The ice and snow covered roads made travel difficult and caused numerous minor accidents, according to Sgt. Jody Chansler, of the Fort Dodge Police Department.

As of the afternoon, Chansler said roads were 100% snow covered. Travel was not recommended.

The many crashes that occurred within city limits included a hit and run along Sixth Avenue North. At about 8:30 a.m., a Chevrolet Monte Carlo was struck from behind, causing significant damage to the rear driver’s side of the vehicle. The Monte Carlo was legally parked on the roadway facing east, according to the reports.

Chansler was not aware of any crashes involving injuries within the city as of Thursday afternoon.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Randa Pedersen, of Fort Dodge, works on removing snow from a sidewalk along North 14th Street Thursday afternoon. Pedersen and other Fort Dodge residents were surprised by the continuous snowfall during the morning and afternoon hours.

According to Brad Fillbach, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, Fort Dodge was predicted to receive about an inch of snowfall.

But the snow kept piling up, leaving the city with about 3.5 inches, according to Fillbach

Sgt. Neil Morenz, of the Iowa State Patrol, reported a few cars that slid into the ditch.

For the most part, crashes were limited despite the conditions.

“We had a few cars go in the ditch and then the snow plows came out and everything went well,” Morenz said. “Most of the four-lane highways have been pretty clear. Some of the two-lane highways have gotten covered with snow because they don’t get passed as often with the plows.”

Jamie Johll, Webster County engineer, said his crew got to work at the normal time around 7 a.m. They were to work until about 5 p.m.

“We have a little more snow piled up in the ditches than normal,” Johll said. “Since the last storm we have been winging a lot of it back. We put up a snow fence in some fields where we have some drifting problems. Some of the unincorporated areas — we have been taking time in between storms to clear out piles of snow because we are running out of places to put it. Whenever we have a chance between storms we will haul it away.”

There is one issue that has been reoccurring throughout the season, according to Johll. And it’s one he would like to see come to an end.

“We have an issue that just seems to get worse and worse every year,” Johll said. “Residents out in the country sometimes push snow when they clear their driveway and they push it out onto the edge of the county road. Eventually it compacts and freezes into ice and causes a hazard for drivers and our snow plow drivers.”

Johll said that ice on the edge of the road can also cause serious damage to the county’s equipment.

And while it is illegal for residents to push snow onto the edge of a county road, Johll said it’s not typically enforced.

“Most of the time we will just knock on the door and ask the resident to quit but it’s become more of a problem,” Johll said. “We are asking for the public’s help in not doing this.”