KCCI Unveils 2025 Year-End Recap: 10 Jaw-Dropping Iowa Stories You Can’t Miss

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) shut down Interstate 35 from Ames to the Minnesota border Sunday night after blinding snow and 50 mph wind gusts reduced visibility to zero, causing a chain of crashes and at least one confirmed death. Key points: • Complete I-35 closure: Both north- and southbound lanes remain barricaded while plow crews battle drifting snow and ice that traditional salt treatments can’t melt in sub-zero wind chills. • 31 crash responses: Iowa State Patrol troopers handled 31 wrecks and 127 motor-assist calls in 14 hours; the largest pile-up involved 14 vehicles. • Fatality confirmed: Authorities have not released the victim’s name pending family notification. • Emergency shelter: With motels full, the Iowa Falls Fire Station on South River Street is housing stranded motorists overnight. • Blizzard Warning: The National Weather Service keeps 18 northern counties under a Blizzard Warning until 9 a.m. Monday, citing whiteout risk and wind chills near -25°F. Travel advice DOT Winter Operations Administrator Craig Bargfrede urges drivers to “stay home,” noting 630 plow crews are working statewide but can’t keep up with drifting snow. If travel is unavoidable, reduce speed, double following distance and pack a cold-weather kit. Why I-35 matters Interstate 35 is Iowa’s primary north-south freight corridor, carrying roughly 40,000 vehicles daily. Closing the highway disrupts supply chains from Des Moines to Minneapolis, reroutes truck traffic hundreds of miles and strands holiday travelers. What’s next Forecasters expect another 2–4 inches of snow overnight with winds easing by midday Monday. DOT officials will reassess road conditions at dawn; reopening could begin in stages, starting southbound lanes first if drifts clear. How to stay updated • Check 511ia.org for live road conditions. • Follow @KCCINews on X for aerial video of the I-35 pile-up and real-time closure maps. • Tune to KCCI 8 News for hourly forecasts and school-closing crawls. SEO keywords: KCCI, Iowa blizzard, I-35 closed, Interstate 35 closure, Iowa DOT update, whiteout conditions, Iowa State Patrol crashes, emergency shelter Iowa Falls, winter storm December 2025, Blizzard Warning Iowa.