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Iowa will be the coldest state in the US. Maps show how cold it’ll be.

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Iowa will be the coldest state in the US. Maps show how cold it’ll be.


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  • Iowa is expected to experience the coldest temperatures in the Lower 48 due to a surge of Arctic air.
  • A weakened polar vortex is allowing frigid air to spill into the U.S., creating a winter-like weather pattern.
  • Record-breaking low temperatures are likely through Thursday, with light snow chances but minimal accumulation expected.
  • A gradual warm-up is forecast for the weekend, but temperatures will remain below normal with chances for light snow.

Temperatures across Iowa are forecast to plunge to the coldest in the Lower 48, dipping well below zero as a surge of Arctic air sweeps in.

The broader weather pattern will stay active and winter-like through the end of the week and into the weekend. A recent stratospheric disturbance weakened the polar vortex, allowing frigid Arctic air to spill into the U.S. and shift the jet stream, bringing snow and wintry precipitation to several regions.

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While the heaviest snow will target the Rockies and High Plains on Dec. 3, Iowa will primarily feel the effects of a strong cold front and fast-moving clipper systems sweeping through the Great Lakes and Midwest.

“An active winter-like pattern will continue to bring the threat of winter weather to multiple areas of the country through the end of the week and into the weekend,” the Climate Prediction Center said.

When is the coldest air expected in Iowa?

Dangerous cold will dominate the forecast through Thursday, Dec. 4. Record-breaking lows are likely early Thursday, and even daytime highs will struggle to climb out of the single digits and teens. Winds will ease overnight, but the extreme cold will persist.

By Friday, Dec. 5, temperatures moderate slightly, but the pattern remains active into the weekend.

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When will temperatures warm up in Iowa?

After the deep freeze, a gradual warm-up arrives Friday, Dec. 5, though temperatures will still run below normal.

The weekend and early next week look unsettled, with a series of disturbances tracking through the Midwest. While confidence in timing and amounts remains low, light snow chances will return periodically. Anyone with travel plans should monitor updates closely, as even light snow combined with cold conditions could impact roads.

Is snow expected in Iowa?

Light snow showers are possible today, Dec. 3, along the trailing cold front.

Additional chances for snow are possible on Thursday, Dec. 4, as another clipper system passes through. Accumulations in Iowa should remain light, but the bitter cold will dominate the story, with temperatures running well below normal for early December.

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Several weak systems will ripple through the region, bringing occasional chances for light snow. While significant accumulations appear unlikely, even minor snowfall could cause hazards as low temperatures keep roads slick.

“Anyone with travel plans this weekend should monitor the latest forecast updates, because while at this time the probability of a significant snowfall event is low, even lighter accumulations could still impact travel conditions at times,” the National Weather Service office in Des Moines wrote.

Maps: Temperature lows in Iowa

Fort Dodge is set to see the coldest temps in the U.S. on Thursday, Dec. 4, reaching -16 degrees overnight.

Wednesday night through Thursday morning, Dec. 3-4

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Thursday night through Friday morning, Dec. 4-5

Friday night through Saturday morning, Dec. 5-6

Iowa weather watches and warnings

Here are the watches and warnings for the area.

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Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text.

Brandi D. Addison covers weather across the United States as the Weather Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. She can be reached at baddison@gannett.com. Find her on Facebook here.



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Penn State earns commitment from Iowa State leading wide receiver via transfer

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Penn State earns commitment from Iowa State leading wide receiver via transfer


Penn State landed Iowa State’s pair of quarterbacks earlier Sunday, including starter Rocco Becht, in a splash move. Now, the Cyclones’ leading receiver is coming with them.

Wide receiver Brett Eskildsen committed to Penn State via the transfer portal, becoming the seventh Cyclone to join the Nittany Lions this weekend. He announced the move on social media.

Eskildsen recorded 30 receptions, 526 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore in 2025. He also appeared in all 13 games as a freshman but made just two catches for 17 yards.

The 6-1, 200-pound wideout is from Frisco, Texas, and is a three-star in the 247Sports transfer rankings (No. 118 overall, No. 30 WR). He was a three-star out of high school as well, where he had more than 1,5000 career receiving yards.

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Becht’s top man from 2026 is now in place. He’ll also be able to throw to standout Penn State freshman Koby Howard and quick youngster Tyseer Denmark, who have confirmed their returns thus far.

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Iowa State picks up commitment from Arkansas State QB Jaylen Raynor

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Iowa State picks up commitment from Arkansas State QB Jaylen Raynor


Iowa State football has picked up a commitment from Arkansas State quarterback Jaylen Raynor, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on Jan. 3.

Raynor has one season of eligibility remaining. The 6-foot, 202-pounder from Kernersville, North Carolina, passed for 3,361 yards and 19 touchdowns this season. He was intercepted 11 times.

Raynor also rushed for 423 yards and seven touchdowns.

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He passed for 8,694 yards and 52 touchdowns in three seasons at Arkansas State.

“The (Iowa State) coaching staff is known for winning,” Raynor told Thamel. “The head coach is a known winner and done it on multiple levels.”

Raynor will join Arkansas State offensive coordinator Keith Heckendorf in Ames. Heckendorf was named Cyclones quarterbacks coach this week.

Raynor completed 19 of 33 passes for 222 yards in a 24-16 loss to Iowa State on Sept. 13, 2025.



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Seven Iowa High School Wrestlers Off To Dominant Starts This Season – FloWrestling

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Seven Iowa High School Wrestlers Off To Dominant Starts This Season – FloWrestling


The first month of the Iowa high school wrestling season has been filled with scintillating individual performances. Here’s a look at seven standouts who have been racking up bonus points in December. 

Drew Anderson (Riverside)  

The Class 1A state runner-up last year at 132 is up to 144 this season and he’s 14-0 with 11 technical falls, a pair of pins and a forfeit win. Anderson, a junior in his second season at the school, already owns the Riverside school record for technical falls with 28. Anderson is on pace to more than double the previous Riverside tech record of 23. 

Urijah Courter (West Marshall)

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Courter won the 2A title last season at 113 after placing third as a freshman at 106. He’s up to 120 this season. Courter is 14-0 this season with 10 pins and two technical falls. His ledger also includes a 6-5 win against Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont’s Simon Bettis in a rematch of last season’s state title bout. 

Cooper Hinz (Jesup)

Entering the holiday break, Michigan commit and two-time state medalist Cooper Hinz is 22-0 with 21 wins via pin, technical fall or forfeit. His other victory was a 4-1 overtime decision against returning state placewinner Cain Rodgers of North Fayette Valley. More impressively, all of Hinz’s pins and technical falls have all come in the first period. 

Lincoln Jipp (Bettendorf)

Jipp placed fifth at 138, third at 165 and second at 175 in Class 3A during his first three seasons. Now he’s up to 215 — 77 pounds more than where he started his career as a freshman. The North Carolina recruit pinned his way through the prestigious Dan Gable Donnybrook. He’s 16-0 with 10 pins, four technical falls and a forfeit.   

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Mason Koehler (Glenwood)

The returning 2A champ at 215 is 20-0 with 18 pins and a major decision. His only two matches that went the distance came at the Council Bluffs Classic, where he defeated Nebraska standout Ryan Boehle of Grand Island 14-4 and Minnesota hammer Joe Kruse of Totino-Grace 9-2. The rest of Koehler’s matches this season ended in first-period pins. He has already registered a six-second pin and another in nine seconds this season. 

Jaxon Miller (Carlisle)  

Miller is a three-time state medalist, a two-time finalist and returning state champ in Class 3A. He placed fourth as a freshman at 145 before making trips to the finals at 157 and 165. He’s 16-0 this season with 13 first-period pins, two technical falls and a forfeit. 

Keaton Moeller (Starmont)

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Moeller placed third in 1A as a freshman at 145 before winning a state title at 150 as a sophomore. He missed all of last season after suffering a torn ACL in football. Now he’s back as a senior at 190 and Moeller hasn’t missed a beat. He’s 13-0 with five pins, six technical falls and a pair of forfeits. He has yet to wrestle a full period this season. 

Iowa High School Premium Rankings

Check out the Iowa High School Wrestling Premium Rankings, which are generated by using an athlete’s complete match history to predict a wrestler’s performance against others in their weight class by considering factors such as win-loss records, the quality of their victories (pins, technical falls, major decisions), the strength of their opponents and overall historical performance patterns. The data is updated every Monday, sourced from the Trackwrestling season results. Since each team is responsible for maintaining their season results, any data discrepancies for a wrestler should be addressed by contacting their coach to manage the information within the season. This includes the weight class assigned. Wrestlers are eligible to be ranked after competing in five matches at a single weight.





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