…Prolonged Oppressive Heat Conditions Expected This Weekend…

Forecast confidence is extremely high for oppressive heat conditions beginning Friday afternoon and lasting through Sunday afternoon. Widespread daytime heat index values of over 100 degrees are expected. Overnight minimum temperatures will only
lower to the low to mid 70s. Daytime winds with gusts above 20 mph are expected.

Sac-Crawford-Carroll-Greene-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Cass-Adair-Madison Counties (300 PM CDT Thu Jun 14 2018)

Heat Advisory for counties in orange

…HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM FRIDAY TO 7 PM CDT SUNDAY…

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a Heat Advisory, which is in effect from 1 PM Friday to 7 PM CDT Sunday.

* TEMPERATURE…High temperatures will range from 95 to 99 degrees. With dewpoints in the low 70s, heat index values will range from 100 to 105 degrees throughout this time period.

* IMPACTS…Lack of overnight relief from the heat will lead to additional stress. Strong daytime winds will increase the risk of dehydration. The prolonged nature of this event will compound and amplify heat-related impacts.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Heat Advisory means that a period of hot temperatures is expected. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a situation in which heat illnesses are possible. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned
room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink. Avoid drinking alcoholic and caffeinated beverages as they dehydrate you.

Never leave infants, children or pets in a parked car, even for a minute.

Take extra precautions, if you work or spend time outside. When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear light weight and loose fitting clothing when possible and drink plenty of water.

To reduce risk during outdoor work, the occupational safety and health administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency, call 9 1 1.

DES MOINES – High temperatures and clear skies on Friday and Saturday are likely to lead to elevated ozone levels.  The Department of Natural Resources recommends that Iowans with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children limit prolonged outdoor exertion during the afternoon and evening on Friday and Saturday.

Hot and sunny conditions are anticipated across the region, which favor the formation of photochemical smog. In these conditions, volatile organic compounds react with nitrogen oxide resulting in an increase in ozone. Volatile organic compounds are emitted from the evaporation of consumer and industrial solvents, such as the evaporation from gas tanks in vehicles or mowers. Nitrogen oxides are created by combustion, and are contained in the exhaust from vehicles and coal-fired boilers.

Iowans can keep track of evolving air quality conditions by checking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s national air quality map at www.airnow.gov.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Heavy rain has washed over much of Story and eastern Boone County, prompting flash flood warnings. The National Weather Service issued a warning Thursday morning after more than 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain had fallen and 2 more inches had been forecast. The deluge caused street flooding across the Iowa State University campus and elsewhere in Ames, stranding some vehicles and their drivers. Street flooding also was reported in Kelley, Nevada and Story City. U.S. Highway 69 was forced to close for a short time on a stretch south of Ames. A flash flood warning also has been issued for several counties to the northwest, including Calhoun, Humboldt, Pocahontas and Webster.

Another big change in the weather is coming, one that’ll feel like it’s mid-summer, though we still have a week of spring left. Meteorologist Kurt Kotenberg, at the National Weather Service in metro Des Moines, says yes, it was already really hot a few weeks ago, but the next several days promise to be the hottest of the year so far. “There’s very high confidence that temperatures will be in the middle 90s Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday,” Kotenberg says. “Heat index values will be pushing anywhere between 100 and 105 degrees in the metro area and across most of the state we’ll be pushing triple digits.”

He reminds, it’s not even summer yet. That season officially arrives next Thursday but Mother Nature doesn’t always follow the calendar. “Basically, starting tomorrow — Friday, lasting into Saturday, lasting into Sunday and probably lasting into Monday, we’re going to have some of the hottest temperatures of the year here in Iowa,” Kotenberg says. “The past couple of weeks, it’s been well above average, but this is probably going to be the hottest air that we’ve had.”

It’s been a strange few months for weather, after a prolonged winter with late snows, a shortened spring and an early summer. If you think this seems like way too hot of a forecast for this early in the year, you’re right. “In Des Moines, the normal high is 81 degrees. Up in Waterloo, the normal high is right around 78 and our forecast is in the middle 90s, maybe even the upper 90s,” Kotenberg says. “We’re going to be a solid 15 degrees above normal for temperatures.”  Due to the forecast, he says it’s likely statewide heat advisories will be issued soon for the steamy days ahead. “Heat index values are going to be over 100, pushing 105 degrees, and it’s really the consecutive days of this that cause the problems,” Kotenberg says. “Temperatures overnight won’t cool much below the low to mid-70s. When you compound things like this is where we really start to run into the heat issues, health-wise.”

A few tips to handle the heat: Wear light-weight and light-colored clothes. Drink plenty of water. If you’ll be working outside, take frequent breaks. Never leave children or pets inside vehicles. Make sure pets and livestock have access to water. Also, check on your friends and neighbors, especially the elderly, to make sure they’re doing okay.

(Radio Iowa)

Today: Variably cloudy w/scattered showers & thunderstorms. High 87. S/SE @ 10-20.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 70. SE @ 5-10.

Tomorrow: P/cldy, warm & humid. High 94. S @ 15-25.

Saturday: P/Cldy. High 96.

Sunday: P/Cldy. High 94.

Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 82. Our Low was 61. Last year on this date our High was 85 and the Low was 58. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 97 in 1987. The Record Low was 41, in 1933.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The National Weather Service has confirmed that five tornadoes touched down in eastern Nebraska and one in western Iowa, Monday evening, but they caused little damage. There were also no injuries, only minor damage, and were rated EF-0, with winds from 65 through 85 mph. There were tornadoes in Nebraska,  around Louisville and Murray. One touched down near Elk Creek and one near Table Rock. The sixth was spotted in southwest Iowa, west of Thurman.

It’ll be a dark and likely stormy night across western Iowa. The National Weather Service in Des Moines reports scattered thunderstorms are forecast to spread from western into central Iowa late tonight (Wednesday), and Thursday morning. The severe weather threat is low, but a few stronger storms could produce hail and gusty winds. Slight chances for more thunderstorms are forecast across parts of northern Iowa late Thursday night into Friday morning and again late Friday night into Saturday morning, once again with a low probability of severe weather.

Today: Partly cloudy. High 83. N winds becoming SE @ 10-15.

Tonight: P/Cldy to Cldy w/scattered shwrs & tstrms. Low 65. SE @ 5-10.

Tomorrow: Shwrs & tstrms ending early; Becoming P/Cldy. High 85. SE @ 10-15.

Friday: Mostly sunny. High 94,

Saturday: Mo. Sunny. High 96.

Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 85. Our Low this morning was 60. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 92 and the Low was 64. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 96 in 1987. The Record Low was 37, in 1906.

Better enjoy the current temperature and slightly lower humidity we’re experiencing, because the National Weather says HOT and HUMID weather begins Friday, and will last into the weekend. Heat index values over 100°F each can afternoon can be expected! (Click on the image to enlarge)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Thunderstorms that blasted through eastern Nebraska into Iowa toppled trees, overturned semitrailers, knocked out power to hundreds of homes and businesses and spawned short-lived tornadoes. The National Weather Service says two drivers were taken to a hospital and other drivers suffered minor injuries Monday when straight-line winds topping 80 mph knocked over nine semis on Interstate 29 in western Iowa. The post office in Sidney, Iowa, lost its roof. Three farm storage buildings were destroyed three-miles south of Thurman, in Fremont County, and shingles were blown off of homes in the Montgomery County town of Coburg. In Red Oak, winds gusted to near 60-miles per hour, while in Bedford, Clarinda and New Market, winds of 60-to 70mph were reported.

Authorities say several homes were damaged in the Lake Waconda community in Cass County, Nebraska. Brief tornado touchdowns were reported near Cedar Creek, Louisville, Murray and Table Rock.
Hail the size of golf balls was reported in the Gretna area.