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Only in Iowa can we see a 120-degree weather flip in a matter of a few days

News, Weather

February 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Iowans are used to wild weather extremes in the wintertime but going from balmy highs in the 60s to wind chills of minus-60 in the course of several days is radical, even for the Hawkeye State. State climatologist Justin Glisan says the month of January started out quite warm and stayed that way -almost- through the end.  “Up until the 27th of January, the state was above average temperature-wise,” Glisan says, “and then we got that polar plunge the last few days that really tipped the averages.”

It was almost like somebody roused a dozing Mother Nature from her slumber last Sunday and reminded her it’s supposed to be winter in Iowa — and she overreacted a bit.  “You look at the first week of January, we were actually way above average, between 15 to 25-degrees above average. Some parts of the state had temperatures in the 50s and 60s,” Glisan says. “You flip that, the last week of the month, we’re getting temperatures down into negative-30 and negative-40.”

Overall, the statewide average temperature for January was 18-point-five degrees, about one-degree below normal. Glisan says it appears February will remain colder than normal. “We’re looking to trend below-average for the month,” Glisan says. “We’re getting into the later part of wintertime so we’re warming up, but as of now, the outlooks have below-average temperatures. As for precipitation, it looks like we’re a tad bit above average for rainfall/snowfall across the state.”

Precipitation for January statewide averaged one-point-32 inches, which is four-tenths of an inch above normal. He notes, January is typically the driest month of the year.

Skyscan forecast for Atlantic & the area: Monday, Feb. 4, 2019

Weather

February 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Today: (Beware icy roads this morning) Mostly cloudy w/flurries this morning; Partly Cloudy this afternoon. Temps falling into the teens this morning before rebounding to around 24 this afternoon. NW @ 15-30 mph.

Tonight: P/Cldy. Low 8. N/NE @ 10-20.

Tomorrow: Mo. Cldy w/light snow. High 24. E @ 10.

Wednesday: Cldy w/a mix of light snow-rain-freezing rain. High 34.

Thursday: Cloudy w/snow. High 15.

Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 53. Our Low this morning was 14. Last year on this date our High was 15 and the Low was -1. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 62 in 1938. The Record Low was -30 in 1905.

 

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the area: 2/3/2019

Weather

February 3rd, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Today: (Dense fog advisory until Noon) Fog, mainly before noon. Patchy drizzle after 5pm. Cloudy, with a high near 51. South wind around 10 mph.
Tonight: Cloudy w/widespread fog and patchy drizzle. Low around 27. S /SE @ 15-25.
Monday: Mostly cloudy early; gradually becoming sunny, with temperatures falling to around 19 by 5pm. NW @ 15-35 mph. Wind chill values as low as 5.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 7. N/NE @ 10-25 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy w/a 40% chance of snow before 4pm, then a chance of snow and freezing rain. High near 23. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are expected.
Tuesday Night: A slight chance of Mixed precipitation (Snow-freezing rain) through midnight. Low around 16.
Wednesday: Mo. Cloudy w/a slight chance of snow in the afternoon. High near 28.

Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 48. Our Low was 38. Last year on this date our High was 47 and the Low was 7. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 60 in 1934. The Record Low was -29 in 1996.

Freese-Notis Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the area: Feb. 2nd, 2019

Weather

February 2nd, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Today: Partly cloudy to cloudy w/areas of fog and/or drizzle this morning (Beware of frost on the roads!). High around 45. Winds South at 15-20.

Tonight: P/Cldy to Cldy w/areas of fog. Low 35. S @ 10.

Sunday: P/Cldy to Cldy w/morning fog. High 48. S @ 10-20.

Monday: Mostly cloudy, windy & cooler w/light rain-snow early; flurries in the afternoon. High early of around 35, w/temps falling during the day.

Tuesday: Mo. Cloudy. High 24.

Melting snow could cause dirty air Sunday

News, Weather

February 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — The forecast for warmer temperatures Sunday that will melt snow could lead to fog that makes the air quality drop in some areas of the state. D-N-R air quality specialist John Gering, says we could see a combination of things that lead to the problem. “The water droplets resulting from the higher humidity can kind of accelerate the reaction of fine particulates — particularly ammonium nitrate,” Gering says. He says a warmer boundary layer of air could trap the ammonium nitrate in the colder air below.

“Typically that’s not a factor above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, because at temperatures about 50 degrees Fahrenheit it would be in a gaseous phase,” Gering explains. “But below temperatures of 50 degrees it would be in a particulate phase. The aerosol water droplets that you get from snow melting accelerates the formation of ammonium nitrate.” He says the ammonium nitrate that’s created and trapped in the air could cause breathing problems for some individuals.

“People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children, would be advised to limit outdoor exertion,” according to Gering. You can see what the air quality is like in your area by going to www.airnow.gov. “That would kind of give you a color-coded indication of what the levels are,” according the Gering. “If they reach the orange color — that would be an indication of unhealthy levels for sensitive groups.” Gering says everyone should be aware of the potential for the dirty air.

He says temperatures are going to be between freezing throughout the whole day, so this has the potential to be an issue statewide. The forecast is calling for temperatures to rise into the 40’s Saturday, and then continue to heat up in to the 50’s on Sunday. The ammonia in the air comes from decaying vegetation and animal feeding operations, and the nitrates come from vehicle exhaust and other sources.

Jan. 2019 weather stats for Atlantic

Weather

February 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The month of January in Atlantic was nearly normal for the average High and slightly cooler for the Low. We were also drier than average. Weather data compiled here at the KJAN Studios (The official National Weather Service reporting site for Atlantic), shows the Average High for the month was 29.9-degrees (as compared to the normal 29.4), the Average Low was 11.8 (Normally around 9.3 degrees). Precipitation for the month (combined rain & melted snow and/or ice), amounted to .59″ (Average is .84″). The most snow fell on Jan. 11th, which was also the greatest melted precipitation value, at .21.”

The warmest day was on Jan. 5th at 59-degrees. The coldest was -19 on Jan. 29th & 30th. Looking ahead to the month of February, the High in Atlantic is typically 35.4 degrees, and the average Low is 15.2. Precipitation for the month normally amounts to .96.”

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the area (& weather data for Atlantic) – Feb. 1st 2019

Weather

February 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Today: Partly Cloudy. High near 30. S @ 10-15 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy to cloudy w/areas of fog. Low 25. S @ 5-10.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy to Cldy w/morning fog High 44. SW @ 10-20.

Sunday: P/Cldy to Cldy. High 48.

Monday: Mostly Cloudy w/light rain or snow. High early of 35 w/temps falling during the day.

Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 14. Our Low was -2. Last year on this date our High was 21 and the Low was 0. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 58 in 1987. The Record Low was -27 in 1979.

More low temperature records set in Iowa

News, Weather

January 31st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The dangerously cold weather was still setting low-temperature records in many Iowa communities Thursday morning. It was minus 30 in Cedar Rapids, shattering previous record -21 set Jan. 31, 1996. The low of -28 in Iowa City was 10 degrees colder than the previous record of -18 set Jan. 31, 1996. New lows for the date also were set in Dubuque and Waterloo. The bitter cold chilling the middle of the U.S. also broke records in several Iowa cities Wednesday, including Des Moines.

A meteorologist says parts of the northern U.S. are going to experience an “unprecedented” and “dramatic warm-up.” Weather Underground’s meteorology director Jeff Masters says places in Michigan and Illinois experiencing record or near-record cold this week are expected to be around 50 degrees Fahrenheit by Monday. He said Thursday that he hasn’t before seen a 70-degree shift in temperature during the winter. He says “past record-cold waves have not dissipated this quickly” and that the region seems headed for “spring-like temperatures.”

Masters says the polar vortex is “rotating up into Canada” and is not expected to return in the next couple of weeks. He says it might return in late February, but if it does, “it won’t be as intense.”

Several schools, businesses remain closed for deep freeze

News, Weather

January 31st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Several schools, businesses and agencies are remaining closed as Iowa’s record-breaking and dangerous deep freeze continues. The National Weather Service has posted wind chill advisories or warnings for Iowa, but they’re expected to expire later this (Thursday) morning. The bitter cold that beset the nation’s midsection broke records in several Iowa cities Wednesday, including Des Moines. The minus 20 handily broke the 1965 low of minus 17. The Wednesday wind child hit minus 40.

The minus 25 degrees in Waterloo broke the Jan. 30 record of minus 24 set in 1951. Estherville, Lamoni, Mason City and Ottumwa also had record low temperatures. Here in southwest Iowa, many schools are running two-hours late this morning, due to the chilly weather.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Area: 1/31/2019

Weather

January 31st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Today: **Wind Chill Advisory until 10-a.m.** Cloudy w/a 20% chance of light snow or flurries. High 15. SE @ 10-15 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy to cloudy. Low 10. SE @ 5-10.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy to Cldy. High 34. SE @ 10-20.

Saturday: P/Cldy to Cldy. High 43.

Sunday: P/Cldy to Cldy. High 47.

Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was -3. Our Low was -19. We received a trace of snow early this morning in Atlantic (through 5:25-a.m.). Last year on this date our High was 39 and the Low was 10. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 59 in 2012. The Record Low was -28 in 1996.