Iowa Braces for Snow and Frigid Temperatures Overnight

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Eastern Iowa is preparing for a light snowfall overnight, followed by another day of frigid temperatures on Tuesday. A weak storm system moving into the region is expected to bring snow to the area, particularly north of Highway 20, with precipitation likely ending by early morning.

The snowfall, expected to begin around midnight, will last for several hours before tapering off by 4:00 or 5:00 a.m. Moisture associated with the system is limited, meaning accumulations will be light. Temperatures overnight will drop into the low single digits, with wind chills potentially reaching the -10s by Tuesday morning.

Tuesday will mirror Monday’s weather, with sunny skies but persistent cold. Highs are expected to remain in the 10s, with wind chills struggling to reach single digits above zero. Clear skies and light winds Tuesday night will allow temperatures to plummet again, with lows hovering around zero and wind chills dipping below zero.

A brief warm-up is forecast for Wednesday, as winds shift to a southerly and southwesterly direction. Highs will climb into the upper 10s to mid-20s, with temperatures reaching the 40s on Thursday and Friday. However, the warmth will be short-lived, as another cold front sweeps through the region on Saturday, bringing highs back into the 10s and overnight lows near zero.

The coldest stretch of the week is expected between Sunday and Monday, with highs struggling to reach the single digits to low 10s. Overnight lows will likely fall below zero, with wind chills making conditions feel even colder. This dramatic temperature swing follows a period of above-normal warmth, with highs on Friday nearly 20 degrees above average before plummeting to nearly 20 degrees below normal by Sunday.

Despite the cold, no additional precipitation is expected in eastern Iowa over the next nine days. The region will remain dry, with no rain or snow in the forecast after tonight’s light snowfall.