Enjoy the “warmer” weather while you can because Iowa is expected to see wind chill values hit sub-zero temperatures soon.
While Des Moines will reach nearly 50 degrees Friday, temperatures will start to drop and “bitterly cold winds” will enter the state, according to the National Weather Service. Some areas of the state will have wind chills of around 30 degrees below zero.
When will bitterly cold wind chills start in Iowa?
An Arctic cold front will move across Iowa on Saturday night. The coldest period will be Sunday through Tuesday. A mixture of breezy northwest winds and cold temperatures will bring wind chill temperatures down from 15 degrees below zero to as cold as 30 degrees below zero.
From Sunday to Tuesday, the overnight and morning hours will be the coldest, according to NWS.
What is Des Moines’ wind chill forecast?
By noon Saturday, the wind chill is expected to reach 0 degrees and it’s only worse from there. Sunday morning will have a wind chill of 16 degrees below and only improve to 14 degrees below zero by noon.
Monday will see similar temperatures with wind chills of 11 degrees below zero by noon and 12 degrees below zero by 6 p.m. Tuesday morning’s wind chill will drop down to 16 degrees below. By 6 p.m. Tuesday, temperatures will increase with the wind chill around 3 degrees below as the cold front begins to pass.
Where will be some of the coldest places in central Iowa?
Mason City and Estherville will see the wind chill drop as low as 29 degrees below zero on Sunday and Tuesday. Other towns like Ames, Carroll and Waterloo will see wind chills around 20 degrees below zero on Sunday and Tuesday.
More: Iowa weather: What is wind chill and how is it calculated?
How high will winds get in Iowa?
Wind takes heat away from the human body.
Peak wind gusts will start Friday evening and go into Saturday. Strong northwest winds could reach 30 to 40 mph Friday night.
Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa wind chills to hit -30. When does the ‘bitter cold’ start?