Des Moines, IA — Starting in October, the weather alerts used to express the danger of cold air moving in will change. The terms “Wind Chill Watch” and “Wind Chill Warning/Advisory” will not be used anymore. The National Weather Service will be referring to the dangerous cold with an “Extreme Cold Watch/Warning” and a “Cold Weather Advisory” instead. The new language will allow the NWS to communicate that cold is dangerous with or without wind.

EXTREME COLD WATCH/WARNING

The Extreme Cold Watch/Warning for Northern Iowa means it will feel like -35F below or colder.

The rest of the state will need to show signs of it feeling like -30F or colder to go under an Extreme Cold Watch/Warning.

This is important information for school districts and daycares. A Cold Weather Advisory will be used when it feels more like -25F to -34F.