Winter Travel Readiness: Commitment, Resources, and Partnerships To Keep You Safe
After a long, warm autumn, it’s rain, snow, wind, and freezing temperatures that are dominating recent weather patterns with a few small events to practice our winter operations and driving skills.
As Iowa braces for its first major winter weather event this weekend, our goal at the Iowa Department of Transportation is to keep the roads as clear and drivable as possible for you, and to use our expertise and industry partnerships to provide the information you need to make smarter, safer travel decisions this winter.
Prepping For Winter
Unlike any other time of the year, preparation is critical during the colder months. “We’ve been preparing for winter since last summer when stocking salt supplies, but the official start of winter for us each year is October 15, whether there is snow in the forecast or not,” says Craig Bargfrede, winter operations administrator.
“This is when we began tracking winter weather information and started reporting road conditions on 511ia.org, our travel information website and app,” said Bargfrede who adds, “we’ve also been updating communication plans, educating media, and reviewing the status of larger work zones on I-80 at DeSoto and I-35 from Ankeny to Elkhart which will continue to operate this winter.”
Throughout fall, maintenance teams across Iowa have been staffing and training teams of “snowfighters” at DOT garages in communities across the state. These plow operators have prepped their equipment to ensure they’re ready to help maintain safe travel on the primary highway system, which consists of interstates, U.S., and Iowa routes.
These calls provide forecasts and anticipated road conditions, discuss available resources and needs in areas across Iowa, and share specific storm response plans among partners including the Governor’s Office, Iowa Homeland Security, Federal Highway Administration, National Weather Service, Iowa State Patrol, Department of Administration Services, and others.
During any winter storm, we are in constant collaboration with the National Weather Service, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Iowa DOT’s Traffic Management Center to bring you current forecasts, road conditions, and critical roadside assistance.
For this winter’s outlook, National Weather Service meteorologists are predicting a cooler and wetter than average conditions in the upper northwest into Minnesota. The southern tier of U.S. states – from California to the Carolinas – tends to be warmer and drier than average. It all presents a mix of possibilities for Iowa, which is susceptible to both sets of conditions, so we’re prepared for all types of systems.
Providing Tools & Resources
When you need to travel during winter weather, your best line of defense is accurate and up-to-date information to make the best travel decisions for your unique situation. Together with our partners, we’ve created a wide variety of winter driving tools and resources to help you track storms and develop safe travel habits:
- 511ia.org or the Iowa 511 app for iPhone and Androids provide road conditions for Iowa and surrounding states, plow locations, and plow and traffic cameras.
- Highway Helper provides assistance and response in Des Moines, Council Bluffs, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. If you need Highway Assistance, call 911.
- National Weather Service weather.gov provides weather forecasts and related information.
- Follow Iowa DOT on Facebook or X as well as our 511 social media sites for road travel and safety tips like those below.
This winter, we’re not only focused on helping you reach your destination—we’re committed to ensuring you get there safely and prepared. Stay informed, plan wisely, and remember that we’re here to support you every mile of the way.
This commitment to winter readiness is one of the most visible reminders of our mission to make lives better through transportation.
Have a safe winter travel season!