Like it or not, the frigid winds of winter will be blowing sleet and snow into Iowa at some point soon, and Iowans need to begin getting ready for all the season ahead may hold. Meteorologist Chad Hahn, at the National Weather Service, says today (Thursday) is Winter Weather Awareness Day.
Hahn says this awareness day is just that, a way to make Iowans stop and think about things like warm clothes, sand, salt and snow shovels.
Hahn recommends Iowans download reliable weather apps onto their devices, or make sure their weather radios have fresh batteries, while he notes Iowans should be familiar with the differences between a watch and a warning.
The state climatologist says the strong El Nino (NEEN-yo) pattern could bring Iowa a warmer, wetter winter, with more rain and less snow.
(Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City)
