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The record cold temperatures southeast Iowa experienced three years ago today is something that is extremely unusual says Jim Hladik with the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities.  He says in order for the temperatures to drop into the minus 20 and 30 degree range like they did in 2009 takes a combination of snow cover, light winds, clear sky and a chilly Arctic air mass associated with a high pressure system.

Hladik adds those cold temperatures are an extreme for our area.  He says those colder temperatures are usually seen in northern Minnesota and into Canada.

Hladik notes the record low temperature of -32 for Washington set three years ago should have a good chance of not being broken any time soon.