Iowans who don’t enjoy the extreme heat that’s in the forecast this week may find relief in a prediction from the Farmers’ Almanac. The publication’s managing editor, Sandi Duncan, says they’re predicting a winter with below normal temperatures for about two-thirds of the country. “We are saying it’s going to be a very cold winter, in fact, we’re using the words ‘piercing cold’ in your neck of the woods, with normal snowfall,” Duncan says. “So, it’s going to be one of those rough, old-fashioned, very chilly, very cold, snowy winters.”

The Farmer’s Almanac for 2014 hit newsstands today (Monday). Scientists don’t put much stock in the almanac’s weather forecasts, which Duncan says are based on a secret, mathematical and astronomical formula. “It takes things like sun spot activity, tidal action of the moon, the position of the planets, and a variety of factors into play,” Duncan says. “We’ve been predicting the weather for 197 years and people who follow our forecasts say we’re about 80 to 85 percent accurate.”

The Farmers’ Almanac, which was founded in 1818, is predicting a heavy winter storm will hit the Northeast U.S. right around the time Super Bowl is played February 2 in New Jersey.

On the web at http://www.farmersalmanac.com/

(Radio Iowa)

Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert says the local Fire danger signs have been in the “Low” category since spring, and while they are not implementing the bi-weekly fire danger assessments, given the general lack of rainfall…and expected very hot and windy condition expected to prevail through the next week…Seivert advises businesses and area fire departments to move the fire danger signs into the “Moderate” category.

Seivert asks residents of Shelby County to “Please report a planned or controlled burn prior to ignition,” by calling 712-755-2124. If you need help in determining if the burn can be conducted safely, you’re asked to contact the Emergency Mgt Agency, or your Fire Chief.

Seivert says his office will continue to monitor conditions and keep residents and the media updated as necessary.

The entire state is under a heat advisory today (Monday), as temperatures are going to push up into the 90’s. National Weather Service meteorologist, Brad Small, says it’s not that unusual to see such high temperatures at the end of August. “What is unusual is how long this is going to last,” Small says. “If we end up with how the forecast is expected to pan out, it will be the hottest end of August that we’ve seen on record for that seven-day period from yesterday through the 31st. So, it will be very unusual to see temperatures this warm for this long.”

Not only are the temperatures heating up — but for areas of the state that have had some recent moisture — the humidity is also a factor. “We’ve increased both the heat and humidity from what we’ve seen from earlier in the summer, especially recently what we saw right around the state fair,” according to Small. “Definitely a big change in that regard, and we’ll be pushing records by Tuesday.” When you factor in the actual temperature and the relative humidity, you get the heat index. That index is expected to be over 100 in many parts of the state this week.

The forecast shows just a slim chance for a little relief from the heat. He says there may be a brief cold front dropping down on north-east Iowa around Wednesday. “That will be brief and very temporary, if it even occurs at all, and most of the state will see really little change, with highs in the 90’s at least through the holiday weekend,” Small says.

While people can turn on the air conditioner to seek relief, the crops in Iowa’s fields don’t have that option. “We’re gonna really increase things as far as the stress on the crops with the heat and the lack of moisture. North-east Iowa is a little better off — they’ve had some rains recently — but the south-west two-thirds of the state is in drought conditions right now and it will continue to worsen,” Small says. Polk County in central Iowa is also under an excessive heat warning for today (Monday).

(Radio Iowa)

Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon reports several facilities have offered to serve as cooling stations for Cass County residents needing to find relief from the prolonged high heat and humidity that is expected to blanket the area through this week.

The cooling station in Atlantic, located at the Nishna Valley YMCA at 1100 Maple Street, is open from 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday thru Thursday and 4:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday.

The Griswold City Library is open 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. M-F.

The Anita Health and Wellness Center will be available as a cooling station from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday thru Wednesday.

The National Weather Service has predicted afternoon heat indices over 100F for the area through the week. Kennon says residents should “Drink plenty of fluids, avoid strenuous outdoor activity during the heat of the day, stay out of the sun, and check on relatives, neighbors, the elderly and pets. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency…call 9-1-1.”

The Freese-Notis forecast for the KJAN listening area, weather information for Atlantic, and a Heat Advisory notification.

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…HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT TUESDAY…

EARLY THIS MORNING...MOSTLY CLEAR. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HOT AND HUMID. HIGH IN THE UPPER 90S. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH. HIGHEST HEAT INDEX READINGS 100 TO 104 IN THE AFTERNOON.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW IN THE LOWER 70S. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH. HIGHEST HEAT INDEX READINGS 100 TO 102 THROUGH MIDNIGHT.

TUESDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. VERY HOT AND HUMID. HIGH AROUND 100. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH. HEAT INDEX READINGS 103 TO 108.

TUESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW IN THE LOWER 70S. WEST WIND NEAR 10 MPH. HIGHEST HEAT INDEX READINGS 100 TO 102 THROUGH MIDNIGHT.

WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 90S. EAST WIND NEAR 10 MPH. HEAT INDEX READINGS 103 TO 108.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW IN THE LOWER 70S. HIGH IN THE MID 90S.

FRIDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 90S.

351 AM CDT MON AUG 26 2013

…HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS CONTINUE THIS WEEK…

COUNTIES: MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-

PAGE….HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT TUESDAY…

* TEMPERATURE…DAYTIME TEMPERATURES WILL REACH THE MID TO UPPER 90S FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. THIS WILL COMBINE WITH HIGH HUMIDITY TO CREATE HEAT INDEX VALUES RANGING FROM 100 TO 109. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL CREATE AN INCREASED THREAT FOR HEAT EXHAUSTION OR HEAT STROKE…ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WORKING OUTDOORS.

COUNTIES: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD……HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT TUESDAY…

HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL GENERALLY BE IN THE 95 TO 100 DEGREE RANGE BOTH TODAY AND TUESDAY…WITH HEAT INDICES IN THE 100 TO 110 DEGREE RANGE IN THE AFTERNOONS AND EVENINGS. THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF THE HEAT WAVE WILL LEAD TO HEAT STRESS…PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING OR ENGAGING IN OUTDOOR

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.

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.

CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-
TAYLOR-RINGGOLD

...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM CDT TUESDAY...

MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-

...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT TUESDAY...


THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A HEAT
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7PM or 10 PM CDT
TUESDAY.

* TEMPERATURE...HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL GENERALLY BE IN THE MID TO
  UPPER 90S EACH DAY...WITH HEAT INDEX VALUES EXCEEDING 100
  DEGREES DURING THE AFTERNOONS AND EVENINGS.

* IMPACTS...THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF SEVERAL DAYS OF HEAT WILL
  TAKE ITS TOLL...PARTICULARLY ON THOSE WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING
  AND THOSE ENGAGING IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. SUCH ACTIVITIES SHOULD
  BE DELAYED TO A LATER DATE IF POSSIBLE...OR HELD IN THE MORNING
  TO MINIMIZE HEAT STRESS.

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.

   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.

Today:  Sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 104. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Tonight:  Mostly clear, with a low around 71. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Monday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Heat index values as high as 105. South southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Monday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 72. South southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Tuesday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Breezy, with a southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday:  Sunny, with a high near 96.

Thursday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 96.

This Special Weather Statement is for Cass, Adair, Adams, Audubon, Guthrie, Crawford, Carroll, Dallas, Madison, Union, Taylor and Ringgold Counties in the KJAN listening area….

Issued 446 AM CDT SAT AUG 24 2013

…A PROLONGED PERIOD OF UNSEASONABLY HOT CONDITIONS FORECAST TO BEGIN SUNDAY AND EXTEND THROUGH MUCH OF NEXT WEEK...

A WARM FRONT WILL LIFT THROUGH IOWA ON TODAY AND WILL BRING MUCH WARMER CONDITIONS TO THE STATE BY SUNDAY. HIGH TEMPERATURES ON SUNDAY WILL BE IN THE LOW TO MID 90S. EVEN WARMER TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST FOR MONDAY AND TUESDAY WITH HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 90S. THIS WILL INCLUDE THE POTENTIAL FOR A FEW LOCATIONS TO REACH 100 ALONG WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES TUESDAY AND IN THE SOUTHWEST WEDNESDAY.

HIGHS WEDNESDAY MAY BE A FEW DEGREES COOLER OVER THE NORTHEAST WITH HIGHS AROUND 90 EXPECTED. DEW POINT VALUES ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 60S DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS. THE DEW POINTS COMBINED WITH THE TEMPERATURE WILL PRODUCE HEAT INDEX VALUES OF 100 TO 105 DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS.

A WEAK COLD FRONT MAY MOVE INTO NORTHEAST IOWA WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY AND MAY PROVIDE LIMITED RELIEF HOWEVER THE HEAT IS EXPECTED TO BUILD BACK INTO THE STATE BY FRIDAY. THIS WILL BE THE MOST PROLONGED PERIOD OF HEAT SINCE LAST SUMMER. IN ADDITION TO THE HEAT…THE POTENTIAL FOR APPRECIABLE PRECIPITATION THROUGH THIS PERIOD IS VERY LOW.

THERE ARE NUMEROUS PRECAUTIONS THAT CAN BE TAKEN DURING PROLONGED HEAT EVENTS: DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS…STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM…STAY OUT OF THE SUN…AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS. TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK…EXERCISE OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN POSSIBLE…RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS  ACTIVITIES TO THE EARLY MORNING OR EVENING HOURS. 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…SCHEDULE FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS.