Unusual sweater weather hits Iowa

Cool winds spread across Iowa leading to record or near-record temperatures. Des Moines, Mason City, Ottumwa, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque and Burlington were among the cities setting or tying record low temperatures. National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Bardou says the cool winds blew in from up north.He says there’s been an upper level trough of low pressure that’s brought in cool Canadian air from the northwest and surface winds from the west to northwest have helped bring in cool air and cloud cover that’s kept the temperatures down. Bardou says Iowa’s not alone in feeling a little chilly.He says it’s pretty widespread throughout the central U.S. and he says it’ll be spreading out into the Great Lakes states too in the next few days. Bardou says these sweater-wearing temperatures are unusual for mid-August. He says these temperatures are more along the lines of temperatures we’d normally see in mid and late October. Bardou says things will gradually warm back up to normal with temps into the 80’s again by next week. Here are some of the cities and their record or near-record lows: Des Moines, 50 tied record set in 1986 / 1902; Mason City, 43, broke record 44 set in 1986 / 1982 / 1967; Ottumwa, 50, tied record set in 1982 / 1904; Cedar Rapids, 47 , tied record set in 1930; Dubuque hit 50, their record is 49 set in 1967; Burlington hit 49, their record is 48 set in 1982.