I-35 southbound closed at Albert Lea because of north Iowa closure

ALBERT LEA, Minn. (3:30 p.m.) – Southbound Interstate 35 at Albert Lea will be closing at 4 p.m., because whiteout conditions have forced the Iowa Department of Transportation to close the highway in north Iowa, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

At Albert Lea, motorists will be unable to travel southbound on I-35 and westbound on Interstate 90. Both directions are closed beyond Albert Lea because of poor visibility caused by blowing snow.

I-35 northbound from the Iowa border remains open. Southbound I-35 is open from the north to Albert Lea at Freeborn County Road 46.

I-90 remains open east of Albert Lea to the Wisconsin border.

All status reports are as of this hour. Conditions may change as high winds continue to persist and visibility and road conditions deteriorate as nightfall approaches. MnDOT will announce any other closures in southeast Minnesota at those times. Many of the state highways in southcentral and southwest Minnesota are either closed or no travel is advised because of poor visibility or road conditions.

MnDOT will announce its southeast Minnesota highway re-openings via its Twitter page and the MnDOT Southeast Facebook group.

Stay updated on changing winter driving conditions in southeast Minnesota by signing up for MnDOT winter driving updates via text message or email. Go to the MnDOT website mndot.gov/d6 and look for the Winter driving updates link to sign up.

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