Bundle up, as bitter cold is gripping Iowa. The promised Arctic cold front has arrived and the entire state is under a Wind Chill Advisory which extends out across much of the Midwest.
Meteorologist Aubry Wilkins, at the National Weather Service office in Johnston, says temperatures are about 30-degrees colder than normal. “We have temperatures in the single-digits below zero to right around zero and the winds are very strong from the northwest with gusts up to 25 to 30 miles an hour,” Wilkins says. “This is combining wind chill values to 20 to even some areas have had 30 degrees below zero for wind chills.”
Iowans will have to endure the freezing weather another few days and she admits, even the slight warm-up in the forecast isn’t very warm.
“Our warmest day will be on Friday and we’re going to see a high, in Des Moines at least, right around freezing,” Wilkins says, “but then it’s going to get back into those below-freezing highs for the weekend and into early next week.” Flurries flew in many parts of Iowa on Tuesday and there’s a possibility for more flakes in the forecast.
“There are a couple of chances for some snowfall across the state, Thursday into Friday is a good chance,” Wilkins says. “As far as significant amounts, you might see some snowfall totals of one to two inches and that will probably be about it.” The normal high temperature for today’s date in Des Moines is 37-degrees, while it’s only forecast to reach a high of eight-degrees. Get more details about your forecast at www.weather-.gov.