Since I hadn’t posted on here in quite a while, I figured it was due.
After a very steamy August, the transition to a fall climate is well under way across Iowa and the rest of the Midwest. As I type this, Freeze Watches & Warnings have been issued for far Northern / Northwestern Iowa in effect for Wednesday night as temps in those locations are expected to dip into the low 30′s if not upper 20′s. All this is a result of a true cold front moving in from the good old north. Another cold front moved through the state last night, relieving us of the 90 degree temps a large chunk of the state saw on Monday.
Here’s a map of the average dates of the 1st fall frost across the state:
On another note, flooding still continues along the Missouri River in Western Iowa. Flood Warnings still remain in effect (as they have for several weeks now) for many counties along the MO river. The Iowa DOT has posted some very helpful information on their website to help peeps navigate around the major and long lasting mess. They’ve also posted many pics in their photo gallery detailing the flooding all along the MO River in Iowa. Needless to say, after viewing those pics, it’s going to be a long, long while before things return to a state of normalcy.
One final thought….
Fellow Storm Chaser and good friend Stan Olson sent me an email yesterday, letting me know that this site has been named one of the “50 Best Amateur Meteorology Blogs” by AssociatedDegreeOnline.Net. I am honored and humbled to be placed on a list with some of the net’s best chaser / meteorologist blogs. I’m not a meteorologist, just a self taught storm chaser. Thanks to AssociatedDegreeOnline.net for the listing!
Iowa and many other states have been baking with a persistent heat wave. Most of the Central US remains under some type of heat advisory or warning. All of Iowa and most of it’s surrounding states remain under an “Excessive Heat Warning” which started on Saturday, July 16th and will continue until at least Thursday evening. The Heat Index has ranged from 110 – 120 each day, making it unbearable outside.
By the weekend, things look to “cool” down slightly, with highs only in the lower 90′s. And just think, 6 months ago, we were complaining about a blizzard!
Watches and Warnings across the USA:
Today’s Temp Max and Min for Iowa:
Average Temp Max and Min for Iowa:
After the disappointment with the storm action the day before, I was primed and ready for something better.
A classic triple point set up was progged to move across Iowa. Heat and humidity was in abundance across the state ahead of the front. The SPC had outline a large part of the Midwest in a “Moderate” risk for the day, which included Eastern Iowa. Models indicated 2 primary areas of action. The first up near the IA/MN border and the second just east of me in SE IA. Of course due to my location, I chose the 2nd.
After looking over the models and hourly weather analysis’s for several hours, I loaded everything in the car and was ready to go. About 1pm I notice small blotches on the radar and take a quick peak outside. Explosive storm development underway! I raced east towards the developing storms. Having 3 storms to pick from, I chose the southern most storm (remember my Parkersburg chase?). I meandered E/NE following it as it matured and soon merged with the #2 cell. A wall cloud was evident for several minutes before it finally produced a needle funnel. After snapping 2 fast photos, (and talking to a farmer who pulled up next to me blocking my view) I attempted to catch back up to it but to no available. The road network where I was attempting to go wasn’t the greatest. As I neared Iowa City, more and more chasers were on the storm. I called it quits just NE of Iowa and indirectly headed back towards home. As I turned off Hwy 218 onto Hwy 92, I was treated to some spectacular mammantus from another storm in the area.
SPC Storm Reports
Photos:
On another note, flooding still continues along the Missouri River in Western Iowa. Flood Warnings still remain in effect (as they have for several weeks now) for many counties along the MO river. The Iowa DOT has posted some very helpful information on their website to help peeps navigate around the major and long lasting mess. They’ve also posted many pics in their photo gallery detailing the flooding all along the MO River in Iowa. Needless to say, after viewing those pics, it’s going to be a long, long while before things return to a state of normalcy.
