An extended period of arctic cold is expected this week, with temperatures dipping below zero and wind chills entering dangerous territory early Tuesday morning through Thursday afternoon.

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Chill Warning from Tuesday evening through Thursday morning, and an advisory tonight. Overnight air temperatures will drop between 15 to 20 degrees below zero throughout the region Tuesday and Wednesday, with wind chill values as low as 40 to 45 below expected. In those conditions, frostbite and hypothermia can occur in as little as 10 minutes if proper winter gear isn’t worn. Additionally, several records could be broken this week throughout the state for the chilly air — especially as the forecast indicates thermometers are unlikely to read above zero degrees from Tuesday through Thursday afternoon. According to the National Weather Service, this will be the coldest stretch in Iowa in over two decades.

There is a break in sight — by Friday, a warmup is expected, with the weekend seeing thermometers climb above the freezing mark.

Previous record coldest high temperatures – Knoxville:
Tuesday:-1 in 1965
Wednesday: -3 in 1918
Thursday: 4 in 1951

Previous record overnight lows – Knoxville:
Tuesday: -18 in 1965
Wednesday: -22 in 1996
Thursday: -22 in 1918

Previous record coldest high temperatures – Indianola:
Tuesday: 1 above in 1965
Wednesday: -4 in 1918
Thursday: -2 in 1917

Previous record overnight lows – Indianola:
Tuesday: -17 in 1899
Wednesday: -26 in 1996
Thursday: -26 in 1996

Stay tuned to KNIA/KRLS for the latest winter weather information.