DES MOINES – Warnings for extreme life threatening cold will continue through Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service in Des Moines.
An extremely cold arctic airmass will keep temperatures well below zero through Tuesday morning, the agency reported. These temperatures combined with gusty northwest winds will produce life threatening wind chills. The most extreme wind chills will occur through this morning with widespread values of 40 to 55 below. These wind chills will be the coldest in nearly 20 years over much of the area.
Wind Chill Warning remains in effect until noon Tuesday.
Winds of 20 to 35 mph and higher gusts are expected, combined with temperatures 10 to 20 below are creating wind chill values from 35 to 50 below zero across the region. The coldest of these readings is occurring over Northern Iowa.
Wind Chill values: the most extreme and life threatening conditions are expected through this morning with wind chills from 35 below south to 55 below North. Over Central Iowa wind chills will drop to around 40 to 45 below.
Extreme wind chills of this magnitude can result in frost bite in minutes and lead to hypothermia or death if precautions are not taken.
A Wind Chill Warning means the combination of extremely cold air and strong winds will create life threatening low wind chill values. This will result in frost bite and lead to hypothermia or death if precautions are not taken.
Throughout the North Iowa area, schools are closed and other meetings and event shave been called off. There was a least one reported emergency this morning, as the Kohl’s Department Store was closed just as it opened due to an apparent carbon monoxide leak.