Snow arrives in Marshalltown, closing businesses and schools

A snowplow driver clears the parking lot at the downtown hospital in Marshalltown on Friday morning.

As snow falls Friday morning in Marshalltown, blanketing streets and reducing visibility, businesses and schools are altering plans as the Saskatchewan screamer makes impact on Iowa.

The storm is forecast to hit much of the Midwest and the entire state of Iowa. The National Weather Service is predicting between 6 to 10 inches of snow for the Marshalltown area and wind gusts up to 35 mph as blowing snow becomes significant this evening.

While Marshalltown schools were closed Friday for an end of semester professional development day, staff was given a virtual option to attend. Other area schools announced closures Thursday evening. At Marshalltown Community College, facilities will close at noon, and the Marshalltown Public Library will close at 1 p.m.

Business closures are also becoming steady. The Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA will close at 1 p.m. Friday. Downtown sandwich shop Sub City said it would close at 2 p.m. to play it safe, noting the importance of its employees. Oliver Beene Designs is closed Friday at Meadow Lane Mall due to weather.

Marshalltown’s snow ordinance and parking restrictions will go into effect at noon Friday.