T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM Roeleio Lemus of Marshalltown scoops snow from the sidewalk in front of his house on Tuesday morning. The wind was still creating drifting across the road right next to him.

Travel is still not advised as drifting snow and ice remain an issue through central Iowa.

Marshall County Sheriff Steve Hoffman said most roads are still 100 percent snow or ice covered from the winter storm which swept through the state Monday into Tuesday. He said east-to-west roads are experiencing snow drifting especially in the westbound lanes.

“With the winds we’re seeing some reduced visibility at points,” Hoffman said. “We certainly urge motorists to take their time, allow extra time for travel. Be prepared for cold weather. Have your vehicle fueled up. Have a cell phone and appropriate clothing and gear. And if you don’t have to travel, please don’t.”

County maintenance crews have been cleaning up the roads since 5 a.m. according to county engineer Paul Geilenfeldt.

“They’re making really good progress today because the snow — even though there is a lot of it it’s light,” he said. “That adds probably to more drifting.”

A light snow is expected to continue until mid afternoon.

“We’ll make good progress on the pavements. It will be another day or two until we get everything pushed back on the rock like we’d like to,” Geilenfeldt said.

The blowing snow will keep the cleanup process going throughout the day and the roads a slick underneath the snow. Geilenfeldt said sand and salt will be applied later in the day.

West of Des Moines snowfall totals were reported at a foot to as much as 14 inches, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Brooke Hagenhoff. The snowfall sharply tapered off as it hit Marshall County.

“It looks like the report we got from our observer in Marshall County says about 3 inches. It seems a little on the low side from what I’ve seen,” Hagenhoff said. “Grundy Center had an inch. Toledo had 2 inches. You go out toward State Center, we have a 7 inch report. Six inches in Eldora.”

The storm started mid-afternoon in Marshall County and continued to drop heavy snow through early morning Tuesday. Hagenhoff said what will continue to fall will not accumulate to very much but they are tracking another system expected this weekend. She said it is too early to know what the next system will bring.

Contact Joe Fisher at 641-753-6611 or jfisher@timesrepublican.com