Iowa Road Conditions Map and Related Resources

When winter weather strikes Iowa, the roads can become quite dangerous. Fortunately, we Iowans have a few wonderful resources we can turn to before deciding whether or not to travel. The following are a few places you can check to find out about current Iowa road conditions.

Iowa Road Conditions Map

The Iowa DOT produces a road conditions map that was recently updated with new features. The new version uses Google Maps, so it is more interactive and allows for zooming in and out to view smaller roads and towns.

The Iowa DOT road conditions map can be viewed in its streamlined version (for slower Internet connections) or in its full-featured version. The map uses a color code to show levels of snow and ice coverage for every major highway in Iowa. You can also click on sections of the highway to view more details, including relevant information about visibility, snow and ice coverage, closures, construction, and towing service availability. It also shows what time the information for each highway section was updated. The full-featured map is updated instantly, and the streamlined version is updated within about five minutes. A text-based version of the same information can be viewed on mobile phones.

Iowa's 511 Phone Service

If you would like to get information about Iowa road conditions over the phone, you can call 511 from within the Iowa coverage area. You can also dial 1-800-288-1047 from anywhere. You will be prompted to select a city or highway, and you will then receive information about current road conditions. For more information about this service, visit the 511 page of the Iowa DOT website.

Current Iowa Weather Conditions

Knowing the current weather conditions, as well as the forecast, can be quite helpful when deciding whether or not it is safe to drive.

For up-to-date weather conditions in a particular city in Iowa, the Iowa Weather page at the National Weather Service website is a great resource. You can also look up current watches, warnings, and forecasts for any county in Iowa.

The Iowa DOT also has a weather tool called WeathervieW. Click on points on the Iowa map to view the current weather conditions at that location, including wind speed, precipitation, and temperature.

Just remember: better safe than sorry. If the above resources indicate that road conditions are unsafe in your part of Iowa, then it is probably best to wait. Give the snow plows and salt trucks a chance to do their thing.

Winter road conditions in other states:

Minnesota Road Conditions Map and Related Resources

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Sources:

Iowa Weather - National Weather Service

Iowa DOT Travel Information Service

511 Information - Iowa Department of Transportation

WeathervieW - Iowa Department of Transportation