Update: Dallas County Under Tow Ban; Did Waukee Schools Cancel Classes for Thursday?

Updated 11:49 p.m.

A couple of Waukee residents are tweeting power has gone on and off four times and is still out. The MidAmerican Energy website says 3,075 Waukee customers are without power now. 

The utility asks that you call if you've lost electricity to help them locate the problem areas. Call (800) 799-4443; it should speed the restoration process.

Updated 10:38 p.m.

Waukee Councilman Shane Blanchard tweeted that parts of Waukee have lost power. According to the MidAmerican Energy website, 32 customers in Waukee are without power and 75 in West Des Moines.

Updated 10:23 p.m.

Both Dallas and Polk County are under a tow ban, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety. That means that if you slide into a ditch tow trucks will not come pull you out until law enforcement gives the OK later Thursday.

The DPS website says: 

The Department of Public Safety's Division of the Iowa State Patrol is prepared to work though a dangerous blizzard begining Wednesday evening, December 19, 2012 and continuing through noon on Thursday, December 20, 2012.

"The smartest, safest thing Iowans can do tonight and tomorrow is avoid traveling--in town or on the highways and interstates," said Colonel David Garrison, Iowa State Patrol. "The National Weather Service clearly states this will be a dangerous storm with high winds and low visibility. Do yourself a favor and stay in this evening."

Our Earlier Story:

It's official kids: Waukee Schools Superintendent Dave Wilkerson just Tweeted that school is canceled on Thursday.

So sleep in, play in the snow, shovel the driveway, post your snow pictures to Waukee Patch. 

Just a reminder for Waukee High School students: You will have all your finals on Friday to wrap up the semester.

District offices will also be closed Thursday, says the school district website.

Also, the Waukee Public Library has posted on Facebook and its website that it will be closed Thursday.

Reminder that the city's emergency parking ban is in effect. According to the city's website, if an inch or more of snow is forecast, Waukee's snow ordinance takes effect. That means all vehicles must be off city streets by 6 p.m. Wednesday and stay off until the ban is lifted. And that depends on how long the snow and winds last.

Draco could cause school closings and power outages. Patch will provide breaking news alerts on this storm -- including closures and other information -- by email, which can reach your smart phone. You can sign up by clicking here.

Also, because of inclement weather forecast, garbage pickup in Waukee will be delayed until Friday, Dec. 21 and Saturday, Dec. 22.

Waukee should get much more than an inch of snow. The National Weather Service has upgraded snow storm Draco to a blizzard warning for much of Iowa.

The warning is in effect from 6 p.m. Wednesday to noon Thursday.

According to the Waukee forecast, this "dangerous winter storm" could dump more than a foot of snow on our area by Thursday afternoon.

Will There Be School Thursday?

District communictions coordinator Nicole Lawrence says families are notified through a system called SchoolMessenger, which sends parents notices of delays in start times or cancellations through voice, SMS text, email and social media.

According to the district website, SchoolMessenger fully integrates with PowerSchool, so there is no list for parents to sign up for, however, in order for parents to receive an SMS text parents must complete the “opt-in” process online.

Travel

The Iowa Department of Transportation is advising against travel tonight.

If you absolutely must travel, do so at your own risk. Iowa road conditions can be found on the DOT's website.