Northwest Iowa — The dangerously cold arctic temperatures we’re experiencing have many people speculating about whether these are the coldest temperatures ever in northwest Iowa. We checked, and it’s not even close.
While the mercury in northwest Iowa is predicted to drop to near -30 degrees by Wednesday morning, there have been six times since they began keeping records that the mercury has dipped below -30 in Sheldon. The temperature got down to -38 on February 9, 1899, it reached -35 on February 2, 1905, and February 13, 1905. On January 3, 1911, February 16, 1936, and February 11, 1988 the mercury dipped to -32.
2018 came in with some rather chilly temperatures, as well. A low of -26 was recorded on January 1st of last year, with the mercury dipping even a bit lower, to -28 on January 2nd.
The coldest temperature on record in Sheldon, however, was recorded on January 12, 1912, when it got down to a bone-chilling -42.
All these are air temperatures, wind chill readings are calculations based upon air temperature, combined with wind speed, so records of wind chills are not kept, according to the National Weather Service.
