A screenshot from 2:30 p.m. local time showing Iowa's 511 website with multiple major thruways blocked in wake of the winter storm.
Heads-up, keep an eye on conditions if you're headed toward Iowa. The state saw widespread traffic issues, pile-ups and other emergency situations on Wednesday as rain turned to snow and freezing conditions overnight.
Wednesday afternoon, Iowa 511 showed parts of I-35 and I-80 have become impassable as well as countless other state highways.
"The Southbound lanes of I-35 (North of Ankeny) are CLOSED due to a multi-vehicle crash. While Northbound lanes are now open, we encourage everyone to avoid the area to give first responders time to provide support for the motorists," Iowa State Patrol wrote around 2:30 p.m. local time.
By noon on Wednesday, Iowa State Patrol said it had responded to 68 crashes and had multiple patrol cars struck in low visibility conditions. The patrol wrote particularly about a stretch of I-80 WB near Newton: "Vehicles are piling up, and visibility is nearly zero. We urge everyone: DO NOT TRAVEL unless absolutely necessary! YOUR LIFE (and the lives of first responders) are being PUT AT RISK!"
Access Iowa 511's closures map via this link.
Real-time road conditions via Overdrive's Roads 511 X/Twitter list.
