As soon as I left the airport, there was a sharp wind… There are few people on the frozen road.
The temperature is -25 degrees below zero and feels like -43 degrees… Cold wave continues until the 16th
Coldest Iowa Caucus ever… Outlook on primary election impact
Despite continuing reports that an unprecedented cold wave hit Iowa, where the U.S. presidential primary begins for the first time, the plane heading from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines, Iowa, was full on the 13th (local time), two days before the Republican caucuses. .
In particular, reporters from various countries equipped with laptops and camera equipment were on board, showing interest in the Iowa Republican caucus, which is the starting point of the U.S. presidential election.
But regardless of the interest, the road to Iowa State was not easy from the beginning. The plane that boarded on time took off only after two hours, and passengers were held for an hour after arrival. This appears to be the result of poor conditions at Des Moines International Airport due to the weather.
In fact, the impact of the cold wave we observed upon arriving in Iowa was significant.
When I left Des Moines International Airport, there was no snow, but there was a blizzard. Because of the constant wind, the accumulated snow continued to fly up. The wind that hit my skin was such that the expression ‘cutting wind’ would be an understatement.
The sports utility vehicle (SUV) I had reserved was out of stock, so I had to rent a pickup truck. There was still unmelted snow piled up in the luggage compartment, but there was nothing to do. I drove carefully on the frozen road and entered downtown Des Moines.
Since it was an event attracting worldwide attention, I expected a lively primary atmosphere, but it was difficult to feel any caucus atmosphere in the city.
Even though it was Saturday, there were hardly any people on the streets. The streetlights above the pure white snow were filled with Caucus banners, which contrasted with the empty streets. The area near the media center, which should be overflowing with reporters, was also quiet.
According to Accuweather, a U.S. weather reporting company, the temperature in Des Moines as of 10 p.m. that day was -25 degrees Celsius (-13 degrees Fahrenheit).
The perceived temperature reached -43.3 degrees Celsius (-46 degrees Fahrenheit). The company warned that “cold air is life-threatening” and “you must protect your skin and other sensitive items.”
The cold wave is expected to continue until the 16th. The Republican caucuses held in 99 counties in Iowa at 7 p.m. on the 5th are also scheduled to be held amid unprecedented cold weather.
According to the Associated Press, the coldest since the Iowa caucuses began was -8.8 degrees Celsius (16 degrees Fahrenheit) in 2004. The manager I met at the Des Moines Hotel that day also said, “It’s the coldest caucus ever.”
Former President Donald Trump, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who are participating in the Republican primary, are putting effort into last-minute campaigns ahead of the caucuses, but their plans have been disrupted, including the cancellation of campaigns due to cold weather.
The harsh weather is expected to have a significant impact on the participation rate of party members on the day of the caucus. In order to participate in the caucus, even party members must attend the convention hall to cast a vote. They have to overcome the murderous cold to get to the venue, and there are predictions that they will have a lot of strong supporters.
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.