Leaves swirl across driveways and flags strain in the stiff pre-dawn breeze over central Iowa. A powerful wind event is taking aim at the state, ushering in the kind of December chill that stings the face and makes every step feel sharper.
The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a Wind Advisory for much of central and southern Iowa, including Des Moines, Ottumwa, and Winterset. Winds from the northwest will strengthen late Tuesday, gusting up to 55 mph through Wednesday morning. Those traveling along I-80 or Highway 65 should expect strong crosswinds, especially for high-profile vehicles. Tree limbs may come down, and isolated power outages are possible.
As the system passes, a brief window of light snow could clip the region Tuesday night into early Wednesday, mainly north of I-80. Any flakes will blow around easily under the strong winds, briefly reducing visibility on open stretches of highway.
The bigger story, though, is the cold. Temperatures will tumble through the week, with highs struggling near 30°F by Friday and lows dipping into the single digits. Wind chills could fall below zero early Saturday morning, marking the coldest air of the season so far.
Five-Day Outlook for Des Moines, IA
- Wednesday: Windy with light snow, high 31°F, low 19°F.
- Thursday: Breezy, mostly cloudy, high 29°F, low 19°F.
- Friday: Mostly cloudy, chance of snow, high 27°F, low 5°F.
- Saturday: Partly cloudy and cold, high 21°F, low 7°F.
- Sunday: Sunny but brisk, high 24°F, low 10°F.
