As much as 3.5 inches of snow fell in Fort Dodge, according to Andrew Ansorge, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Des Moines. Strong wind gusts created blizzard conditions, reducing visibility both in the city and out in the country.

Lt. Matt Lundberg, of the Fort Dodge Police Department, said the roads were slick and visibility was low.

Fortunately, he said, no major crashes had been reported within city limits.

“It sounded like most people in town stayed home,” he said.

Peak wind gusts in Fort Dodge reached nearly 40 mph, Ansorge said. In Webster City, the strongest wind gust measured was 54 mph. The highest wind gust in this part of the state was registered in Estherville with a gust of 71 mph, Ansorge reported.

Around the area, Rockwell City received 4 inches of snow. That was the highest total for north central Iowa.

“We had expected more snowfall in northwest Iowa,” Ansorge said. “And that’s what we got.”

Three inches fell in Algona. Webster City had 1.5 inches. In Dakota City, 2.6 inches of snow was measured.

A dispatcher with the Calhoun County Law Enforcement Center reported that about 30 cars ended up stuck or on the side of the road due to the whiteout conditions Wednesday night.

A dispatcher with the Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office said a few semitrailers ended up in the ditch within the county. She also reported multiple other cars that ended up on the side of the road.

Temperatures will be frigid to start off today. The Fort Dodge area is under a wind chill advisory for the early morning hours. Actual air temperature could get to -3 Fahrenheit, with a wind chill of -20.

The air will warm up to about 30 degrees throughout the day.