Thursday storm updates: Flights delayed or canceled, live road conditions

How much snow did Iowa get?

Several inches of snow fell across the state Wednesday evening and overnight, and additional accumulation is expected mainly over southern and south-central Iowa through mid-morning. 

Most areas received 2-4" of snow in total, but there were some pockets where amounts topped out over 4-5".  

Story City received 4.8" of snow, while Des Moines got 2.5".

What are current road conditions?

The Iowa Department of Transportation says "travel is not advised" for much of I-80, as far west as Stuart and as far east as West Branch.

"Strong winds are kicking up and it's going to be hard to control your vehicle on the icy roads," the DOT said around midday Thursday.

Blizzard conditions will lead to blowing snow and strong winds across central Iowa, making driving dangerous, if not impossible. It will be very dangerous for anyone on the roads, especially in rural areas. 

All major highways and interstates across Iowa are at least "partially covered," according to the DOT map.

To learn more about current road conditions, click here.

"Good Morning Iowa": Weather conditions across the metro

Is any more snow expected? What is today's forecast?

A Blizzard Warning began at noon Thursday and continues until 6 a.m. Saturday for the Des Moines area as well as much of northern and central Iowa.

The biggest threat Thursday is severe wind chills and significant blowing snow that will lead to periods of near-zero visibility.   

Northwest winds could gust as high as 40 mph Thursday and as high as 45-50 mph overnight and again on Friday. 

Are there any power outages? 

As of around 10:30 p.m. Thursday, MidAmerican Energy noted 16 current customers impacted by a power outage in the metro. 

Polk County Emergency Management is monitoring power outages and will re-evaluate shelter capacities if "significant or prolonged power outages arise". 

What cities are under snow ordinances or snow emergencies?

Currently, the following cities have instated snow ordinances and/or parking bans: 

• Ames
• Ankeny
• Bondurant
• Carlisle
• Clive
• Des Moines
• Grimes
• Indianola
• Johnston
• Osceola
• Perry
• Waukee
• West Des Moines

More information about snow ordinances across the metro is available here.

Des Moines International Airport delays, cancellations

Representatives for the Des Moines International Airport told Local 5 earlier this week they are equipped to keep runways operational. 

However, decisions about flights are made by individual airlines. If you are worried about a flight being delayed, downloading the airline's app will keep you up to date on what to expect, and that will also let you rebook your flight, if necessary. 

Many airlines flying out of DSM have issued travel fee waivers, including American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Delta Airlines. 

Learn more here.

Thursday, Dec. 22 airport updates via FlyDSM.com (as of 10:30 p.m.)

Departures

• Southwest 1888 to St.  Louis (STL): 5:50 a.m. canceled
• Allegiant 4452 to Orlando (SFB): 6 a.m. canceled
• Delta 4915 to Detroit (DTW): Delayed from 6:20 a.m. to 10:55 a.m.
• Allegiant 42058 to Orange County (SNA): 6:30 a.m. canceled
• American 2189 to Charlotte (CLT): Delayed from 6:45 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.
• Southwest 3107 to Denver (DEN): 6:50 a.m. canceled
• American 2326 to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW): Delayed from 7:03 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.
• Allegiant 4443 to Newark (NEW): 8:15 a.m. canceled
• Frontier 9471 to Denver (DEN): Delayed from 9:47 a.m. to 1:17 p.m.
• Allegiant 42675 to St. Petersburg-Clearwater (PIE): 10:15 a.m. canceled
• Frontier 91066 to Orlando (MCO): Delayed from 11:03 a.m. to 11:29 a.m.
• Allegiant 424 to Las Vegas (LAS): 12:09 p.m. canceled
• Allegiant 4442 to Nashville (BNA): 1:20 p.m. canceled
• United 752 to Denver (DEN): 1:31 p.m. canceled
• Allegiant 4473 to San Diego (SAN): 3:24 p.m. canceled
• Allegiant 4459 to Punta Gorda (PGD): 3:55 p.m. canceled
• American 3933 to Chicago (ORD): 4:35 p.m. canceled
• Southwest 1635 to St. Louis (STL): 6:15 p.m. canceled
• United 4472 to Chicago (ORD): 6:30 p.m. canceled
• Delta 2371 to Atlanta (ATL): 5:35 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
• Frontier 91959 to Las Vegas (LAS) 5:52 p.m. to 10:01 p.m.
• American 2071 to Phoenix (PHX) 6:15 p.m. to 7:58 p.m.
• Allegiant 42102 to Houston (HOU) 6:30 p.m. canceled
• American 1869 to Dallas-Forth Worth (DFW) 7:25 p.m. to 7:52 p.m.
• Allegiant 41499 to Austin (AUS) 8:46 p.m. canceled
• Allegiant 42286 to Phoenix (AZA) 9:13 p.m. canceled

Arrivals

• Frontier 9470 from Denver (DEN): 9:01 a.m. delayed
• Allegiant G4996 from St. Petersburg-Clearwater (PIE): 9:25 a.m. canceled
• Allegiant 41634 from Las Vegas (LAS): 11:19 a.m. canceled
• United 1333 from Denver (DEN): 12:40 p.m. canceled
• Southwest 988 from Denver (DEN): 2:20 p.m. canceled
• Allegiant 42061 from Orange County (SNA): 2:34 p.m. canceled
• American 2467 from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW): 2:35 p.m. delayed
• Allegiant 4436 from Newark (EWR): 3:05 p.m. canceled
• American 1497 from Charlotte (CLT): 3:53 p.m. delayed
• Delta 5213 from Detroit (DTW): 4:10 pm. delayed
• Southwest 1635 from Denver (DEN): 5:30 p.m. canceled
• Allegiant 4468 from Orlando (SFB): 10 p.m. delayed
• Southwest 660 from St. Louis (STL) 12:05 a.m. canceled
• Southwest 1635 from Denver (DEN) 5:30 p.m. canceled
• Allegiant 43142 from Austin (AUS) 8:01 p.m. canceled
• Allegiant 4674 from Phoenix (AZA) 8:23 p.m. canceled
• Allegiant 4478 from Punta Gorda (PGD) 10:41 p.m. canceled
• Southwest 2990 from Denver (DEN) 11:10 p.m. canceled
• Allegiant 4441  from San Diego (SAN) 11:12 p.m. canceled
• American 568 from Phoenix (PHX) 11:43 p.m. canceled
• Allegiant 42065 from Houston (HOU) 11:44 p.m. canceled

Are schools canceling classes or closing early? 

Many schools are closed Thursday. 

For the full list, click here.

Are medical facilities like hospitals and clinics open?

Due to the weather, some clinics and departments in the Des Moines metro will be closed Thursday and Friday. 

For a full list of UnityPoint closings, click here.

Broadlawns' Main Campus Urgent Care will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Their emergency department, surgery, inpatient units and crisis observation center are open currently, but all other clinics and offices are closed. For more details, click here. 

All central Iowa family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics care locations are closed on Thursday, Dec. 22. To see what other facilities are closed, click here.

Are there any warming centers or homeless shelters open? 

According to Polk County Emergency Management, "overnight homeless shelters remain open with adequate space, staff, food, and drink". 

The agency is in contact with both Central Iowa Shelters and Services (CISS) as well as Bethel shelters. 

As of 12:30 p.m. Thursday, there is no need to open any additional overnight shelters. 

Some warming centers are closed due to weather and scheduled holiday closings, but of the open warming centers, there have been no issues with capacity as of 12:30 p.m.

For a full list of warming centers across Polk County, click here. 

What events are canceled?

Iowa State canceled a women's basketball game Thursday because of the potential for severe weather.

The athletic department announced Tuesday that the women's game against Drake will not be rescheduled.

Hoyt Sherman Place has rescheduled a Thursday night Christmas concert with Michael W. Smith to Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023. 

Both Thursday performances of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer: The Musical" at the Des Moines Civic Center have been canceled. It will be rescheduled for 2023. 

Are any businesses closed?

Valley West Mall opens at noon Thursday. Merle Hay Mall is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

• All Iowa State Bank branches are closed Thursday
• All Midland Credit Union locations are closed Thursday
• All Veridian Credit Union locations will close at 3 p.m. Thursday
• All Iowa Bankers Trust locations will close at 4 p.m. Thursday

► Download the We Are Iowa app
► Sign up for Local 5's "5 Things to Know" email newsletter
► Subscribe to Local 5 News on YouTube