The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Johnston has issued a freeze warning for Thursday from midnight to 9 a.m., with temperatures forecast to reach the low 20s overnight.
Much of central and southern Iowa is under the freeze warning, with sub-freezing temperatures bringing conditions that will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation and might possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
Iowans should take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold, the NWS said. In order to prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes, the pipes should
be wrapped, drained or allowed to drip slowly. Iowans with in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing.
Along with Dallas County, the freeze warning comprises Story, Marshall, Tama, Audubon, Guthrie, Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek, Cass, Adair, Madison, Warren, Marion, Mahaska, Adams, Union, Clarke, Lucas, Monroe, Wapello, Taylor, Ringgold, Decatur, Wayne, Appanoose and Davis counties.
Along with Perry, cities under the freeze warning include Ames, Marshalltown, Tama, Toledo, Traer, Dysart, Gladbrook, Audubon, Exira, Guthrie Center, Panora, Bayard, Casey, Perry, Waukee, Adel, Des Moines, Newton, Grinnell, Atlantic, Greenfield, Stuart, Adair, Fontanelle, Winterset, Earlham, Indianola, Norwalk, Carlisle, Pella, Knoxville, Oskaloosa, Corning, Creston, Osceola, Chariton, Albia, Ottumwa, Bedford, Lenox, New Market, Mount Ayr, Lamoni, Leon, Corydon, Seymour, Allerton, Humeston, Centerville and Bloomfield.
ThePerryNews.com will update this weather story as forecasts evolve.
