Strong winds swept through most of Iowa ahead of Thanksgiving, clearing the way for potential rain and even snow after the holiday.
Central Iowa saw some of the highest wind gusts over 60 mph on Tuesday, Nov. 25 and into the early hours of Wednesday, Nov. 26. In eastern Iowa, peak wind speeds ranged from 45 mph to 56 mph, according to the Quad Cities National Weather Service.
Why is Iowa so windy?
Nearly all of Iowa has been under a wind advisory, which should end Wednesday afternoon. Most of northwestern and central Iowa is under a hazardous weather outlook. A cold front system with low pressure moved through the state on Tuesday, said Dylan Dodson, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Des Moines.
“It’s just a strong system, increased pressure gradient is what we would call it, but it increases the winds on the backside of the system as the cold air fills in,” Dodson said. “That’s really what causes those winds. This is just a more extraordinary type of event as far as the straight-line winds go.”
Are the winds tied to a potential snowstorm after Thanksgiving?
Not exactly. Forecasts predict snow in the days following Thanksgiving, but Dodson said the recent high winds and winter weather are only loosely connected. The high winds are part of a separate wave moving through Iowa, but they will bring temperatures down, clearing the way for potential snow.
“Those temperatures will stay in this kind of cooler pattern for the week, and obviously, you need colder temperatures for the snow to fall. It will help it,” Dodson said of the high winds. “Certainly, it is setting the stage for (snow) eventually.”
Where in central Iowa saw the highest wind gusts?
Here are some of the highest wind gusts reported around central Iowa from Tuesday to 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service:
When will the wind stop?
The high winds are expected to taper off as Wednesday goes on. The system is lifting off to the east. It will still remain breezy into the afternoon, but not nearly as strong as Tuesday evening, Dodson said.
In Des Moines, wind gusts could still reach 38 mph, with speeds ranging from 16 to 26 mph. During the evening, temperatures are expected drop to a low of 22 degrees with wind gusts as high as 22 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
Kate Kealey is the growth and development reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Why is Iowa so windy? See the highest wind gusts overnight
Reporting by Kate Kealey, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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