Iowa’s weather for March was one of clouds, rain, snow,warmth and some severe storms. State climatologist Harry Hillaker said the month continued a trend of being warmer. He says the month will average around one degree above normal, with a lot of extreme temperatures in the first half of the month and slightly above normal in the second half, despite a lot of cloudy days.
Hillaker says both ends of the thermometer got some action. “Lowest temperature we had for the month — got down to minus 9 degrees on the morning of the 15th in Stanley in Buchanan County in northeast Iowa,” Hillaker says. “And just four days later it got up to 84 degrees in Sydney in the far southwest corner of the state.”
Hillaker says that was the second day we had temperatures in the 80s. The other was on March 6th, which he says is pretty early in the month for temperatures to climb that high. In Atlantic, the average High for the month was 51, while the average Low was 30.
The month was just slightly wetter than normal. Hillaker says the one change was the southern part of the state got much more rain, where it was needed to help the drought situation. “For the state as a whole, roughly two-point-six inches of rain for the month. About a third of an inch more than what is typical for March,” according to Hillaker.
Rainfall in Atlantic for the month of March amounted to 2.26-inches. Snowfall was just one-half inch. Hillaker says statewide, the snowfall total didn’t set any overall records.
He says we had around five inches of snow on average, which is typical. There was one big snowfall on the 12th and 13th where the northern part of the state got hit hard — and that followed the pattern of this winter.
Hillaker says it looks like March will end up being the 9th wettest on record.
(Radio Iowa/KJAN weather data)
Today: Partly Sunny. High 57. NE-E @ 10-15.
Tonight: Mostly Cloudy w/a 40% chance of showers. Low 44. E/SE @ 5-10.
Tomorrow: A 60% chance of showers through mid-day. High 55. SE @ 10-15.
Tom. Night: A 30% chance of rain after midnight. Low 47.
Monday: Mo. Cldy w/30% chance of rain in the morning. High 60.
Tuesday: Mo. Cldy w/a 40% chance of rain in the afternoon. High 58.
Friday’s in Atlantic was 53. Our Low this morning (as of 5-a.m.), was 39. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 47 and the low was 29. The Record High in Atlantic on this date was 87 in 2003. The Record Low was 14 in 1924.
Today: Mostly Cloudy. Areas of fog this morning. High 50. N @ 10-15.
Tonight: Mostly Cloudy. Low 37. NE @ 5.
Tomorrow: Mo. Cldy w/30% chance light rain in the afternoon. High 55. E @ 10-15.
Sunday: Mo. Cloudy w/a 70% chance of light rain. High 52.
Monday: Mo. Cldy w/a slight chance of rain. High 57.
Thursday’s in Atlantic was 44. Our Low this morning (as of 5-a.m.), was 39. We received a Trace of rainfall in Atlantic from 7-a.m. Thursday through 5-a.m. today in the form of mist and drizzle. Last year on this date, our High in Atlantic was 53 and the low was 34. The Record High in Atlantic on this date was 87 in 2012. The Record Low was 12 in 1924.
Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert says the recent rain the county has received is great, but a little wind and sunshine will rapidly dry out dead grasses in the area, therefore, the County remains in a “Moderate” Fire Danger throughout the upcoming weekend. Seivert advises businesses and local fire stations should keep their fire danger signs in the Moderate category through the weekend.
Property owners considering a controlled burn should notify their local fire chiefs. Seivert says “As things turn more green, the danger does lessen, but for now there remains a risk. Exercise caution when burning and don’t let the recent rain fool you!”
Today: Cloudy w/a chance of light rain or drizzle, mainly this morning. High 48. N @ 10-20.
Tonight: Partly to Mostly Cloudy. Low 36. N @ 5-10.
Tomorrow: P/Cldy to Cldy. High 53. NE @ 10.
Saturday: Mo. Cloudy w/a 50% chance of rain during the afternoon. High 57.
Sunday: Mo. Cldy w/rain ending. High 52.
Wednesday’s High in Atlantic was 46. Our Low this morning was 41. We received nearly .7 of an inch of rain from 7-a.m. Wed. thru 7-a.m today [.68”]. Last year on this date, our High in Atlantic was 73 and the low was 44. The Record High in Atlantic on this date was 87 in 1968. The Record Low was 8 in 1964.
Today: Rain. High 47. E/NE @ 15-25.
Tonight: Rain. Low 40. NE @ 10-20.
Tomorrow: Rain ending in the morning; Mo. Cloudy. High 49. N @ 10-20.
Friday: Partly cloudy to cloudy. High 55.
Saturday: P/Cldy to Cloudy w/showers possible late. High 57.
Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 50. Our Low this morning, 44. (Rainfall in Atlantic for the 24-hours that ended at 7-a.m. today, was .21″) Last year on this date, our High in Atlantic was 64 and the low was 41. The Record High in Atlantic on this date was 90 in 1986. The Record Low was 5 in 1969.
After coordinating with NWS offices serving Iowa, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) and Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management (IHSEM), officials with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Des Moines said Tuesday evening, that the tornado drill is a “go” for Wednesday, March 29th. It will be cloudy across the state and there will be rain showers. There is no threat for severe weather. No lightning is expected with minimal atmospheric instability. Conditions are expected to be similar across portions of Iowa both on Thursday and Friday.
The NWS will message through social media, NWSChat, NWS webpages and NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio prior to the test on Wednesday and during the test Wednesday that there is no threat for severe weather and a drill will occur between 10-11 AM.
Below is the timeline of the drill scheduled for Wednesday March 29, 2017:
Area Emergency Management Directors remind residents that the National Weather Service will conduct a Tornado Drill on Wednesday, March 29th, between 10 and 11:00 a.m. The purpose of the drill is to ensure that Iowans can adequately receive a Tornado Warning.
The test warning will be sent through all communication channels normally used for severe weather dissemination. NOAA weather radios will sound an alert, outdoor warning sirens throughout the County will be activated and a mass message will be sent through the Cass County Emergency Notification System, reminding people of the drill and prompting them to take action.
Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator, says “This is an excellent opportunity for residents, businesses, and schools to review their tornado safety plans and practice their own procedures in the event of actual severe weather.”
To register for the Cass County Emergency Notification System, residents can go to the KJAN home page and click on the Cass County Wireless Emergency Notification System (WENS) link. Once on the link page, you can sign up by entering your cell phone, e-mail and/or pager number, city and zip code. There are also links located on the Cass County homepage (http://www.casscountyiowa.us/) or the Cass County EMA Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CassCoEMA).
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator at 712-243-1500.
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