T-R PHOTOS BY ROBERT MAHARRY

Although it started relatively slowly in the morning, Marshalltown and Marshall County received an estimated five to seven inches of snow — the most precipitation of the winter thus far — throughout the day on Wednesday. Plows, snowblowers and shovels were a common sight around town, and all area school districts as well as Marshalltown Community College canceled classes for the day. As of about 6:30 p.m., Police Chief Chris Jones said the MPD had dealt with four accidents total – one with minor personal injury, one hit and run, and two with property damage only.

Sheriff Joel Phillips told the T-R that traffic had been “very light” in the county’s rural areas due to the conditions, and as of about 4 p.m., he had only received a lone report of a single vehicle accident with no injuries near Le Grand.

“As we move into the evening hours, visibility will be reduced. That may create some problems for motorists, especially when near large vehicles as the blowing snow makes it difficult to identify lanes disorienting drivers,” Phillips said. “We anticipate the increasing cold temperatures are going to make it difficult to apply product to roadways to work, causing icy areas.”