Des Moines, Iowa — A relentless Arctic cold pattern has tightened its grip across the Midwest core, with forecasters warning that dangerously low temperatures are likely to persist through Sunday, February 2, impacting large portions of Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.
Meteorologists say the duration and intensity of this cold spell could make it one of the longest sustained freezes the region has experienced in decades.
According to the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center, much-below-normal temperatures remain firmly entrenched across the central Midwest, with little opportunity for meaningful warming in the days ahead. Repeated intrusions of Arctic air have shut down the typical winter pattern of brief warmups, allowing the cold to stack day after day.
Arctic Air Refuses to Let Go
Forecasters say overnight temperatures will continue to plunge into the single digits and below zero, particularly across northern and rural areas. When combined with steady winds, wind chills between -15°F and -25°F are expected during overnight and early morning hours…