BREAKING: Iowa Officials Announce Travel Closures and Advisories for March 15 Blizzard

Mark Pitz March 15, 2026Last Updated: March 15, 2026

From the Iowa Department of Transportation:

AMES, Iowa – March 15, 2026 – The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) and Iowa State Patrol (ISP) are announcing a series of roadway closures and travel advisories due to the blizzard and other winter driving conditions on Sunday, March 15. The combination of prior rain on freezing pavements, heavy snow, and blizzard / whiteout conditions will make many roadways impassable.

Closures:

Iowa officials will close all lanes in both directions of I-35 from U.S. 30 at Ames north to the Minnesota state line starting at 3:00 PM central time due to high winds and whiteout conditions.

Iowa DOT will close the IA 415 / Saylorville Mile Long Bridge in Polk County at 2:00 PM central time due to high winds.

Advisories:

Iowa officials have issued a “Travel Not Advised” alert for all state roadways north of U.S. 30 and especially in the northeast quadrant of the state due to likely blizzard conditions.

High-profile vehicles such as trucks, trailers, and recreational vehicles should use extreme caution while driving in high winds. Drivers should reduce speed, increase following distances, and consider delaying travel. Iowa officials anticipate high winds across the state, regardless of whether there is precipitation.

Iowa officials are also working closely with Minnesota and South Dakota officials, as closures and advisories in those states can impact travel to and from Iowa.

Traveler advice:

Travelers in the affected regions are advised to seek shelter and stay-in-place. Iowa residents are encouraged to stay home and delay travel until roadways reopen and it is safe to travel. Motorists traveling through Iowa on I-35 are advised to seek shelter and traveler services such as food, lodging, and fuel in the Ames and Clear Lake / Mason City areas.

For those sheltering near Ames, the Story County Emergency Management Agency maintains a list of hotels, a Red Cross shelter site, and other information on its Facebook page. Travelers and truckers on I-35 are also encouraged to seek out shelter and parking in the greater Des Moines area as facilities near Ames can fill up quickly.

The Woodbury County Emergency Management Agency (including Sioux City) also maintains a list of truck parking locations for truckers impacted by advisories on I-29 in South Dakota.

Iowa DOT and ISP do not advise travelers to seek alternate non-freeway routes, as these are also likely to be hazardous and have very limited access to shelter and traveler services. Travelers should seek shelter and services in larger cities such as Clear Lake / Mason City, Ames, Des Moines, and Sioux City.

The closure will continue until conditions improve, with no specific target time. Even as conditions improve, Iowa DOT crews will need time to remove snow and ice, and law enforcement may need to remove stranded vehicles, to allow for safe travel.

Conditions across Iowa continue to be challenging for travel on all roadways. Drivers are encouraged to avoid unnecessary trips. Check Iowa 511 for roadway conditions. Visit 511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or X (find links at https://iowadot.gov/travel-tools/iowa-511/511-social-media-sites); or download the free app to your mobile device.

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Mark Pitz March 15, 2026Last Updated: March 15, 2026

Mark Pitz

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