KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and SportsHundreds of Iowa motorists stranded overnight
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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Iowans seemed to be heeding warnings to stay indoors and keep off roads as most of the state remained buried under a foot or more of snow and high winds continued to batter the region.
The westbound lanes of Interstate 80 near Newton were closed due to a number of stranded vehicles, but other sections of I-80 that had been shut down were opened by Wednesday afternoon. Interstate 35 also was open through Iowa.
Officials say travel through much of the state remain risky due to drifting snow and the potential for whiteouts.
Courtney Greene, a spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Public Safety, says hundreds of motorists were stranded overnight Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Most have been rescued, but Greene says efforts to reach them have been slowed by the difficult conditions.
Meteorologist Craig Cogill says the heaviest snow fell in a band extending from southwest Iowa through the central and northeastern portions of the state. Snowfall amounts were generally from 10 to 14 inches.
Blizzard warnings were set to expire at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Cogill says the last storm with such an impact was in January of 1996.
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