The National Weather Service in conjunction with the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency has declared November 8, 2012 as Winter Weather Awareness Day in Iowa.

Each year, winter returns to Iowa and produces winter storms, blizzards, ice storms and periods of extremely cold temperatures and dangerous wind chills. Extreme winter weather disrupts transportation, commerce, education and it can be life threatening. Winter Weather Day is intended to remind Iowans about the dangers of extreme winter weather and how to prepare for it.

Getting winter weather safety information into the hands of those who need it has always been challenging. This year, the National Weather Service in Des Moines produced an informative brochure which discusses the various winter weather hazards which impact Iowa, the different winter weather products the National Weather Service issues for those hazards, and what practical things we all can do to keep us and our families safe this winter. The brochure can be found here.

This year, you can follow the National Weather Service, Des Moines on Facebook and Twiitter! Safety messages will be sent via Facebook and Twitter during the week of November 5th.

On November 8, 2012, the National Weather Service will issue informative public information statements about winter weather in Iowa along with safety recommendations.