WATERLOO - When people think of the worst winter can offer, conditions like those Monday probably come to mind.

A weather system moving across the state produced a steady snowfall, winds whipped the offering into a frenzy and temperatures struggled into single digits.

The combination produced what is by now a predictable chain reaction across the region. Schools shut down or dismissed students early, tow truck drivers shifted into high gear and snowplow drivers revved for another go on the state's highways.

"Iowa winter," said Brian Sampson, general manager of Menard's in Waterloo.

Despite being three-fourths of the way through January, the store was still doing a brisk business Monday selling winter necessities. Hot items continue to be snow shovels, salt and tubes to hold sand, which add to a vehicle's weight and improve traction in slippery conditions.

Sampson said the store stocked up after inventory levels dipped followed bad weather in December. Icy roads keep people away, but not much else.

"If they can get out and drive, they'll be shopping," Sampson said.

He wasn't surprised by what remains on the most wanted list.

"They probably wore out their other snow shovels," Sampson said.

He may be closer to the truth than he realizes. The system that dumped on Northeast Iowa dropped a record amount of snow.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls area received 5.6 inches, tying a record for Jan. 21.

"This is January in Iowa, so cold temperatures and snow seem to be the norm," said Steve Teachout with the National Weather Service in Des Moines.

But this winter is producing more snow and, lately, less heat than normal. Precipitation totals for January are so far at 12.2 inches, well above the norm of 5.2 inches. The average temperature climbed into the lower 20s after spending the weekend in subzero and single digits.

"That's actually not too bad," Teachout said.

The average temperature this month has been 30 degrees, and - believe it or not - that is 1 degree above normal. Teachout said that's due to unseasonably warm weather shortly after New Year's Day.

A number of cars spilled into ditches and the median on Interstate 380/U.S. Highway 20 near Evansdale because of frozen tracks on the surface. Those result from snow blowing across the road melted by warm tires, said Russ Frisch, resident maintenance engineer for the Iowa Department of Transportation in Waterloo.

The slush freezes and creates a slick driving surface, he said.

DOT road crews - running practically nonstop for more than a day - this morning were applying a brine and salt mix to loosen those frozen spots.

Frisch said the state's highways, by and large, remain in good shape.

There were two incidents Monday of cars rear-ending state snowplows. One incident happened on Iowa Highway 58 in Cedar Falls, the other at the interchange of U.S. highways 63 and 20 in Waterloo.

Frisch said motorists should just slow down and "make sure they give us plenty of room."

:When they're coming behind us, we're not moving as fast as them," he said.

Steve Decker, superintendent of the Waterloo Street Department, said city crews have been running around the clock since Sunday evening.

"We've plowed the whole town 1 1/2 times," Decker said.

Decker reported city crews needed to operate almost continually to stay on top of the two waves of snow the area received late Sunday through early today. He said primary roads have been cleared twice and indicated crews will return to residential streets as well.

Not that everyone was complaining about the healthy snowfall.

Terry Williams and his 3-year-old daughter, Aleigh, were up to their eyelashes in flakes Monday. The pair made their way multiple times up an embankment in Hope Martin Park in Waterloo. Aleigh then completed an equal number down the slope on a green plastic saucer.

A pretty good workout.

" … Make a dozen trips up this hill carrying 50 pounds," Williams said.

At the top, Aleigh took a seat, folded her legs and waited for a push.

"We do crisscross apple sauce, hold on and down we go," Williams said.

The pair abandoned a heavy sled for the lighter disc, which skimmed over the powdery layers.

"It goes faster and faster and faster. Really, really fast," Aleigh said.

And frequently, the slide ended in a face plant in a drift. The elbows-over-ankles upsets produced rosy cheeks, a runny nose and robust giggling.

"She'll help me take my nap later before work," Williams said.

Expect more wintry conditions in days ahead. Wednesday, the area has a 30 percent chance at more snow. A fast-moving storm will sweep across the state, according to the National Weather Service.

However, if the system delivers any snowfall, the accumulation shouldn't amount to more than a half inch, Teachout said. The cell will also bring another "arctic blast" of cold temperatures, he added.

The low Wednesday night will be about 14 degrees below zero. Thursday will see a high of 8 degrees.

Contact Dennis Magee at (319) 291-1451 or dennis.magee@wcfcourier.com. Pat Kinney contributed to this story.