Most of Iowa was under a blizzard warning Friday as the state grappled with driving winds, accumulating snow and frigid temperatures — and with estimates of how that will impact Monday's Iowa caucuses.
With school classes canceled, commercial flights canceled, temperatures in the low single digits and wind gusts of 30 to 40 miles per hour forecast over the weekend, cleanup campaigns have already been underway.
A wind chill advisory is in effect for the state from Saturday night through Tuesday afternoon, with forecast wind chills of 30 to 45 degrees below zero. The dangerous conditions could cause frostbite on exposed skin in just 10 minutes, KCCI reported.
The state issued safety warnings about where motorists on snowy highways could stop to ride out a snowstorm. A tractor-trailer remained stranded on the shoulder of Interstate I-80 outside Des Moines to warn of possible dangers.
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who finished second in a new Iowa poll on Thursday, canceled her planned in-person campaign event for Friday evening in Council Bluffs, where the temperature was just 5 degrees Friday.
Their campaign cited “potentially dangerous weather conditions.”
Ron DeSantis braved frigid temperatures and a grim forecast to meet with a conservative group in Ankeny, Iowa. Blizzard warnings blanket the state and freezing temperatures are forecast for Monday
Rival Ron DeSantis, who is hoping for a strong performance in Iowa, held an event Friday but was unable to compete in later ones. Donald Trump's deputy Kari Lake was supposed to hold an event for him on Friday evening. Trump left the state on Thursday to attend his New York fraud trial.
Ralph Reed of the Faith & Freedom Coalition is already assessing how the cool weather will affect voter turnout in the state, but suspects hardy Iowans would show up.
“Prior to these weather reports indicating this kind of polar vortex weather pattern that we're going to have, we had projected in our model that there would be somewhere between 200 and 220,000 caucus attendees,” he said.
A snowstorm and freezing temperatures are causing political events to be canceled in the final days before the Iowa caucuses
Wind chills as low as -45 degrees were forecast as Iowans prepare to head to gathering places on Monday
Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley canceled her Friday events despite seeing a slight rise in the polls
Danger! Ron DeSantis canceled his later events on Friday. He and his wife, Casey DeSantis, are betting on a ground operation in Iowa
Iowa residents are being warned that they could suffer frostbite if their skin is exposed to the elements for just 10 minutes
DeSantis supporters brought signs to a CNN debate in Des Moines. But can he throw out his supporters on caucus day?
A political yard sign for former President and current Republican nominee Donald Trump sits on the snowy roadside on a road near Reasnor, Iowa. Trump's camp says his dedicated supporters will show up
Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy had planned several election rallies on Friday. He fought Thursday in Cedar Rapids
The Iowa Department of Administrative Services clears snow from the Capitol parking ramp Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, as a snowstorm hit Des Moines.
Thanks for the ride: DeSantis made it to his first event in Ankeny, but the super PAC Never Back Down canceled later scheduled appearances
“If you end up with strong winds and snowing sideways, you know, maybe there would be an impact,” he said.
But the veteran of caucuses since 1984 said Iowans take their role in caucuses “very seriously.”
“You play a valued role in electing the President of the United States…You're going to meet these candidates multiple times…I mean, if you've lived in Iowa for more than six months, there's nothing really surprising about a cold snap.” He pointed to a prediction that Trump supporters, who tend to be older, would not vote. “I just don’t buy it,” he said.
Trump senior adviser Chris LaCivita said Trump's supporters are “very committed” and will definitely prevail.
“Nothing has changed,” he said Wednesday amid the dire forecast. “The weather is changing a little bit, but I'm not kidding when I say just wear a coat.” I mean, you know, you literally go to the caucus, you go, you go. “I mean, this is Iowa, they know how to handle the weather,” he said.
“We have a very engaged group of voters who, as the president has said numerous times, would walk over glass to vote for him. “So we know the intensity favors us.”
Trailing in the polls, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy stuck to his political agenda on Friday by flagging up his decision and lashing out at his rivals like before.
“George Washington braved the weather to cross the Delaware,” he wrote on X Friday morning. “Another snow day in Iowa, another day of events for us.” The first event begins in 1 hour. We'll keep going with each one for as long as we can *physically* manage it.
Shovel at the ready: Des Moines residents were already digging, but were advised not to travel
The state will be at the center of political action on Monday as Donald Trump takes on his rivals in the caucuses
Des Moines and other Iowa cities were blanketed in snow, which continued to accumulate Friday
Iowans have experience dealing with snow, but wind chill poses health risks
It takes a village: Des Moines' East Village neighborhood was able to keep roads passable, but people were advised to avoid travel altogether
He then warned: “We respect the caucus process in Iowa. “I encourage everyone in these communities to err on the side of caution and respect their decisions today as we continue to do our best to show up.”
Authorities warned Iowans not to travel, and with up to a foot of snow forecast, there were warnings that gusty winds would continue to cause blowing snow hazards Saturday.
Iowans weren't the only ones struggling with the winter weather.
A weather warning has been issued for every state in the country as the Midwest prepares to be hit with up to a foot of snowfall.
Multiple weather threats are impacting the country, and the National Weather Service (NWS) has now issued a weather warning for every state.
Blizzard, tornado, flood, avalanche and wind warnings were issued, with a wind advisory extending nearly 2,000 miles from Texas to New England.
Heavy snow is currently spreading across the Midwest, with the NWS reporting one to two inches falling every hour.
Meteorologists have already warned that areas of Montana, particularly Lewistown and Havre, will see temperatures plummet to -48°F due to extreme wind chills.