Bitter cold is sweeping into the area on the heels of another several inches of snow. 2.5 inches of snow was recorded Wednesday at the KNIA/KRLS studios, along with ½ inch Thursday and a dusting of snowfall Friday. The National Weather Service is predicting sub-zero temperatures for Friday, along with wind chills dipping to 30 degrees below zero. State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says , while extreme cold in January is nothing new in Iowa, it’s been a decade since we’ve had such a lengthy string of bitterly cold winter days. The arctic temperatures are expected to continue into Saturday, but Hillaker says more typical winter weather should return by the early to middle part of next week.