Siouxland faces bitter cold, snow
By Molly Montag | Posted: Wednesday, January 14, 2009
SIOUX CITY -- Those dreaming of a spring thaw will get an icy dose of reality today as winter roars back with gusty winds, blowing snow and frigid temperatures.
Meteorologists at the National Weather Service office in Sioux Falls issued an urgent winter weather message Tuesday, warning residents of dangerously cold wind chill readings throughout tonight.
They issued a wind chill advisory in effect from 4 a.m. today until midnight tonight.
Don Miller, hydrometeorological technician in the weather service's Sioux Falls office, said winds of 15-25 mph, combined with below-zero to single-digit temperatures will push wind chill readings down to minus 25 degrees this morning. Today's low is expected to hit minus 18.
Wind chill readings as low as minus 25 degrees are expected throughout the day.
The wind, combined with the approximately 1.5 inches of snow expected to fall by this morning, could make travel difficult.
Motorists may be tempted to start their cars and return to the comfort of their homes while the engines warm up, but Sioux City Police Lt. Marti Reilly warned residents to be careful.
"(Make) sure when you're warming cars up that you keep an eye on them, so they don't get stolen," he said.
Winter driving conditions claimed one victim Tuesday. Police say Juan Zermeno-Mendoza lost control of his car on an ice-covered road and crashed into a utility pole in Plymouth County, Iowa.
The accident happened about 5:30 a.m. on County Road C-66 near Kingsley, when Zermeno-Mendoza's car spun into the east ditch and hit the utility pole about a quarter mile south of 300th Street.
Firefighters freed Zermeno-Mendoza from the car. He was taken by ambulance to Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars, where police say he was pronounced dead.
Meteorologists at the National Weather Service office in Sioux Falls issued an urgent winter weather message Tuesday, warning residents of dangerously cold wind chill readings throughout tonight.
They issued a wind chill advisory in effect from 4 a.m. today until midnight tonight.
Don Miller, hydrometeorological technician in the weather service's Sioux Falls office, said winds of 15-25 mph, combined with below-zero to single-digit temperatures will push wind chill readings down to minus 25 degrees this morning. Today's low is expected to hit minus 18.
Wind chill readings as low as minus 25 degrees are expected throughout the day.
The wind, combined with the approximately 1.5 inches of snow expected to fall by this morning, could make travel difficult.
Motorists may be tempted to start their cars and return to the comfort of their homes while the engines warm up, but Sioux City Police Lt. Marti Reilly warned residents to be careful.
"(Make) sure when you're warming cars up that you keep an eye on them, so they don't get stolen," he said.
Winter driving conditions claimed one victim Tuesday. Police say Juan Zermeno-Mendoza lost control of his car on an ice-covered road and crashed into a utility pole in Plymouth County, Iowa.
The accident happened about 5:30 a.m. on County Road C-66 near Kingsley, when Zermeno-Mendoza's car spun into the east ditch and hit the utility pole about a quarter mile south of 300th Street.
Firefighters freed Zermeno-Mendoza from the car. He was taken by ambulance to Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars, where police say he was pronounced dead.
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