- A portion of I-35 in Des Moines has been closed.
- Several airlines issued travel advisories for dozens of airports.
- Schools in Des Moines and some other counties in Iowa are closed on Friday.
- Residents in the affected areas are being asked to stay home.
Residents in some areas are being asked to stay home, travel advisories have been issued for dozens of major airports, and crews are working to clear and prepare roads from Iowa to New York via Georgia as a winter storm brings snow, ice and wind and freezing temperatures across much of the US this upcoming holiday weekend.
The storm, dubbed Izzy by The Weather Channel, left snow and ice-covered roads in parts of Iowa and Minnesota on Friday as officials in points south and east declared pre-storm emergencies.
(FORECAST: Winter Storm Izzy spreads snow and ice from Midwest to South and East through MLK weekend)
Here’s a look at the impact of – and plans for – Izzy so far:
Iowa State Patrol responds to multiple crashes
covered by state troops 32 crashes with 14 injuries on Friday, including a soldier who was hit. No deaths were reported.
Emergency declarations issued in southern states
The governors of Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina issued emergency declarations on Friday. Everyone advised residents to prepare before the storm hits.
“This storm will bring significant impact of snow, sleet and freezing rain in various parts of the state, with probable power outages and travel disruptions,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said in a press release. “North Carolinians should pay close attention to their local weather forecast over the next few days and ensure they are personally prepared before Saturday afternoon.”
Several airlines are waiving rebooking fees for bank holiday weekends
American, delta, southwest, JetBlue and spirit Airlines issued travel advisories and waived change fees at dozens of airports along the storm’s path.
Major cities affected include Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC
West Virginia in “state of readiness”
Governor Jim Justice placed the state be alarmed to prepare for the winter weather. The move signals the state’s Emergency Operations Center and related agencies to be ready to commit personnel and resources to the emergency.
Iowa Interstate closed
Part of Interstate 35 was closed approximately 12:30 p.m. CST due to a transverse truck blocking both lanes. The road was reopened about an hour later. Travelers should inquire 511 for current road conditions.
In some areas, schools are closed on Friday
Des Moines Public Schools canceled classes Friday. Several other school districts in Central Iowa also canceled schools or announced early releases.
Drivers faced slick commutes
More than 200 ploughs were on the roads in Iowa Friday morning and operations continued throughout the day and evening, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s road condition map.
Roads were already slick early in the morning and the Iowa State Patrol was urging motorists into affected areas stay at home if possible.
Kansas City’s snow plow map was also busy
The Kansas City snow plow map was on display crews active on streets across the city Friday night. Some schools in the area closed Thursday and Friday, but that was due to issues related to COVID-19.
Next for Izzy: The Southeast
The storm is moving east and south.
“This will result in snow for some and ice for others, and for parts of Georgia and the Carolinas it means conditions are rapidly changing from snow to ice and possibly back again,” Weather.com meteorologist Jonathan Belles said . “Saturday and Sunday will be poor driving in some of these locations but the latter part of the bank holiday weekend on Monday will bring drier and warmer weather. Be prepared for poor road conditions and the possibility of a power outage from northern Georgia to inland Carolinas.”
You can follow Izzy with our maps, radar, forecasts, times and other information here.
Georgia One of many states preparing roads
The Georgia Department of Transportation has over 50,000 tons of salt and approximately 46,000 tons of gravel and 407 dump trucks for snow removal.
“Winter weather is forecast this weekend in North Georgia and Metro Atlanta. GDOT is prepare Brine operations, equipment, materials and personnel to respond to the threat,” the agency said in a tweet. “We will continue to monitor conditions as the storm develops.”
A GDOT official told the Weather Channel on Thursday that people in the affected areas should stay home and avoid travel.
here are five things to know about snow and ice in the south.
Buyers face bottlenecks that could get worse
Shelves of ham products are partially empty at a grocery store in Fairfax, Virginia on Thursday, January 13, 2022.
(OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)
While shoppers stocked up on the usual bread, dairy and other goods, one expert warned the storm could affect the already stressed US supply chain.
“From an impact standpoint, in this type of weather scenario, there would only be one or two accidents for major highway closures to occur,” Francisco Alvarez, chief meteorologist for trucking network Convoy, said in an email to weather.com on Thursday .
For example, Alvarez cited Midwestern freeways as a key concern.
“If you’re traveling between Omaha, Sioux Falls, Minneapolis/St. If Paul and Des Moines could build a box, that would basically be the most dangerous area for truckers to travel,” he said as Izzy drives around the region.
safety tips
All drivers must be aware of areas that the storm will pass through.
click here for our list of “9 things to keep in your car if you have to travel in a winter storm.”
And here are some driving safety tips and other winter storm advice issued by the South Carolina Department of Emergency Management ahead of the storm:
– Avoid unnecessary travel to affected areas. If you must travel, make sure your vehicle is in good condition, your phone is charged, and you have extra blankets and snacks packed in case of delays.
– If there is a power outage, find out how to report the outage to your utility company and have alternative, safe means of keeping warm.
– Wrap exposed pipes or take other measures to insulate them from the cold and prevent freezing that can cause pipes to burst.
-If you have a fireplace, you have a lot of dry, seasoned wood.
-Winter is the most active season for house fires. Have fire extinguishers handy and make sure your family knows how to use them.
– Observe proper carbon monoxide safety: vent kerosene heaters, don’t burn charcoal indoors, and keep outdoor portable generators away from windows and doors.
-Have a supply of batteries.
-Keep pets and pets in a warm place with access to food and water.
– Look for people who need extra help in winter weather.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science in our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
