Dangerous Subzero Wind Chills Grip Iowa as Weekend Snow System Approaches Central and Southern Counties
DES MOINES, IOWA — A bitter blast of Arctic air is gripping central Iowa this morning, delivering single-digit temperatures and wind chills plunging between –15°F and –25°F across the Des Moines metro and surrounding farm fields. The air is brutally dry, painfully cold, and expected to stay this way through Friday morning before a weekend snow system approaches.
Subzero Wind Chills Persist Through Friday Morning
According to the National Weather Service in Des Moines, dangerous cold will continue through early Friday. Clear skies allow temperatures to tumble, while northwest winds intensify the chill across central Iowa.
Residents should be alert for:
- Wind chills between –15°F and –25°F
- Frostbite risks within minutes on exposed skin
- Icy patches on rural roads and shaded areas
Commuters, school traffic, and early-morning delivery routes will face some of the coldest conditions so far this December.
Developing Weekend Snow System May Bring Several Inches
Clouds increase Friday night into Saturday as a developing system approaches the Midwest. Forecasters are tracking a 30–60% chance of snow late Saturday into Saturday night, with the potential for a few inches of accumulation across central and southern Iowa.
Travelers along I-35 and I-80 should expect:
- Slick stretches Saturday evening
- Reduced visibility as snow begins falling
- Temperatures near 20°F, allowing snow to stick quickly
While exact totals remain uncertain, confidence is rising that much of Iowa will see accumulating snow before dawn Sunday.
Cold Sunday Followed by a Slight Temperature Rebound Monday
Sunday remains cold and partly sunny, with highs only in the teens to upper 20s. Lows Sunday night fall back near zero, creating new icy spots for early Monday travel.
A slight improvement arrives Monday as highs reach the upper 20s, though the morning will still begin with bitter temperatures.
Meteorologists caution that another Arctic surge may return between December 11–17, potentially aligning with heavier snow chances across the Midwest — a critical window as holiday travel increases.
Five-Day Outlook for Des Moines, Iowa
Thursday: Sunny, high 14°F, low 8°F, wind chills –25°F early
Friday: Increasing clouds, high 33°F, low 19°F
Saturday: 30–60% snow chance, high 28°F, low 8°F
Sunday: Partly sunny, high 18°F, low 2°F
Monday: Mostly cloudy, high 28°F, cold early
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