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Historic freeze could break Midwest temp records

News

January 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — It has been decades since parts of the Midwest experienced a deep freeze like the one expected to arrive this weekend. Potential record-low temperatures starting Sunday and expanding into next week are increasing fears of frostbite and hypothermia even in a region where residents are accustomed to bundling up.

This “polar vortex,” as one meteorologist calls it, is caused by a counterclockwise-rotating pool of cold, dense air. The frigid air, piled up at the North Pole, will be pushed down to the U.S., funneling it as far south as the Gulf Coast.

Temperatures are projected to dip to 25 below in Fargo, N.D., and minus 31 in International Falls, Minn. The San Francisco-Green Bay playoff game Sunday at Lambeau Field could be one of the coldest NFL games ever played.

NWS Forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area: 1/4/14

Weather

January 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Today: Patchy blowing snow and a slight chance of snow between 8am and 11am, then patchy blowing snow after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 12 by 5pm. Wind chill values as low as -5. Windy, with a west wind 9 to 14 mph becoming north northwest 18 to 23 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around -2. Wind chill values as low as -20. Blustery, with a north wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
**Wind Chill Warnings and Watches will be in effect beginning on Sunday**
Sunday: Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 1. Wind chill values as low as -25. Windy, with a north northwest wind 15 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Sunday Night: Scattered flurries. Mostly cloudy, with a low around -14. Wind chill values as low as -40. Windy, with a northwest wind 20 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Monday: Patchy blowing snow and scattered flurries before noon. Partly sunny and cold, with a high near -6. Windy, with a west northwest wind 17 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around -11.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 14.

Area Basketball Scores from Fri., Jan 3rd 2014

Sports

January 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

BOY’S BASKETBALL:

Ar-We-Va 52, CAM 25

Carroll 69, South Central Calhoun 52

Clarinda 63, Shenandoah 55

Coon Rapids-Bayard 45, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 42

Denison-Schleswig 58, Creston 53, 2OT

Earlham 57, Guthrie Center 15

Glenwood 79, Red Oak 43

Griswold 48, East Mills 46, OT

Harlan 76, St. Albert, Council Bluffs 58

Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 72, Atlantic 61

Omaha Gross Catholic 60, Council Bluffs/Abe Lincoln 58

Panorama, Panora 60, Woodward-Granger 35

Tri-Center 49, Logan-Magnolia 35

West Monona 70, Woodbury Central, Moville 52

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Adair-Casey 59, Woodbine 40

Ankeny Christian Academy 69, West Central Valley 61

Ar-We-Va, Westside 71, CAM 37

Clarinda 58, Shenandoah 48

Coon Rapids-Bayard 48, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 33

Denison-Schleswig 47, Creston 42

Griswold 35, East Mills 27

Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto 55, West Monona 40

Panorama, Panora 63, Woodward-Granger 31

Red Oak 49, Glenwood 45

Tri-Center 62, Logan-Magnolia 16

 

Iowa News Headlines: Sat., Jan. 4th 2014

News

January 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Winter is normally cold, but tundra-like temperatures are soon poised to deliver a rare and potentially dangerous sledgehammer blow to much of the Midwest, driving temperatures so far below zero that records will shatter. One reason, according to one meteorologist, is a “polar vortex” that will send cold air piled up at the North Pole down to the U.S., funneling it as far south as the Gulf Coast.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — The Burlington City Council has chosen the first black mayor in the southeast Iowa city’s history. The Hawk Eye reports the council on Thursday narrowly elected Councilman Shane McCampbell to a two-year term as mayor. He was chosen in a 3 to 2 vote over Councilwoman Becky Anderson.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Business leaders in Iowa and Nebraska are joining forces to promote economic development in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area. Governors Terry Branstad and Dave Heineman signed an agreement Friday to add Advance Southwest Iowa Corporation, a new public-private partnership, to the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Transportation says it will spend less than $100,000 to implement a new logo. The Des Moines Register reports the department told DOT workers in an email that it would cost “below $100,000” over a five-year period to implement the new logo in offices, vehicles and other printed materials. DOT Director Paul Trombino says the new logo replaces one that’s been used for 32 years.

Wind Chill Watch remains in effect for parts of w/sw Iowa Sun.-Mon.

Weather

January 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY and POTTAWATTAMIE Counties: WIND CHILL WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY EVENING.
MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT and PAGE Counties: WIND CHILL WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON.

WIND CHILL VALUES…WIND CHILLS WILL REACH AS LOW AS 30 TO 40 DEGREES BELOW ZERO.

* TIMING…ALTHOUGH WIND CHILL VALUES COULD TOUCH 20 BELOW SUNDAY MORNING…A PROLONGED PERIOD OF WIND CHILL VALUES OF 25 BELOW ZERO OR COLDER WILL BEGIN SUNDAY AFTERNOON…REACHING THE COLDEST SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING. WIND CHILLS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN COLDER THAN 20 BELOW ZERO AT LEAST THROUGH MONDAY EVENING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A WIND CHILL WATCH MEANS THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A COMBINATION OF VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS TO CREATE DANGEROUSLY LOW WIND CHILL VALUES. MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND WARNINGS FOR UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION.

Wind Chill Warning in effect 6-am Sunday until Noon Tuesday

Weather

January 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

AREA COUNTIES: AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD– 414 AM CST SAT JAN 4 2014 …

WIND CHILL WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM SUNDAY TO NOON CST TUESDAY

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A WIND CHILL WARNING…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM SUNDAY TO NOON CST TUESDAY. THE WIND CHILL WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* TIMING…AN ARCTIC AIRMASS AND INCREASING NORTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 30 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS WILL DROP INTO THE AREA LATE TODAY AND TONIGHT AND REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGH TUESDAY. WIND CHILL VALUES WILL DROP TO 20 BELOW ON SUNDAY. THE COLDEST AIR WILL BE IN PLACE SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY.

* WIND CHILL VALUES…AN EXTENDED PERIOD WITH EXTREME WIND CHILL VALUES OF 20 TO 35 BELOW ZERO WILL OCCUR. LIFE THREATENING WIND CHILL VALUES SUNDAY NIGHT TROUGH MONDAY MORNING OF 35 TO 50 BELOW ARE EXPECTED.

* IMPACTS…EXTREME WIND CHILLS OF THIS MAGNITUDE CAN RESULT IN FROST BITE IN MINUTES AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA OR DEATH IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A WIND CHILL WARNING MEANS THE COMBINATION OF EXTREMELY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL CREATE LIFE THREATENING LOW WIND CHILL VALUES. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA OR DEATH IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

Woman charged in connection with fatal June 2013 accident in Lenox

News

January 3rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Taylor County report charges have been filed in connection with a fatal accident between a car and a bicyclist just outside of Lenox, last Summer. The Lenox Police Department says the Taylor County Attorney’s Office charged Jessica M. Brown, of Lenox, with Failure to Stop at an Assured Clear Distance. On Friday, Jan. 3rd, 2014, a conviction was entered against  Brown for the offense and she was ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $500, plus fees and court costs amounting to $235.

Officials say the events leading up to the charge began on Sunday, June 23rd, 2013, at about 9:00 a.m., when the body of Gerald O. Williams was found in a ditch along 110th Street, approximately ½ mile east of Vail Avenue in Lenox.  Williams’ wife had been traveling out-of-state and when she was unable to contact him, she called local law enforcement and requested a welfare check be conducted. The officers determined that Gerald Williams was not at his home, and during the check of his residence officers noticed that his bicycle was not there.

Because Mr. Williams was an avid bicyclist, a search was made of popular bicycle routes in the area, and searchers ultimately found his body in the ditch along 110th Street, which is a popular bicycle route in the Lenox area. The incident was investigated by the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Lenox Police Department and the Iowa State Highway Patrol, with assistance by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Through this investigation it was determined that the day prior to the discovery of Gerald O. Williams’ body, on Saturday, June 22nd, 2013, at about 9:15 a.m. Williams was riding his bicycle eastbound on 110th Street and was struck by an eastbound car driven by Jessica M. Brown.

Williams died as a result of the injuries he sustained when he was hit by the car.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 3rd

Trading Post

January 3rd, 2014 by admin

WANTED: a washing machine. 769-2456

Wind Chill Watch expanded to include the entire KJAN listening area

Weather

January 3rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

ADDED COUNTIES: AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR AND RINGGOLD…336 PM CST FRI JAN 3 2014

WIND CHILL WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING…THIS IS IN ADDITION TO AN EARLIER WATCH POSTED FOR WESTERN/SW IA.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A WIND CHILL WATCH…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING.

* TIMING…AN ARCTIC AIRMASS AND INCREASING WINDS WILL ARRIVE SUNDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY.

* WIND CHILL VALUES…DANGEROUS TO LIFE THREATENING WIND CHILL VALUES WILL OCCUR THROUGH THE PERIOD…WITH THE WORST CONDITIONS EXPECTED SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY WHEN WIND CHILL VALUES MAY DROP TO 35 TO 45 BELOW ZERO AT TIMES. WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 15 TO 25 MPH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT AND REMAIN AT 15 TO 30 MPH SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING.

* IMPACTS…EXTREME WIND CHILLS OF THIS MAGNITUDE CAN RESULT IN FROST BITE IN MINUTES AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA OR DEATH IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WIND CHILL WATCH MEANS THE THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A COMBINATION OF VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS TO CREATE DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING WIND CHILL VALUES. MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND WARNINGS FOR UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION.

Highway 30 near Ames reopens after chemical leak

News

January 3rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have reopened a portion of Highway 30 near Ames after a plume of gas from a chemical leak dissipated. Crews responded to a business at the Iowa State University Research Park shortly before noon Friday after a hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid chemical leak spread over the area. Water was sprayed to diminish the plume.

Des Moines television station KCCI says a delivery driver was dropping off the chemicals at a business when the two accidentally mixed. The driver of the delivery truck was taken to a local hospital as a precaution.