Blizzard conditions hit southeast Iowa for a brief time early last(Thurs) nite, as close to an inch of snow fell and was blown around by sporadic, up-to-40-mile-per-hour winds.
A similar scenario struck parts of northwest Iowa…and “thunder snow” in central Iowa created hazardous driving conditions Thursday afternoon. A 25-vehicle pile-up on Interstate-80, near the Waukee exit, closed eastbound lanes. Near DeSoto, on Highway 169, 30 vehicles crashed. On Interstate 35, a semi jack-knifed near the Cumming exit and northbound lanes were closed until the semi was moved. Sergeant Scott Bright of the Iowa Highway Patrol says speed was the major factor in these incidents.
There were white-out conditions in northwest Iowa Thurday afternoon as strong wind gusts whipped the snow and some schools dismissed classes early. In central Iowa, many vehicles — especially semis — had difficultly getting up hills…and on Des Moines Avenue near Corse Street in Burlington around noon, a local woman’s SUV went out of control on the snow…hit a curb…then another vehicle…and slid down a steep embankment into some trees. No one was hurt, but Sheila Hammond’s blue Ford Expedition had to be towed back onto the road.
