As winter weather moves in around Iowa, it’s important to be aware and check road conditions before you travel throughout the state.
Whether it’s to travel for the holidays, or your normal work commute, here’s how to be aware of road conditions and travel advisories.
The Iowa DOT recommends you check the weather forecast and road conditions before deciding to head out on the roads and postpone your trip if conditions aren’t ideal.
You can check road conditions online through Iowa 511, with an interactive map that can show you road closures, winter weather warnings, crashes and more.
If you don’t have internet, you can call 800-288-1047, or 511 for updated road conditions.
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You can also check cameras along your planned route to see traffic and weather conditions using Iowa 511’s map.
Weather alert cameras will be displayed in a red icon on the map, though you can still see road cameras that are in gray as well.
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Snow plow-mounted cameras are also available through Iowa 511, where you can see multiple images, the time and location they were taken at.
You can also see real-time locations of snow plows through the Iowa DOT’s map. According to the DOT, it’s updated every two minutes for snow plows going more than 3 miles per hour.
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The Iowa DOT provides safety tips on winter driving, which includes:
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You can check for winter weather and forecasts with the embed below, along with checking the Iowa DOT map, calling 511 or checking your local news station for weather reports.
See the full weather forecast map.
See the full storm damage report and map.
Megan Bridgeman is a digital producer working with the Des Moines Register and other Gannett newsrooms in the Plains region.
Find the latest Iowa road conditions, cameras as winter storms hit – Des Moines Register
