Arctic blast brings record lows to the Midwest, below freezing Friday for the Northeast
The first of multiple Arctic blasts expected this month brought record-low temperatures across the Midwest on Thursday, December 4, 2025, with reports of over 40 record lows for the day. More record lows are expected as the Arctic wave moves through the Northeast on Friday, December 5.
Satellite image of northern USA at 20:00 UTC on December 4, 2025. Credit: NOAA/GOES-19, Zoom Earth, The Watchers
The ongoing Arctic blast swept across the Midwest on Thursday, December 4, bringing record-breaking low temperatures to the region.
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Des Moines confirmed six record-breaking daily low temperatures on Thursday.
Estherville and Mason City both dropped to -25°C (-13°F), while Fort Dodge and Marshalltown recorded -25.6°C (-14°F). Meanwhile, Waterloo saw the coldest reading at -26.1°C (-15°F).
Temperatures in Ames reached -22.2°C (-8°F), Des Moines recorded -19.4°C (-3°F), and Ottumwa hit -21.7°C (-7°F), which was also a record low. Lamoni registered -18.9°C (-2°F), marking another record-breaking minimum.
The mercury fell to -20°C (-4°F) in Moline, Illinois, on Thursday, breaking the previous daily low temperature record of -18.8°C (-2°F) set in 1991, reported NWS.
According to Fox Weather, more than 40 low-temperature records were broken across the country.
Washington, D.C., activated its first Extreme Cold Alert of the season on Thursday due to forecasted low temperatures.
“We’ve officially activated the first Extreme Cold Alert of the season in Washington, DC,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said. “Limit time outdoors, dress in layers, and bring your pets inside. Shelter hotline: (202) 399-7093. Together, let’s stay safe and warm all winter long.”
Temperatures dipped to nearly -29°C (-20°F) in the Adirondacks of northeastern New York on Friday morning. More record lows are expected across the Northeast through Friday as the first Arctic wave moves out.
The freezing temperatures are the result of a shifting polar vortex that has settled over Canada and is driving cold air from the North Pole into the U.S.
The setup will bring multiple waves of Arctic air into the country through early December, bringing more record lows this month.
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I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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