The first significant snowstorms hit the Midwest, beginning Monday, Jan. 8 through Wednesday, Jan. 10.
Crews from the City of Mount Vernon, City of Lisbon and Iowa Department of Transportation were out in force to try and keep pace with the winter storms. The storm system Jan. 9 dropped roughly an inch to two inches per hour, and roads deteriorated from completely covered to travel not advised. Winds created ground blizzard conditions and reduced visibility to less than a quarter of a mile.
Overall, Mount Vernon and Lisbon had snowfall amounts in the 12 to 15 inch range from the storm, while neighboring communities like Cedar Rapids reported 14.9 inches and Iowa City 15.1 inches. Mount Vernon city administrator Chris Nosbisch confirmed that was the highest snowfall from a single storm the city has seen since 2009, and crews are already struggling with where to put snow.
“As we see more snow fall in the Friday through Saturday storm, we expect that we could damage a few mailboxes along Palisades Road,” Nosbisch said.
If that does happen, citizens should let the city know. They will place a temporary mailbox for the winter and work to replace the damaged mailbox in the spring.
Nosbisch said city crews were working Thursday to take some snow from right of ways to their locations at city parks, Bryant facility and near the Lisbon-Mount Vernon Ambulance Service to free up space.
Snow emergencies were declared in Mount Vernon and Lisbon, restricting vehicles from parking along street right of ways to allow plows to more easily remove snow.
“We have been flexible on snow clean-up in Mount Vernon due to the nature of the storm Monday through Wednesday,” Nosbisch said. “When it’s falling an inch or two per hour, as well as city crews passing streets multiple times, we understand that it might not be able to have sidewalks and driveways properly cleared.”
Schools were canceled Tuesday and Wednesday, as the road conditions, especially in the country, were very questionable.
A snow squall passed through Wednesday evening, delivering a further light dusting of snow, before the next storm hit Thursday evening, dropping another seven inches of snow on the area.
Schools and activities were canceled Friday, Jan. 12, at Mount Vernon and Lisbon, and Lisbon canceled schools Monday, Jan. 15, citing the brutally cold temperatures and road conditions once more.
Following the storm Friday, Jan. 12, strong winds brought wind chills into the negative 30 to 40s, depending on the time of day.
Like the previous storm, the strong winds Saturday especially, contributed to ground blizzard conditions with limited visibility and drifting snow.
Those brutally cold temperatures lingered through the weekend and into the start of the week.
Public works director Eldon Downs shakes snow that had accumulated off the stop lights at Hwy. 1 and First Street Wednesday, Jan. 10.