A Wind Chill Advisory is in effect until Noon today for: Audubon, Adair, Adams, Cass, Dallas, Guthrie, Madison, Ringgold, Taylor & Union; Wind Chill Advisory in effect until 9-a.m. today for: Carroll, Crawford & Sac Counties; Wind Chill Advisory in effect until 11-a.m. today for: Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby Counties.

* SHORT TERM TRENDS…SNOW IS COMING TO AN END EARLY THIS MORNING. TRAVEL CONTINUES MAY BE IMPACTED IN RURAL AREAS DUE TO STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW.

* WINDS…NORTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 30 MPH WILL CONTINUE THIS MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON.

* TEMPERATURES/WIND CHILL VALUES…BITTER COLD WIND CHILLS ARE EXPECTED FOR TODAY WITH WIND CHILL VALUES RANGING FROM 15 TO 20 BELOW DURING THE PERIOD.

* IMPACTS…VERY LOW VISIBILITY…STRONG WINDS…AND SLICK ROADS  WILL MAKE TRAVEL HAZARDOUS. DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS ARE ALSO EXPECTED THROUGH THE DAYTIME HOURS TODAY OVER MUCH OF THE REGION. ACROSS THE NORTH DANGEROUS WIND CHILL VALUES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY MONDAY MORNING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.  IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS…MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND GLOVES.

Officials in the Adams County community of Prescott have issued a “Snow Emergency.” The snow emergency is in effect from 6-am today (Sunday) through 11:59-p.m. on Monday, Jan. 5th. While the civil order is in effect, no vehicles are to park on the streets of Prescott until after 11:59-p.m. Jan. 5th.

All vehicles should be moved off the streets. Any vehicles remaining on the streets until the Snow Emergency ends will be subject to towing at the owner’s expense.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Nebraska and Iowa are among those states preparing for another blast of wintry weather this weekend. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for much of eastern Nebraska and most of Iowa through Sunday morning. Temperatures are expected to drop to near zero by midnight today and through Sunday morning, with wind chills possibly falling to 20-below zero.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — At least one Iowa state lawmaker plans to push legislation this session that would provide direct funding for food banks in Iowa. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that Senator Jeff Danielson, a Democrat from Waterloo, is drafting such a bill for the 2015 session. Republican Governor Terry Branstad is supporting a state plan already in place that allows for up to $1 million in state money as matching funds for private donations to food banks.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An old Danish windmill is the pride of Elk Horn, but decades after it was moved from Denmark, Iowa residents are struggling to pay for repairs to get the structure’s blades turning again. Windmill manager Lisa Riggs noticed last spring that something was wrong with the 168-year-old windmill, dismantled in Denmark and reassembled in 1975. Despite its popularity, Riggs says it’s tough for a little town to raise the $25,000 to $100,000 needed for repairs.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City woman and her two dogs are safe after escaping a house fire. Sioux City firefighters responded to a report of the fire around 7:30 p.m. Friday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Some Iowa hospitals have tightened visitation rules in the wake of a widespread flu outbreak that has claimed the lives of three children in recent months, including that of a 3-year-old Elk Horn girl. The Des Moines Register reports that 3-year-old Ayzlee McCarthy died on Monday from complications from the flu. Her mother says that only three days earlier, Ayzlee appeared healthy and active.

Iowa Department of Public Health reports show that for the week ending Dec. 27, 161 Iowans were hospitalized with the flu at a set of hospitals the department monitors. That has prompted Des Moines medical centers to ban any would-be visitors who show any flu symptoms, and anyone visiting flu-infected patients must wear a surgical mask over his or her nose and mouth.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa inmate in Sioux City has been placed on escape status after failing to return from his work release detail on New Year’s Day. The Sioux City Journal reports that 29-year-old Timothy Raymond Denney was staying at the Department Corrections Work Release facility in Sioux City following a conviction for second-degree robbery and going armed with intent.

People in work-release can leave the facility for a certain amount of time for jobs. Denney was transferred to work release on Oct. 8. His sentence was for 15 years. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 712-279-6960.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — At least one Iowa state lawmaker plans to push legislation this session that would provide direct funding for food banks in Iowa. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Waterloo, is drafting such a bill for the 2015 session.

Others, including Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, support a state plan already in place that allows for up to $1 million in state money as matching funds for private donations to food banks. Branstad has pointed to the $150,000 in state funding last year that matched the $150,000 donated by CN Railroad to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank in Waterloo.

The food bank’s director, Barb Prather, says the $300,000 was used to buy better quality food for the charitable food bank, like canned chicken, tuna and fruit.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City woman and her two dogs are safe after escaping a house fire. Sioux City firefighters responded to a report of the fire around 7:30 p.m. Friday and arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the house.

Sioux City Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Brad Robinson says the woman was able to round up her two dogs and get out of the house shortly after seeing the flames. The fire was quickly extinguished, and no one was injured. Robinson said the American Red Cross is helping the woman find shelter and clothing.

Nebraska and Iowa are among those states preparing for another blast of wintry weather this weekend. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for much of eastern Nebraska and most of Iowa beginning Saturday evening through Sunday morning. The weather service says the region could see light snow accumulations of 1 to 2 inches in northern areas and up to 4 inches further south.

But the weather service says high winds and plummeting temperatures will make for dangerous conditions for travelers and anyone venturing outdoors. Temperatures are expected to drop to near zero by midnight and into Sunday morning, and wind chills could fall to 20-below zero.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An old Danish windmill is the pride of Elk Horn, Iowa, but decades after it was moved from Denmark, residents are struggling to pay for repairs to get the structure’s blades turning again. Windmill manager Lisa Riggs noticed last spring that something was wrong with the 168-year-old windmill, dismantled in Denmark and reassembled in 1975.

An inspection determined the harsh weather had caused some of the mechanics that attach to the giant sails to shift, forcing the blades to be stopped. Despite its popularity, Riggs says it’s tough for a little town to raise the $25,000 to $100,000 needed for repairs.

Mayor Stan Jens says the windmill has given Elk Horn a huge lift, and it’s essential to get the blades turning again.

Several weather systems will move through Iowa the next three days. The first, and widely advertised snowfall will begin late this afternoon in northwest Iowa and move southeast throughout the state as the night goes on. All of Iowa could see freezing drizzle before the snow arrives tonight, but little to no ice accumulation is expected. Once the snow starts it should be light with amounts of 1-2 inches common across most of the state.

Expected snowfall totals thru 6-a.m. Tue., 1/6/15

Icy spots will develop on area roadways. Motorists are advised to anticipate the slipper conditions and to please drive with care. As the snow ends, strong winds of 20-30 miles an hour will cause dangerous wind chills and blowing snow conditions overnight and on Sunday. By Monday, a second clipper storm system will also move through north central and northeast Iowa dropping even more snow.

(Iowa Storm Chasing Network)