and slush, and plow crews are active in all districts. Spotty whiteouts are occurring under heavier bursts, and bridge decks and overpasses are icing first. State patrols are reporting slide-offs and jackknifed semis in multiple counties; secondary roads remain the most treacherous due to drifting and lower treatment frequency.

If you must travel:

• Reduce speed dramatically and leave 8–10 seconds of following distance.

• Use low beams in falling or blowing snow; avoid cruise control.

• Expect rolling slow-downs behind plow trains—never pass on the right.

• Carry a winter kit (charged phone, blanket, water, snacks, scraper, booster cables).

Winter Storm Warning: timing and snow amounts

The heaviest snow zone arcs from central into eastern Iowa, with 8–14 inches common where bands pivot, and locally higher drifts in open country. Far northwest and far southeast edges of the state run lower but still impactful totals. Wind gusts of 25–35 mph are pushing snow across lanes and reducing visibility, particularly this evening as temperatures fall.

Storm timeline (local time)

• This afternoon (Sat): Widespread snow; heavy at times. Travel ranges from difficult to dangerous with intermittent whiteouts.

• Tonight: Snow gradually lightens, but blowing and drifting persist; refreeze turns slush to ice.

• Early Sunday: Lingering light snow/flurries north and east; continued slick spots and expanded drifting in rural areas.

Weather tomorrow: what to expect on Sunday

Sunday trends colder with brisk northwest winds and leftover slick roads, even where skies brighten. Any clearing won’t immediately improve traction—packed snow and shaded stretches will stay icy. Many cities will spend the day below freezing, keeping cleanup the priority and extending travel impacts for holiday return trips.

Key Sunday impacts

• Refreeze: Treated surfaces re-ice, especially at dawn.

• Drifting: Open fields and north–south roads see new snow pushed back into lanes.

• Reduced lane width: Windrows and plow berms constrain merging and turning movements.

Omaha weather: lingering light snow and blowing snow

Across the Omaha metro, moderate morning snow transitions to lighter snow and flurries this afternoon with gusts 25–30 mph producing areas of blowing snow. Totals by tonight commonly 5–10 inches across the wider area, higher in favored bands east and northeast of the city. Evening travel remains slow with reduced visibility near open fields and along the Platte and Elkhorn corridors. Sunday turns colder and breezy; watch for refreeze and drifting, especially on the Beltway and approaches to I-80 and I-680.

Des Moines weather: heavy bands ease late, hazards linger

The Des Moines area sits near the heart of the storm’s heavier swath. Expect additional accumulation through late afternoon before tapering to lighter snow and flurries tonight. Winds 20–30 mph will keep blowing/drifting active after the flakes ease, and temperatures falling into the 20s will lock in ice on untreated surfaces. Sunday features clouds, flurries at times, and continued slick travel in neighborhoods and on untreated ramps.

Tracking and tools (no links; what to check)

• State 511 map/app: Live road coverage, plow positions, and camera stills.

• Mobile alerts: Enable push notifications from your local weather app for changes to warnings and advisories.

• Airport status boards: Expect longer taxi/de-icing times at Des Moines and Omaha; arrive early and keep carry-ons light.

Closures, delays, and safety notes

Cities across central and eastern Iowa have declared snow emergencies restricting on-street parking for plows. Community events and weekend activities are shifting to virtual or being postponed; check local notices before heading out. If you experience a slide-off, stay with your vehicle unless a safe shelter is visible within a short walk, keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and run the heater intermittently to conserve fuel.

What’s next after the storm

Behind this system, a colder, drier air mass settles in. Roads will improve where sun and treatment can work, but shaded stretches and rural routes with drifting may remain slick into Monday morning. Another, weaker disturbance could brush the region early next week; confidence on timing and track is lower, so stay tuned to updated forecasts once crews finish primary cleanup.

Today is a high-impact travel day across Iowa and into the Omaha metro. If travel isn’t essential, postpone until plows can expand pavement coverage and winds ease. If you must go, slow down, give crews room, and plan for a much longer trip time than usual.