'Brief shot of bitter cold' and dangerous wind chills Friday in parts of Iowa before warmer weekend
A wind chill advisory is in effect from 6 p.m. Thursday until 9 a.m. Friday in northern Iowa before a warmer, sunny weekend.
Winds moving north-northwest today will bring gusts of 25 to 35 mph north Thursday morning, and usher in a cold front for Thursday night into Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service. Wind chills will drop to -20 to -30 degrees, possibly even cold up north by the Minnesota border.
🥶 Another brief shot of bitter cold air and wind chills can be expected tonight and early Fri. Wind Chill Advisories will be in effect for much of the northern half of IA.
Lows in the single digits and teens below zero in the advisory. Wind chills -20° to -30°. #iawx pic.twitter.com/OnElM6Jedr— NWS Des Moines (@NWSDesMoines) February 2, 2023
Des Moines' coldest wind chill period will be from 9 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday. The coldest wind chill is predicted to be at midnight at -19 degrees. Mason City is forecasted to have the coldest wind chill around midnight at -31 degrees. Ames is expected to see wind chills reach -25 degrees around midnight and Iowa City will see wind chills near -20 degrees.
The National Weather Service warned Iowans to dress appropriately and cover their skin. Frostbite can set in within 20-30 minutes on exposed skin.
Iowa weather: What is wind chill and how is it calculated?
Forecasters expect a warmer, mostly sunny weekend, with the high being 41 in Des Moines. Monday is forecasted to have a high near 46, though it could be breezy.
😎➡️🥶While it'll still be pretty nice tomorrow, NW winds will return and make for a cold end of the week.
🥶➡️😎Fortunately, weekend will quickly warm back to and above normal in the 30s and 40s! #iawx pic.twitter.com/dv90LEbLwg— NWS Des Moines (@NWSDesMoines) February 2, 2023
Noelle Alviz-Gransee is a breaking news reporter at the Des Moines Register. Follow her on Twitter @NoelleHannika or email her at NAlvizGransee@registermedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa under wind chill advisory before a warmer, sunny weekend
