(Radio Iowa) – Many areas of the state got a quick taste of snow this (Wednesday) morning, and now the forecast is calling heavy winds to blow in. National Weather Service Meteorologist Brooke Hagenhoff says the snow accumulations were around an inch in most areas. “The most remarkable thing really was how quickly it fell and then disappeared. We went through kind of a six hour period where we went from no snow to an inch of snow and back to no snow again,” she says.

Hagenhoff says whatever moisture we got from the snow is going to soon be blown away. “We’re looking at wind gusts between 35 to 45 mile per hour during the daytime on Thursday,” she says. “And we actually have a red flag warning out for those winds along with dry conditions. And so we’re worried about any burning that could happen tomorrow.” Hagenhoff says the winds will have some staying power Thursday.

As we move later in the day, we’re actually expecting winds to continue to increase and switch direction. And so overnight, they’ll transition to out of the northwest and increase. We’re expecting wind gusts from 50 to 60 mph possible late Thursday night through Friday morning,” Hagenhoff says. It might seem like the snow that came and melted would keep things from being dry, but she says the winds are going to take care of the moisture left behind.

“The wind as it starts to increase kind of through this evening and gradually increase into the day on Friday or on Thursday should be able to dry out those fuels pretty quickly,” she says. “We’re also looking at the relative humidity on Thursday is going to be between 20 to 30 So very low across the area, which will help to dry out fuels and create just dry air conditions.”

She says two areas of the state are at the greatest risk for fire issues. “Mainly western and southwestern Iowa are the largest concerns. We could certainly see those conditions start to creep towards central Iowa and further east, kind of across into southeast Iowa. But certainly western Iowa is going to see the driest conditions,” she says.

The red flag warning advises against any outside burning due to the dry, windy conditions.

URGENT – FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Des Moines IA

…Critical Fire Weather Conditions on Thursday…

Strong southwest winds, low relative humidity, and cured fuels will combine to produce critical fire weather conditions in
southwestern Iowa Thursday afternoon and evening. Any fires will have the potential to spread very quickly, and outdoor burning is strongly discouraged.

Monona-Harrison-Shelby-Pottawattamie-Mills-Montgomery-Fremont-Page-Crawford-Carroll-Audubon-Guthrie-Cass-Adair-Adams-Union-Taylor-Ringgold Counties…..

A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR WESTERN AND SOUTHWEST IOWA. THE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM CDT THURSDAY FOR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. 

* WIND…South to southwest winds sustained at 20 to 25 MPH, with gusts to near 40 MPH possible.

* HUMIDITY…Falling to around 25% in the afternoon and evening.

* IMPACTS…any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Today: Rain and snow likely before 9am, then a chance of rain between 9am and 10am. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 45. Winds N/NW @ 15-30 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 27.
Tomorrow: Partly sunny & windy, with a high near 62. S/SW winds 5-15 mph increasing 15-30 mph w/gusts to near 40.
Tom. Night: A slight chance of rain; Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. S/SW winds becoming W/NW @ 20-35 mph.
Friday: Partly sunny & breezy, with a high near 48.
Friday Night: A slight chance of snow. A low around 32.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57.

Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 61. Our Low this morning was 33. Last year on this date (March 11th), the High in Atlantic was 58 & the Low was 24. The Record High was 74 in 2024, & the Record Low was -22 in 1948. Sunrise: 7:39; Sunset: 7:22.

Today: Sunny, with a high near 66. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy-to-cloudy w/a 30% chance of rain, mainly after midnight. Low around 34. N/NE winds 10-20 mph.
Tomorrow: A 30% chance of rain, possibly mixing with snow after 10am, then gradually ending & gradual clearing. A high near 50. Winds N @ 15-25 mph. Little or no snow accumulation is expected.
Tom. Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 26.
Thursday: Partly sunny & windy, with a high near 60.
Thu. Night: A slight chance of rain, otherwise mostly cloudy & breezy, with a low around 35.
Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.

Monday’s High in Atlantic of 76 tied the record for that date set in 1986. The Low was 36. Last year on this date (March 10th), the High in Atlantic was 78 & the Low was 25. The Record High was 78 in 2025, & the Record Low was -8 in 1948. Sunrise: 7:41; Sunset: 7:21.

(Iowa DNR Water Summary Update) – Drought watches have been issued for northwest and southeast Iowa following a winter marked by a lack of rain and snow, according to the latest Water Summary Update from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Iowa experienced a notably dry winter, with worsening drought conditions expanding across much of the state through February. This deterioration has resulted in the northwest and southeast drought regions of Iowa being placed under a drought watch. While seasonal streamflows currently remain within normal ranges, soil moisture levels continue to decline statewide.

Iowa’s preliminary statewide February precipitation totaled 0.38 inches, or 0.79 inches below normal. Monthly totals ranged from no accumulation at several southern and northwestern stations to 1.26 inches in New Hampton, with southeastern Iowa experiencing the driest conditions as precipitation measured between 0.75 and 1.75 inches. The preliminary statewide average temperature for February was 31.3 degrees, which is 7.2 degrees above normal.

The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) currently shows that most of Iowa is abnormally dry or experiencing drought conditions, with portions of southeast Iowa carrying a severe drought designation. According to Iowa’s Drought Plan, all drought regions saw conditions deteriorate in February as soil moisture remained critically dry due to growing moisture deficits and the resurgence of drought.

The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center’s March outlook indicates above-average precipitation across the entire state, and an increased likelihood of above-average temperatures. The seasonal outlook suggests continued drought in far northwestern Iowa, and a drought-free or drought removal is likely for the remainder of the state.

“Following a winter of persistent moisture deficits, Drought Regions in northwest and southeastern Iowa are now under a drought watch. The lack of both precipitation and a significant snowpack has led to substantial soil drying across the state. While the seasonal outlook predicts drought will persist in far Northwest Iowa through May, the rest of the state shows a favorable trend for improvement,” said Jessica Reese McIntyre, DNR Environmental Specialist.

The report is prepared by technical staff from Iowa DNR, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering, and the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department.

Today: Sunny, with a high near 70. S/SW winds @ 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 42.
Tomorrow: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. NE wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tom. Night: Mostly cloudy w/a  30% chance of rain, mainly after midnight. A low around 34. N/NE winds 10-25 mph.
Wednesday: A slight chance of rain or rain-snow mix in the morning; Becoming Partly sunny & windy. High around 50.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 26.
Thursday: Partly sunny & windy, with a high near 61.

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 70. The Low was 37. Last year on this date (March 9th), the High in Atlantic was 63 & the Low was 21. The Record High was 76 in 1986, & the Record Low was -10 in 1912. Sunrise: 7:42; Sunset: 7:19.

Today: Sunny & breezy, with a high near 68. Winds SW @ 10-to 25 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. S/SW winds 15-to 25 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Southwest wind around 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45.
Tuesday: A slight chance of rain after 1pm, otherwise mostly sunny, with a high near 66. S winds @ 10-15 becoming northerly & gusting to near 20 mph.
Tue. Night: Rain changing to snow after midnight. A low around 34.
Wednesday: Snow-rain mix ending by 7-a.m.; Becoming Partly sunny & windy, with a high near 46.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 25.

Saturday’s High in Atlantic was 49. We received a Trace of rain after 7-a.m. in the form of drizzle/mist. The Low was 30. Last year on this date (March 8th), the High in Atlantic was 51 & the Low was 21. The Record High was 76 in 1986, & the Record Low was -12 in 1982. Sunrise: 7:44; Sunset: 7:18.

From official National Weather Service spotter reports:

(NWS) – Severe storms that blew rapidly through parts of western Iowa and southeastern Nebraska, brought large hail to some locations. The National Weather Service in Valley, NE, said hail ranging in size from a quarter (1″ diameter) to ping pong ball-size hail (1.5″ in diameter) was reported to have fallen one-mile west of Blencoe, in Monona County between 8:40- and 8:45-p.m., Friday. Half-dollar size hail fell near Elliott, in Montgomery County, at around 6:12-p.m., and quarter-size hail fell near Emerson, in Mills County, at around 6:05-p.m.

Pea-to penny-size hail was reported in Dallas and Kossuth Counties in Iowa. Hail the size of quarters to golf ball-size fell in multiple areas in Nebraska, as well.

Through it all, there were no reports of damage or injuries.

Today: Cloudy & breezy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 49. Winds NW @ 10-25 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. S/SW winds 10-25 mph.
Sunday: Sunny & breezy, with a high near 64. SW winds 10-25 mph.
Sunday Night: Clear & breezy, with a low around 42.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 68.
Tuesday: A slight chance of afternoon showers & thunderstorms after noon, otherwise mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
Wednesday: Partly sunny & breezy, with a high near 51.

Friday’s High in Atlantic was 71. We received .13″ rain at KJAN. The Low was 30. Last year on this date March 7th), the High in Atlantic was 37 & the Low was 19. The Record High was 78 in 2000, & the Record Low was -11 in 1982. Sunrise: 6:45; Sunset: 6:17.