Wind Chill Advisory Issued for Entire State of Iowa

The National Weather Services in Des Moines, the Quad Cities, Sioux Falls, and Omaha have all issued Wind Chill Advisories for the portions of the state of Iowa that each represents --- resulting in all 99 counties covered in a Wind Chill Advisory tonight beginning at midnight and continuing until 12 PM on Thursday...and another Wind Chill Advisory goes into effect at 6 PM on Thursday until 9 AM on Friday.

How Cold will it feel? The Wind Chill on Wednesday night - Friday morning could reach a low as -25*.

At this temperature frostbite on exposed skin could occur in as little as 30 minutes.

What are the differences between a Wind Chill Advisory, Watch, and Warning? According to the National Weather Service in Des Moines:

A Wind Chill Advisory means that wind chill values are expected to fall to between -20° and -29°F within the next 24 to 36 hours. Please exercise caution and wear appropriate clothing if heading outdoors for any prolonged period of time.

A Wind Chill Watch means that wind chill values are expected to fall to -30°F or lower within the next two to three days. Start planning to limit any outdoor activity during this time.

A Wind Chill Warning means that wind chill values are expected to fall to -30°F or lower within the next 24 to 48 hours. Please refrain from any unnecessary outdoor activities and wear protective clothing if you must venture outdoors. You can get frostbite in 10-15 min on unprotected skin.

How often are Wind Chill Warnings issued in Iowa? In 2021, there were a total of eight, and all of them occurred in February. Only three were issued in 2020, according to the Iowa Environmental Mesonet.