Good evening. We do have breaking news on this weather alert evening. Interstate 35 northbound is still completely closed all the way from Ames to the Minnesota border. Areas along that route are under *** tow ban as well. Iowa State Patrol is. Urging people north of Ames not to take alternate routes to go north. Now this is video from *** crash near Highway 20 earlier today involving multiple vehicles. It’s one of 31 the troopers responded to between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. today. And we’re also now just learning one person has died as *** result of one of these crashes, but State Patrol did not provide any additional details yet. The Iowa Falls Times Citizen is reporting that motels in that area are now full. The Iowa Falls Fire Station on South River Street is being set up as an emergency shelter for stranded motorists in the north area there.
Iowa DOT closes I-35 amid whiteout conditions and crashes
As the severe winter weather rolls across the state, authorities have opted to shut down one of the busiest roadways to keep drivers safe.As of 6:45 p.m. Sunday, the Iowa Department of Transportation says Interstate 35 is closed in both directions from Ames to the Minnesota border.The DOT and the Iowa State Patrol urge drivers to not seek alternate routes north because conditions on side highways are just as bad. Hamilton, Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties are also under a tow ban.The Iowa Falls Times-Citizen is reporting that motels in that area are full.The Iowa Falls Fire Station on South River Street is now being set up as an emergency shelter for stranded motorists.Iowa State Patrol responds to dozens of crashes on SundayThe Iowa State Patrol responded to 31 crashes between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday. Of those crashes, 22 resulted in property damage only and eight included injuries. One crash was fatal.The ISP also responded to 127 motorist assist calls during that time frame.The largest crash the ISP responded to on Sunday afternoon was a 14-vehicle crash on Interstate 35. The high winds and blowing snow reduced visibility to zero at that time.Watch: Winter storm creates dangerous road conditions across Iowa”People, again, are just driving too fast for the conditions and not heeding warnings to slow down and actually stay home today.” Craig Bargfrede, Winter Operations Administrator for the Iowa DOT said. In total, Bargfrede says 630 crews are out on the roads to manage the blustering conditions. Though, because of how cold it is, traditional measures like salt are less effective. “If they absolutely do need to travel on a day like today,” Bargfrede said. “Reduce your speed, increase your following distance.”Ideally, he advises drivers to stay home and monitor road conditions in the meantime. The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for parts of northern Iowa until 9 a.m. Monday, including Emmet, Kossuth, Winnebago, Worth, Palo Alto, Hancock, Cerro Gordo, Humboldt, Wright, Franklin, Butler and Bremer counties. The blizzard warning has been expanded to include Pocahontas, Webster, Hamilton, Hardin, Grundy and Black Hawk counties.
As the severe winter weather rolls across the state, authorities have opted to shut down one of the busiest roadways to keep drivers safe.
As of 6:45 p.m. Sunday, the Iowa Department of Transportation says Interstate 35 is closed in both directions from Ames to the Minnesota border.
The DOT and the Iowa State Patrol urge drivers to not seek alternate routes north because conditions on side highways are just as bad. Hamilton, Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties are also under a tow ban.
The Iowa Falls Times-Citizen is reporting that motels in that area are full.
The Iowa Falls Fire Station on South River Street is now being set up as an emergency shelter for stranded motorists.
Iowa State Patrol responds to dozens of crashes on Sunday
The Iowa State Patrol responded to 31 crashes between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday. Of those crashes, 22 resulted in property damage only and eight included injuries. One crash was fatal.
The ISP also responded to 127 motorist assist calls during that time frame.
The largest crash the ISP responded to on Sunday afternoon was a 14-vehicle crash on Interstate 35. The high winds and blowing snow reduced visibility to zero at that time.
Watch: Winter storm creates dangerous road conditions across Iowa
“People, again, are just driving too fast for the conditions and not heeding warnings to slow down and actually stay home today.” Craig Bargfrede, Winter Operations Administrator for the Iowa DOT said.
In total, Bargfrede says 630 crews are out on the roads to manage the blustering conditions. Though, because of how cold it is, traditional measures like salt are less effective.
“If they absolutely do need to travel on a day like today,” Bargfrede said. “Reduce your speed, increase your following distance.”
Ideally, he advises drivers to stay home and monitor road conditions in the meantime.
The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for parts of northern Iowa until 9 a.m. Monday, including Emmet, Kossuth, Winnebago, Worth, Palo Alto, Hancock, Cerro Gordo, Humboldt, Wright, Franklin, Butler and Bremer counties. The blizzard warning has been expanded to include Pocahontas, Webster, Hamilton, Hardin, Grundy and Black Hawk counties.