Do you wonder where winter has been hanging out? Alaska! One of the coldest winters on record has left Alaska in the deep freeze this year. Check out the co-eds at University of Alaska in Fairbanks. -45 and beachwear... fantastic.

Monday morning Prospect Creek, Alaska had a temperature of -79. The record low temperature for the U.S. was recorded at Prospect Creek in 1971. It hit -79.8. When the temp hits -30 ...oil will not pour out of a can. Hot water turns to ice dust when thrown into temperatures around -25.

Heavy snow has also plagued the Denali state. Snow that has collapsed homes and business. A few reports of 70+ inches of snow in 48 hours.

Our winter... not so wintry. We have received 6.4 inches of snow since Dec. 1. 10 inches of snow has fallen since last Fall. Record high temperatures were recorded yesterday. Des Moines had a high of 65. The old record was 57. Busted!!!



Here is a picture of the creek in our back yard. Still frozen...but not enough to support the weight of parent or kids. We had a story of two folks who lost their lives while ice fishing in Madison County yesterday. Another story of a kid how fell through ice on the Des Moines River as he tried to stop his dog from falling into the cold water. Thankfully the child was safe...and the Des Moines river rescue team saved the dog.

More 50s are in the forecast through the next couple days. The ice is too thin. Make sure you stay safe and on solid ground.

We are watching another storm that will impact the area Friday night and Saturday. Rain is expected to change to snow. Stay tuned....winter still has time to make up for the spring temps this week.

Wimpy Storm

This storm of wintry mix is slowing down and wimping out. Dryer has set up over Central Iowa and is sucking away all of the moisture.

There will be some areas of slick roads later today... but measurable snow will be very difficult to accumulate here.

The messy weather will move in before noon but we'll finish by 3 o'clock this afternoon.

Watch out for slick patches of roadway this afternoon and evening. The weekend is still looking dry and I think you're going like the temperatures next week.

Check out central Iowa's only 24 hour local weather news channel...13.2. We will have new updates on this changing forecast all day long.

Winter weather advisory tonight

The northern one half of Iowa is under a weather advisory tonight. It includes the Des Moines metro area. We are expecting 1 to 2 inches of snow by tomorrow morning.

This storm will start out as rain this evening and then turn to snow late tonight.

Another issue with the storm will be high wind gusts near 30 mph.

Much colder air will filter in behind the storm and could cause some icy roads by tomorrow morning.

Tuning the channel 13 tonight at 6 and 10. Brett McIntyre will have the full forecast.

Snowfall Totals Update

Here is the latest snowfall total map for the state. We expected the heavy snow to stay in the northern counties.

The highest amounts were in a line from Mason City to Fort Dodge to Waterloo. Many area near the Highway 20 corridor recorded 5 to 7 inches of snow.

Now we have the very cold lows below zero tonight. The snow and clear skies will allow our temperatures to bottom out near -10 in northern Iowa.

It will be cold Saturday. Highs are expected to be around 20.

The latest road condition map at 5:45 PM showed the snow covered roads in north central and eastern Iowa.

Check out the latest road report at ... http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/roads/

Northern Iowa Snowstorm

http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/data/lsr_snowfall.png
The latest snowfall totals show 6+ inches in northern Iowa.

This storm stayed right on track with the forecast last night showing Des Moines missing the snow.

Several schools canceled or delayed their classes today. The University of Northern Iowa canceled classes this afternoon too.

This storm still has a punch left for eastern Iowa. Travel is expected to be tricky in that area of the state through the overnight.

Now we have to brace for very cold overnight low temperatures. We are looking at a low tonight of two below zero.

It will remain cold on Saturday with a high of 20. But warmer temperatures on Sunday will give us a chance for rain snow mix.

Coldest Weather This Winter...Thursday

A wind chill advisory is in effect for northern Iowa tonight and tomorrow morning. Wind chills will drop to -20 to -30. You can see the counties in the advisory are shaded in light blue.

The NW wind will gust to over 30 mph. We will have dangerous conditions for all who might be caught in the cold tonight.

There is also a chance for light snow Thursday. This will allow for little more than a dusting. There could be some slick roads...but much of that will come from the melting today and re-freezing after sundown.

A more potent storm is setting course for Iowa Friday. There is a good chance for 1 to 3 inches of snow in Des Moines. Right now the forecast is showing more snow in northern Iowa...but if the storm track moves to the south we could see additional snow.

This is the more active weather pattern we expected at the beginning of the season. La Nina usually means a peaceful start to winter...but more significant storms for the second half of the season.

Looking ahead... there is a stronger storm that is brewing for next week. This one looks like it will be in the area Tuesday and could have rain/freezing rain and snow. It is far too soon to give an accurate measure ...but is one to certainly watch.

Stay warm and make sure to check on pets and those who are not able to stay warm.

3rd Warmest Winter

I know there are snow lovers out there that want, even need, to see some snow. Many of us love the seasonal changes in Iowa.

This year there is a snow withdrawal. If you have missed the snow...there is a chance for light snow tomorrow. There is a better chance for much colder temperatures.

A cold front will move through the state and take our early highs around 40 to the teens. This front also has the potential to give us some wind-driven snow. Only about 0.2" of snow...but the gusty NW wind will reduce visibilities as the snow moves in tomorrow afternoon.

For now... Des Moines is sitting at the 3rd warmest winter on record.

Waterloo and Mason City are too. Mason City had another record of 53 today.

Here are the other stats for the state.

...UPDATED STATISTICS FOR WARMTH SO FAR THIS WINTER...  THE METEOROLOGICAL WINTER TO DATE...DECEMBER 1ST THROUGH JANUARY  10TH...HAS BEEN CHARACTERIZED BY UNUSUALLY WARM TEMPERATURES AND  VERY LITTLE SNOWFALL ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL IOWA. MANY AREAS ARE  EXPERIENCING ONE OF THEIR WARMEST WINTERS-TO-DATE ON RECORD. THE  WARMEST WINTERS FROM DECEMBER 1ST THROUGH JANUARY 10TH...IN TERMS OF  AVERAGE TEMPERATURE...FOR SOME STATIONS ACROSS CENTRAL IOWA ARE AS  FOLLOWS:     ----DES MOINES---- 1. 1889-90  36.0 DEGREES 2. 2006-07  34.9 DEGREES 3. 2011-12  33.5 DEGREES    1881-82  33.5 DEGREES 4. 1965-66  33.0 DEGREES     -----WATERLOO----- 1. 2006-07  30.9 DEGREES 2. 1913-14  30.0 DEGREES 3. 2011-12  29.9 DEGREES    1931-32  29.9 DEGREES 5. 1959-60  29.8 DEGREES     -----MASON CITY---- 1. 1913-14  29.3 DEGREES 2. 2006-07  28.9 DEGREES 3. 2011-12  27.1 DEGREES    1931-32  27.1 DEGREES    1959-60  27.1 DEGREES     ------OTTUMWA------ 1. 1931-32  34.5 DEGREES 2. 2006-07  34.5 DEGREES 3. 1965-66  33.9 DEGREES 4. 1982-83  33.4 DEGREES 5. 2011-12  33.3 DEGREES

Thanks to to the NWS in Johnston for the updated information.

Records Smashed

At 2PM we have 64 degrees on the thermometer! A new record for Des Moines.

The old record was 59...we could be warmer by 3:00.

The clear sky and jet stream in Canada will keep busting records today.

Tonight on 13HD we will see how many places smashed record highs.

Enjoy the amazing January thaw.