(Radio Iowa) – State Climatologist Justin Glisan says Iowa had a bit of a snow drought last month. “Climatologically December is the snowiest month for Iowa,” Glisan says. “The preliminary statewide average is 1.4 inches. That’s 6.5 inches below average.” Despite the lack of snow, December was one of four months out of 2023 that wound up with ABOVE average precipitation.

“A majority of our precipitation was rainfall and that rainfall was gradual over several days and it was able to soak in,” Glisan says. That’s because December temperatures were above average, keeping the ground from freezing solid. Glisan says there is a storm system in the Pacific Ocean that’s headed east. The long-term forecast indicates it may bring rain AND snow to Iowa as early as this weekend. Glisan cautions, though, that the storm system could weaken as it makes landfall on the west coast and moves across the Rockies.

Today: **Dense Fog Advisory until 10-a.m.**Patchy fog between 7am and 10am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 35. North wind 6 to 8 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. North northeast wind 3 to 8 mph.
Tomorrow: Partly sunny, with a high near 34. East northeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south southeast in the afternoon.
Tom Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. South southeast wind 6 to 8 mph.
Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35.

Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 43. The Low was 20. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 37, and the Low was 25. The All-Time Record High here on January 3rd was 52 in 1933, and the Record Low was -30 in 2010. Sunrise is at 7:46. Sunset at 5:02.

(Radio Iowa) – Wide areas of central and southern Iowa have had very little snowfall in recent months, not that many of us are complaining. The Des Moines International Airport reported just two-tenths of an inch of snow on December 26th, along with more than two inches in November, which melted quickly. Meteorologist Marvin Percha, at the National Weather Service in Johnston, admits it’s odd. “It’s certainly not normal,” Percha says, “but it’s certainly not unprecedented by any means in terms of snowfall to start the year.” The first day of winter was December 21st, though meteorological winter begins December 1st. Still, Percha checked the records from October 1st through January 1st and discovered, this is unusual, but not significant over the decades.

“In terms of the winter so far, it’s tied with 1931 for 23rd least amount of snow,” Percha says. “Apparently 1889, going into January 1st of 1890, had 0.3, so that was the lowest.” It’s out of the norm to have so much grass visible as we start the new year, following a Christmas that was not white, especially when compared to how much snowfall we’re used to having by now. “On the other hand, if you want to see, say, the highest amounts, there’s been as much as 33.9 inches in 1984 by this point,” Percha says, “so it’s certainly well below normal but not any sort of record.”

While there’s no precipitation expected for the region for almost a week, the long-range forecast says rain and snow are likely -next- Monday.

(Radio Iowa & KJAN) – State Climatologist Justin Glisan says the latest outlook from the National Weather Service shows a slightly elevated chance for precipitation in Iowa over the next two weeks. The month of December was the fifth warmest ever recorded in the Midwest. Burlington recorded the second warmest December on record. Sioux City’s snowfall total for the month was six inches below normal.

Weather data for the month of December, 2023 in Atlantic, show the Average High for the month was 45, which was 12-degrees warmer than normal. The Average Low was 25, which was 11 degrees warmer than the norm. Precipitation for the month (rain & melted snow) amounted to 2.03-inches, which was .92″ above normal. The data was compiled at KJAN, the official National Weather Serving reporting site for Atlantic.

Today: Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 38. West southwest wind 8 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 22. Northwest wind around 7 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 34. North northwest wind 7 to 9 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 16. North wind 5 to 7 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 32.
Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 35.

Monday’s High in Atlantic was 36. The Low was 21. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 38, and the Low was 33. The All-Time Record High here on January 2nd was 59 in 1939, and the Record Low was -24 in 2018. Sunrise is at 7:46. Sunset at 5:00.

(Atlantic, Iowa – KJAN) – Weather data for the month of December, 2023 in Atlantic, show the Average High for the month was 45, which was 12-degrees warmer than normal. The Average Low was 25, which was 11 degrees warmer than the norm. Precipitation for the month (rain & melted snow) amounted to 2.03-inches, which was .92″ above normal. The data was compiled at KJAN, the official National Weather Serving reporting site for Atlantic.

Looking ahead, we find the Average High for the month of January, in Atlantic, is typically 29 degrees, while the Low should average out to around 9. Precipitation (rain & or melted snow) is typically just .84 inches.

Today (New Year’s Day): Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 34. West northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. Southwest wind 7 to 11 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. West southwest wind 8 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 20. Northwest wind around 8 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 33.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 14.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 33.

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 29. The Low was 22. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 46, and the Low was 28. The All-Time Record High here on January 1st was 55 in 1939, and the Record Low was -27 in 2018. Sunrise is at 7:46. Sunset at 5:00.

Today: Cloudy, with a high near 32. North northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
New Year’s Day: Sunny, with a high near 35. Light and variable wind becoming west southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 21. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. Southwest wind around 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 33.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 32.

Saturday’s High in Atlantic was 44. The Low was 25. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 49, and the Low was 25. The All-Time Record High here on Dec. 31st was 60 in 1891, and the Record Low was -26 in 2017. Sunrise is at 7:46. Sunset at 4:59.

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. West northwest wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. Northwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 32. Wind chill values as low as 10. North northwest wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 15. Northwest wind 6 to 8 mph.
New Year’s Day: Sunny, with a high near 32. Northwest wind 6 to 9 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. Breezy.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 37. Breezy.

Friday’s High in Atlantic was 45. The Low was 25. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 42 and the Low was 17. The Record High on Dec. 30th was 64 in 2004, and the Record Low was -22 in 1917. Sunrise is 7:46. Sunset is 4:59.

Today: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 40. North northwest wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. West northwest wind 6 to 8 mph.
Tomorrow: Mostly sunny, with a high near 40. West northwest wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 29.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 15.
New Year’s Day: Sunny, with a high near 31.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 35.

Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 36. The Low was 24. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 54 and the Low was 18. The Record High on Dec. 29th was 60 in 1984, and the Record Low was -22 in 1917. Sunrise is 7:45. Sunset is 4:58.