Storm could bring several inches of snow

DES MOINES, IOWA >> A strong winter storm began making its way across the Upper Midwest on Tuesday, creating treacherous travel conditions and spurring warnings urging people to stay off the roads.

The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings for parts of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Illinois.

By Tuesday morning, snow was so heavy in western Nebraska that Interstates 80 and 76 were closed for several hours in both directions after numerous accidents, and the Nebraska Department of Transportation warned people to avoid unnecessary travel.

“Conditions remain hazardous & we anticipate they will remain so all day Tuesday. Please avoid travel,” the department said on Twitter.

Police in Omaha reported several accidents blamed on slick roads. Some parts of Nebraska had already seen 3 inches of snow by midmorning, and the area near Creston, Iowa, already had 5 inches of snow.

Heavy snowfall of up to a foot, and perhaps more in some spots, was forecast in parts of Iowa, where the state Department of Transportation urged people to delay travel plans. The department’s road conditions map showed most highways in the western part of the state covered or partly covered with snow by midday Tuesday.

“Travel conditions are likely to go downhill all day/night, the Iowa department said on Twitter. “If you must travel in the impacted areas, buckle up, slow down and allow plenty of space between vehicles.”

By 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, snowfall was heavy, causing visibility problems for motorists and rapidly deteriorating road conditions, Iowa State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Alex Dinkla said. He added that crashes were happening across the state with heavy post-Christmas travel.

Wisconsin was also bracing for up to 10 inches of snow in some areas. AccuWeather said parts of Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa could see ice accumulations of up to a quarter of an inch.