Winter Storm Hits Eastern Iowa & Brings School Closures

Iowa got its first real taste of winter on Monday, January 8th.

The first major snowfall of the season continues on this week. It's been feeling like a relatively mild winter over the past month.

According to reports, this all has to do with an El Niño.

Officials from Health and Human Services describe it as something that, "occurs when ocean waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean become warmer than average, which results in shifts in the jet stream that can drive changes in weather around the globe."

On Monday night, the winter storm began, and it looks like it might not let up just yet.

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Winter Storm Continues Throughout the Week

According to officials at KCRG-TV (our weather partner), this winter storm is set to continue throughout Tuesday, January 9th. Heavy snow is due to sweep through the area, which will possibly let up in the evening.

The heaviest snowfalls will be on Tuesday morning and could impact your morning commute. Reports say that snow totals could max out at around five to ten inches.

It's not the snow that could make things a bit dicey, it's the wind.

Due to some small ice accumulations, snow, and wind gusts of up to 40 MPH, blizzard like conditions might be prevalent in many areas of Eastern Iowa. Snow will let up sometime on Tuesday, but are set to return later on in the week.

Officials are discouraging travel until weather and road conditions improve. Many schools in our area have closed for the day.

Eastern Iowa School Closures & Delays for January 9th, 2024

Ackley Geneva Wellsburg Steamboat Rock Community School District: Closed

Aplington-Parkersburg Schools: Closed & no activities

Cedar Falls Community School District: Closed

Cedar Rapids Schools: Closed

Charles City Schools: Closed

Clarksville Schools: Closed & all activities canceled

Decorah Schools: Closed

Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District: Closed

Grundy Center Community School District: Closed & no Early Out PD

Hawkeye Community College: Closed

Howard-Winneshiek Community School District: Closed

Independence Community School District, including St. John: Closed & no Tuesday morning or evening activities

Marion Ind. Schools: Closed

Sumner-Fredericksburg Community School District: Closed

Turkey Valley Schools: Closed

Union Community School District: Closed

University of Northern Iowa: Campus closed and only essential personnel will be permitted on campus today.

Waterloo Schools: Closed & all before and after-school activities are canceled

Waverly-Shellrock Community School District: Closed

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