Information from Alliant Energy:

With the forecasted large snowfall and drifting snow over the next few days, Alliant Energy reminds customers not to forget about clearing snow and ice from their gas meter as well as their furnace vents and other vents around their home.

It’s important to remember heavy snow accumulation can cover natural gas meters as well as other vents around your home. Natural gas meters have regulators and a vent to allow gas to escape. If the vent is blocked, your gas system could malfunction.

Customers should also be aware of the dangers and risks of carbon monoxide (CO). The risk of illness or death from carbon monoxide increases in the winter. Every home should have at least one working CO monitor in the home.

A north Iowa Christmas tree farm is helping make the holidays a little easier for troops and their families.

Fisher Trees, of Clear Lake has participated in the nationwide program for the last six years, contributing 25 trees which are picked up by Fed-Ex and hauled free of charge to military bases in the U.S. and overseas.

"A lot of Americans today really, really appreciate what our service men and women are doing for us and this is just a real small thing that christmas tree growers can do to show our appreciation for these men and women that are putting their lives at risk," said Mark Fisher, owner of Fisher Trees.

Fisher says 80,000 trees have been donated nationwide over the six years.

Frost and freeze conditions isn't that common for mid-September, but that's exactly what we're in for late tonight and tomorrow morning. Canadian high pressure will deliver us a shot of chilly air that's about 15 to 20 degrees cooler than average. This time of year that type of cold just can't last too long, so by the weekend temperatures warm into the 60s and 70s.