November began unseasonably warm, with daytime temps in the 70’s that allowed us to think we might not have to store the shorts and tees quite yet.  And then, in a single day, temperatures plummeted.  Less than a week later, we saw our first snowfall of the season on Nov. 15.

Suddenly, we had to recalibrate for winter driving again.

For the Iowa DOT, “Winter” is the period from Oct. 15 to April 15 each year.  To prepare for this winter, the DOT has amassed 264,000 tons of salt; that’s 110% of the department’s capacity.  When a snow event is forecasted, the DOT prepares by coating road surfaces in brine, a salt-water mix.  This prevents snow and ice from bonding to the road surface, making it easier to scrape away later.

The Iowa State Patrol has prepared for winter the way all motorists should: they put on winter tires, checked batteries, replaced wiper blades, and put winter survival kits back in the vehicles.  If you haven’t done so yet, make sure your winter survival kit contains a blanket, food and water, jumper cables, and a cell phone charger.  If you find yourself stranded, a dead cell phone won’t be helpful, and you can’t be certain of how long you will wait for help to arrive.

A useful new tool is the Iowa DOT’s new website and app, 511ia.org.  When you visit this site, you’ll have access to snowplow and traffic cameras, which allow you to see road conditions in real-time all over the state.  Without leaving home, you can see visibility, precipitation type, and snow and ice accumulation on the very roads you wish to travel.  This can help you decide if travel is wise before venturing out. 

In a typical year, the National Weather Service issues 4-6 winter storm warnings and 1-2 blizzard warnings for our state.  These warnings usually give about 20 hours’ notice before dangerous weather arrives, allowing us time to alter our plans as needed.  However, not all hazardous conditions can be predicted.  Snow squall warnings are also issued occasionally; these warnings last 30-60 minutes, and are issued for short duration, intense bursts of snow and wind that lead to white-out visibility and flash freezes on the roads.

As the graphic suggests, more than half of car crashes during an Iowa winter happen with less than 1 inch of snow on the roads.  Please drive with care this winter in all conditions.