An outbreak of tornadoes hop-scotched across portions of central Iowa late Saturday afternoon touching down in areas from west of Des Moines to north of Ames. No deaths were reported but extensive damage occurred in Woodward, just northwest of Des Moines. Ironically football fans at the Iowa State Cyclones’ game against Colorado were evacuated as the twisters approached the stadium at Ames. Hail, up to the size of tennis balls, also pelted the central Iowa area.
The Iowa storms and Chicago’s windy and rainy Saturday were the forerunners of an impending cold blast headed for the Midwest. Chicago’s extended warmth of Fall 2005 will come to an abrupt end this week as a blustery cold blast replete with the season’s first snow showers moves into the city.
Readings that soared to 60º or higher on 10 of the first 12 days this month will be a distant memory by Wednesday when afternoon highs should not even reach 40º.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
