The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency says they will keep the Fire Danger warning signs in the county in the “Low” category. Even though signs are in the low position, EMA Coordinator Bob Seivert says the winds will be gusty today (Thursday) and Friday, so anyone planning to conduct an open burn should consider that, and possibly consider postponing open burning until the weekend. The fire danger warning signs will be updated again on Monday.

While parts of Iowa have already seen snowfall twice in recent weeks, today (Thursday) is Winter Weather Awareness Day. Meteorologist Jeff Johnson, at the National Weather Service, says a host of important information is being posted on the agency’s website to help Iowans prepare for what could be wicked weather ahead. “We’ll talk about what makes up a winter storm,” Johnson says. “Some of the things you’ll see from the National Weather Service in the way of products, and what I mean by that is, our winter storm watches, warnings and advisories, and things folks can do to make themselves more safe this winter season.”

The first day of winter is December 21st, but winter weather may arrive much sooner. While there’s much speculation, Johnson says it’s really too early to say what kind of winter Iowa will experience.  “Looking at the long-range predictions, there are a lot of uncertainties as to the weather pattern for the upper Midwest, so at this point, about all we can do is prepare for the worst,” Johnson says. “Expect some snow events and extreme cold.”

States just west of Iowa were whalloped by a paralyzing blizzard in early October. B-J Fictum, an emergency management consultant, says the most important thing Iowans can do is prepare for up to 72 hours without any outside help.  “Look out in western Nebraska, look at South Dakota earlier this year, you couldn’t get anywhere for at least 48 hours or more,” Fictum says. “They need to have enough stuff, enough food, enough medicine, enough supplies so they can do it. That’s what we’re trying to push. Make sure to be prepared and be self sufficient.”

Other supplies to keep stocked include: a flashlight with batteries, a portable radio or weather radio, and an emergency heat source. Also, have a survival kit in your vehicle, with items like: blankets or sleeping bags, extra clothing, a first aid kit, flashlights, mobile phone and charger, a shovel and scraper and non-perishable food items. Learn more at www.weather.gov.

(Radio Iowa)

The Freese-Notis (podcast) weather forecast for the KJAN listening area, and weather information for Atlantic, from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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344 AM CST THU NOV 7 2013

EARLY THIS MORNING…MOSTLY CLEAR. WEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

TODAY...SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 40S. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S. TEMPERATURE STEADY OR SLOWLY RISING AFTER MIDNIGHT. WEST WIND NEAR 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTH AFTER MIDNIGHT.

FRIDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 50S. SOUTH WIND 10 TO 25 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE MID 30S. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

SATURDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 50S. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE LOWER 30S. HIGH IN THE LOWER 50S.

The Freese-Notis (podcast) weather forecast for the KJAN listening area, and weather information for Atlantic, from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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414 AM CST WED NOV 6 2013

EARLY THIS MORNING…CLOUDY…BREEZY. NORTH WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.

TODAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 40S. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH. GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH IN THE MORNING.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S. WEST WIND AROUND 5 MPH.

THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 40S. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S. HIGH IN THE MID 50S. SOUTH WIND NEAR 25 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE MID 30S. HIGH IN THE LOWER 50S.

The Freese-Notis (podcast) weather forecast for the KJAN listening area, and weather information for Atlantic, from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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330 AM CST TUE NOV 5 2013

EARLY THIS MORNING…CLOUDY…COLDER. NORTHEAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

TODAY…A CHANCE OF RAIN THROUGH MID MORNING…THEN RAIN AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON. HIGH IN THE LOWER 50S. EAST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION NEAR 100 PERCENT.

TONIGHT…RAIN UNTIL EARLY MORNING…THEN A CHANCE OF RAIN POSSIBLY MIXED WITH SNOW EARLY IN THE MORNING. NO SNOW ACCUMULATION. LOW IN THE LOWER 30S. SOUTHWEST WIND NEAR 10 MPH INCREASING TO NORTH AFTER MIDNIGHT. GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION NEAR 100 PERCENT.

WEDNESDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 40S. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S. WEST WIND NEAR 5 MPH.

THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 40S. WEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY. LOW IN THE LOWER 30S. HIGH IN THE MID 50S.

The Freese-Notis (podcast) weather forecast for the KJAN listening area, and weather information for Atlantic, from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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401 AM CST MON NOV 4 2013

EARLY THIS MORNING...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN. NOT AS COOL. SOUTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.

TODAY…PARTLY SUNNY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN THROUGH MID MORNING. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE MID 50S. SOUTH WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH SHIFTING TO THE WEST 5 TO 15 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN EARLY IN THE MORNING. LOW IN THE UPPER 30S. NORTHEAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

TUESDAY…A CHANCE OF RAIN THROUGH MID MORNING…THEN RAIN IN THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH IN THE LOWER 50S. EAST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION NEAR 100 PERCENT.

TUESDAY NIGHT…RAIN AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH MIDNIGHT… THEN RAIN AFTER MIDNIGHT. BREEZY. LOW IN THE MID 30S. NORTHEAST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH SHIFTING TO THE NORTH 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION NEAR 100 PERCENT.

WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN IN THE MORNING. HIGH IN THE LOWER 40S. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S. HIGH IN THE UPPER 40S.