Iowa communities declare snow emergencies as storm starts to hit

Flakes are just starting to fall, but some communities in Iowa have already declared a snow emergency, various media outlets report.

Blue Grass, Iowa, declared a weather emergency to take effect at 6 p.m. on Monday, and last through 6 p.m. on Wednesday, WQAD reported. The emergency declaration clears the road of parked vehicles in case plows have to get through.

Clinton, Iowa, meanwhile, has declared a snow emergency beginning Monday at 7 p.m. The emergency order banning all vehicles from city streets will stay in effect until all snow — when it falls — is cleared, WQAD reported.

Weather forecasters are predicting an 11th-hour winter storm for parts of the country — at a time when spring is hitting other regions.

AccuWeather reports that the Midwest, from Minneapolis to Chicago, could see some of its heaviest snowfall this season, with flakes and heavy rain predicted to hit hard Monday. The northern Rockies has already seen snow accumulations, and steady snow fall has already been reported across eastern Montana, northern Iowa and areas of South Dakota.

The mid-Atlantic region will face rain, and possibly inches of snow, within the next couple days, AccuWeather reports.

At the very least, the weather service says power outages may prove problematic for residents living in North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.