DES MOINES, IOWA — A record-shattering Arctic outbreak is set to grip the Midwest starting Sunday night into Monday, sending temperatures across Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota plummeting as much as 40°F below normal for early December.
According to GFS weather model data, the incoming Arctic front will unleash some of the coldest air of the season so far, with wind chills dropping as low as –20°F at times, making outdoor exposure dangerous for extended periods.
Record Cold Expected Across the Upper Midwest
Meteorologists warn that this event could break long-standing temperature records across the region, with daytime highs struggling to reach single digits and overnight lows falling well below zero.
In Iowa, where the core of the Arctic air will settle early Monday, wind chills will feel between –15°F and –25°F, especially across northern and central counties. Cities including Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Waterloo are forecast to see bitter cold reinforced by strong northwest winds…