***OFFICIAL 2026 WEATHER THREAD***

[cycloneG]

Ha! That's the big question.

I will say that I think the wind last night was about as crazy as I've heard for sustained periods of time.


I think that’s actually high for a storm.

I wonder how high it would have gotten if they hadn't closed the interstates.

 

[LivntheCyLife]

My personal opinion is that it is a multitude of factors. I have said on here numerous times that my take on the DOT is that they are quick to downgrade roads and slow to improve in an effort to keep people off of them for safety and ease of cleaning. They also don't want their crews out in extreme conditions.

Also, call it soft or whatever you want. There are a lot of times where there is no need to push it just because you can. We as a society seem to take it as a badge of honor doing/working more than is needed and saying "eh I made it why couldn't they?"

I get the warnings and not recommending travel, but closing the interstates seems a little extreme to me from what I've seen. If somebody works at Mary Greeley and lives in Story City, was it really bad enough to prevent them from using the interstate to get to work?

 

[nhclone]

Iowa DOT has changed their approach to closing interstates for this winter to a more predictive approach to try and lower crash numbers during those large events. I don't remember all of the data, but I know one example is that if there is a near-term prediction of 35+ mph winds and 6+ inches of snow you will essentially always see an interstate closure now. It's based on recent historical events and closure or large-scale crash instances and following what some surrounding states are doing. I don't know if I80 was closed based on this, but just a reason you will likely see more larger scale closures than we have in past years.

 

[somecyguy]

Every time the DOT closes a highway during winter weather, dozens of Jeep Grand Cherokees live to see another day. Think of the Grand Cherokees.

 

[Erik4Cy]

7° on a Monday & 82° on Saturday of the same week.

This is Iowa alright.

 

[spinback32]

I don't think I've ever seen them close I80 from Coralville to basically Council Bluffs before? And for what? Reports are that the Des Moines area got about 2 inches snow? I get it that the visibility had to be bad... but are we now going to close I80 every time we get a couple inches of snow and some wind?

Got up this morning about 5 am, I live just outside of CR a bit, started looking at various snow plow cameras and had decided it didn't look too bad and would get ready to go into work... and then shortly after that got a text that work was closed for the day. We never hardly ever close. I think the overreaction caused work to close... if the CEO wakes up and turns on the news and sees I80 is closed across basically the whole state and they are advising against any travel at all.... you probably feel like you have to close.

Just weird... I'm glad work was closed... but are we getting SUPER soft these days or what?

Who cares? People generally suck at driving and making driving decisions. Take that decision out of their hands.

 

[Die4Cy]

Iowa DOT has changed their approach to closing interstates for this winter to a more predictive approach to try and lower crash numbers during those large events. I don't remember all of the data, but I know one example is that if there is a near-term prediction of 35+ mph winds and 6+ inches of snow you will essentially always see an interstate closure now. It's based on recent historical events and closure or large-scale crash instances and following what some surrounding states are doing. I don't know if I80 was closed based on this, but just a reason you will likely see more larger scale closures than we have in past years.

Logistics schedules run tight in perfect weather. If you don't force semi trucks on 80 to park, they won't. They are the most dangerous aspect of interstate travel in bad weather, and I say that as someone thay has many experienced drivers to whom I would trust my life in any condition.

 

[MJ29]

Who cares? People generally suck at driving and making driving decisions. Take that decision out of their hands.

As somone who works in insurance claims, I agree with this wholeheartedly.

 

[dahliaclone]

I get the warnings and not recommending travel, but closing the interstates seems a little extreme to me from what I've seen. If somebody works at Mary Greeley and lives in Story City, was it really bad enough to prevent them from using the interstate to get to work?

While a closure can feel like an overreaction, the decision to shut down I-35 yesterday late afternoon was a smart strategic move to prevent a safety crisis as darkness was coming up. The geography of Ames north to the MN border is notoriously flat and open so even small snow amounts are blizzard-like at that point; visibility wasn't just low, it was non-existent. When you combine those whiteout conditions with the "flash freeze" from the earlier rain, the interstate essentially became a trap.

It's frustrating to have a commute blocked, but in those specific conditions, the highway becomes a graveyard for vehicles, and closing it is often the only way to keep the number of those stranded at zero or close to zero as possible.

We waited until today and are driving from KC to MPLS now. It was a bummer we had to delay our trip back home because of the roads....but I also didn't want to drive north, with my elderly parents, and get in that no-mans-land between Ames and Albert Lea and get stranded.

It's sunny but windy as hell now....but aren't to Ames yet.

 

[awd4cy]

Who cares? People generally suck at driving and making driving decisions. Take that decision out of their hands.

Not everything is nonessential. Having I-80 closed until just an hour and a half ago was insane.

 

[3TrueFans]

Not everything is nonessential. Having I-80 closed until just an hour and a half ago was insane.

So use other roads

 

[jsb]

Not everything is nonessential. Having I-80 closed until just an hour and a half ago was insane.

I’m sure there were plenty of people on I 80

 

[madguy30]

Was just out in a walk. Eastern Iowa. The wind/cold really is making it harder for the sun to break things up.

If it slowed even a little there would be fewer issues.

 

[Cyforce]

Who cares? People generally suck at driving and making driving decisions. Take that decision out of their hands.

I’m an excellent driver.

 

[awd4cy]

I’m sure there were plenty of people on I 80

There weren’t.

 

[riceville98]

I get the warnings and not recommending travel, but closing the interstates seems a little extreme to me from what I've seen. If somebody works at Mary Greeley and lives in Story City, was it really bad enough to prevent them from using the interstate to get to work?

I saw 1 report yesderday that ISP didn't have enough officers to respond to all of the calls for service. One way to keep that problem from getting worse is to close the interstate. I think that was one reason among the others suggested here

 

[Cyinthenorth]

Hopefully you live on a state highway. No counties around Mason city have sent their plows out in this wind. Blizzard extended now.

I'm still in ORD. Going to see if the one scheduled to leave at 4:49 can make it or not

 

[clonedude]

I’m sure there were plenty of people on I 80

this morning on kcrg in cr... they were talking about how I80 was closed... and then they showed a webcam of I80, and there were plenty of cars driving on it. Was kinda funny. People don't give a s**t.

 

[cowgirl836]

Wausau, WI up to 30 inches of snow as of earlier this morning with it still coming down.

 

[cydnote]

this morning on kcrg in cr... they were talking about how I80 was closed... and then they showed a webcam of I80, and there were plenty of cars driving on it. Was kinda funny. People don't give a s**t.

No idea, would that compromise your insurance in the event you needed it?