Extreme Cold in Iowa, January 5 to 7, 2014

Name: Extreme Cold in Iowa, January 5 to 7, 2014
Start: 2014-01-05T16:00
End: 2014-01-07T01:00
Location: Iowa

January 5 to 7, 2014 · NWS DMX · 51 events in 51 counties and zones

A strong push of cold air moved into the central US during the afternoon of the 5th through the early morning of the 7th. Arctic air spilled south.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 51 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 51

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS DMX wrote it up.

A strong push of cold air moved into the central US during the afternoon of the 5th through the early morning of the 7th. Arctic air spilled south. Temperatures were not all that atypical for January, though the last time it has been this cold was in January of 2010. Winds of 25 to 45 MPH produced bitterly cold wind chills of 40 to 50 below zero over the north half of Iowa, with 35 to 40 degree below zero readings over the south. The winds caused spotty power outages around the state. An initial wave of outages affected the metro Des Moines area in the late afternoon and early evening The first outage reported about 5,000 out -- 2,000 customers out in Johnston, about 1,000 in Grimes and more than 1,500 out in Urbandale. A second outage impacted 7,400 customers with 3,000 in Johnston and 3,500 in Urbandale about 2100 CST. By 2200 CST, all but 900 in Urbandale had been restored.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

51 extreme cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Palo Alto

When: January 5, 4:00 PM CST to January 7, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Palo Alto forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.082, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Kossuth

When: January 5, 4:00 PM CST to January 7, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Kossuth forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.204, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Hancock

When: January 5, 4:00 PM CST to January 7, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Hancock forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.082, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Cerro Gordo

When: January 5, 4:00 PM CST to January 7, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Cerro Gordo forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.082, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Emmet

When: January 5, 4:00 PM CST to January 7, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Emmet forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.378, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Winnebago

When: January 5, 4:00 PM CST to January 7, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Winnebago forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.378, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Worth

When: January 5, 4:00 PM CST to January 7, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Worth forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.377, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Sac

When: January 5, 6:00 PM CST to January 6, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Sac forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.386, -95.105 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Calhoun

When: January 5, 6:00 PM CST to January 6, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.385, -94.640 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Webster

When: January 5, 6:00 PM CST to January 6, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Webster forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.428, -94.182 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Hamilton

When: January 5, 6:00 PM CST to January 6, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Hardin

When: January 5, 6:00 PM CST to January 6, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Hardin forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.240 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Grundy

When: January 5, 6:00 PM CST to January 6, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Grundy forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.402, -92.791 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Black Hawk

When: January 5, 6:00 PM CST to January 6, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Black Hawk forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.470, -92.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Pocahontas

When: January 5, 6:00 PM CST to January 6, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Pocahontas forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.734, -94.679 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Humboldt

When: January 5, 6:00 PM CST to January 6, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Humboldt forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.777, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Wright

When: January 5, 6:00 PM CST to January 6, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Wright forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.733, -93.735 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Franklin

When: January 5, 6:00 PM CST to January 6, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Franklin forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.733, -93.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Butler

When: January 5, 6:00 PM CST to January 6, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Butler forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.732, -92.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Bremer

When: January 5, 6:00 PM CST to January 6, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Bremer forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.775, -92.318 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Audubon

When: January 5, 8:00 PM CST to January 6, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Audubon forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.685, -94.906 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Guthrie

When: January 5, 8:00 PM CST to January 6, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Guthrie forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.684, -94.501 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Dallas

When: January 5, 8:00 PM CST to January 6, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Dallas forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.685, -94.040 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Polk

When: January 5, 8:00 PM CST to January 6, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Polk forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.686, -93.573 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Crawford

When: January 5, 8:00 PM CST to January 6, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Crawford forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.037, -95.382 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Carroll

When: January 5, 8:00 PM CST to January 6, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Carroll forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.861 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Greene

When: January 5, 8:00 PM CST to January 6, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Greene forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.397 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Boone

When: January 5, 8:00 PM CST to January 6, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.037, -93.932 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Story

When: January 5, 8:00 PM CST to January 6, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Story forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.036, -93.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Marshall

When: January 5, 8:00 PM CST to January 6, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Marshall forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.036, -92.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Tama

When: January 5, 8:00 PM CST to January 6, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Tama forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.080, -92.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Jasper

When: January 5, 8:00 PM CST to January 6, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Jasper forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.686, -93.054 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Poweshiek

When: January 5, 8:00 PM CST to January 6, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Poweshiek forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.686, -92.531 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Taylor

When: January 5, 9:00 PM CST to January 6, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Taylor forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.737, -94.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Ringgold

When: January 5, 9:00 PM CST to January 6, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Ringgold forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.735, -94.244 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Decatur

When: January 5, 9:00 PM CST to January 6, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Decatur forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.738, -93.786 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Wayne

When: January 5, 9:00 PM CST to January 6, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.740, -93.327 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Appanoose

When: January 5, 9:00 PM CST to January 6, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Appanoose forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.743, -92.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Davis

When: January 5, 9:00 PM CST to January 6, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Davis forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 40.748, -92.410 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Adams

When: January 5, 9:00 PM CST to January 6, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Adams forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.029, -94.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Union

When: January 5, 9:00 PM CST to January 6, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Union forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.028, -94.242 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Clarke

When: January 5, 9:00 PM CST to January 6, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.029, -93.785 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Lucas

When: January 5, 9:00 PM CST to January 6, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Lucas forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.029, -93.328 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Monroe

When: January 5, 9:00 PM CST to January 6, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Monroe forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.030, -92.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Wapello

When: January 5, 9:00 PM CST to January 6, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Wapello forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.031, -92.409 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Cass

When: January 5, 9:00 PM CST to January 6, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Cass forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.332, -94.928 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Adair

When: January 5, 9:00 PM CST to January 6, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Adair forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.331, -94.471 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Madison

When: January 5, 9:00 PM CST to January 6, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.331, -94.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Warren

When: January 5, 9:00 PM CST to January 6, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Warren forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.334, -93.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Marion

When: January 5, 9:00 PM CST to January 6, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Marion forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.334, -93.099 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Mahaska

When: January 5, 9:00 PM CST to January 6, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Mahaska forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 41.335, -92.641 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill: Temperatures or wind chills at or below the local warning criteria, or cold that caused deaths.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Iowa in 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, January 2014

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 482094, 482095, 482096, 482097, 482098, 482099, 482100, 482081, 482082, 482083, 482084, 482085, 482086, 482087, 482088, 482089, 482090, 482091, 482092, 482093, 482067, 482068, 482069, 482070, 482071, 482072, 482073, 482074, 482075, 482076, 482077, 482078, 482079, 482050, 482051, 482052, 482053, 482054, 482055, 482056, and more.