Some Iowa schools closing due to heat

Some school districts in northern Iowa are closing early as temperatures flirted with 90 degrees outside and classroom temperatures topped 80 degrees.

The Nora Springs-Rock Falls and North Central community schools shut down before 1 p.m. Monday. So did Howard-Winneshiek, Riceville and St. Ansgar.

Nora Springs-Rock Falls Superintendent of Schools Steve Ward says he visited more than a dozen classrooms on Monday and found temperatures of 85 degrees and higher at 9 a.m. He says "it isn't going to get any better" as they day goes on.

Ward says outdoor temperatures were expected to cool Monday evening, bringing down the temperatures in the buildings by Tuesday.

Nora Springs is about nine miles east of Mason City, where schools were not in session becuase it was a professional development day for teachers.