At least three Iowa cities hit high temps of 99 degrees on Thursday — in Atlantic (at the airport. Here at the KJAN studios, the official weather reporting station, we topped at 93-degrees), in Perry, and in Knoxville. Forecasters say today (Friday) promises to be even hotter….in fact, they say this could be the hottest day of the year, so far. Jacob Beitlich, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, says most of Iowa will be in the mid to upper-90s today with a few 100s possible.

“With the humidity and the warm temperatures, we could see heat index readings of 105 to 110 degrees with a few isolated higher readings in eastern Iowa,” Beitlich says. “That’s just going to lead to uncomfortable conditions, potentially dangerous if you don’t take the necessary precautions of taking breaks, finding some A/C if you have to work outside and drinking plenty of fluids.”

Eddyville had an unofficial heat index on Thursday of 137 degrees. A Heat Advisory is posted for all of eastern and central Iowa through 7 P-M. Beitlich says a slight cool-off is coming. A cold front is expected later today and overnight, taking away some of the heat and humidity, bringing much of the state closer to the average July temps in the mid to upper 80s.

(Pat Powers/Ric Hanson – Radio IA)

24-Hour rainfall reports (7am-Sunday thru 7am today- Monday)…

2.57″ rain in Glenwood

2.68″ near Blanchard, in Page Co.

2.05″ in Massena

.65″ in Harlan (w/wind gusts to around 75mph)

.61″ in Atlantic (at the KJAN Studios)

Storms that formed in Nebraska Sunday late Sunday afternoon barreled through western Iowa Sunday evening, producing heavy downpours of rain, reports of large hail and winds sometimes in excess of 60-miles per hour, along with some property damage.

The Winds started picking up in southwest Iowa, at around 4:40-p.m., where they gusted up to 55-miles per hour near the Creston Airport, causing small trees to bend almost parallel to the ground. About 10 minutes later hail the size of quarters was observed by law enforcement in the same area.

Heavy rains also washed over the area, with law enforcement reporting at 5:25-p.m., water was flowing over the road at several locations near the intersection of 140^th Street and Highway 25, in Union County. By 6-p.m., authorities in Cass County were receiving reports from the public of nickel-to quarter-sized hail falling about three-miles southwest of Bridgewater.

Additional flooded roads were reported by law enforcement about 10-miles north of Prescott, in Adair County, just after 7-p.m. Sunday. About 20-minutes later, one-foot of water was observed flowing over the intersection of Union and 150^th Streets, about six-miles northeast of Prescott, in Adams County. Authorities in Carroll and Crawford Counties reported several trees were down due to storms that rolled through the area between 8:30- and 8:45-p.m.

Meanwhile, at around 8:50-p.m. law enforcement in Audubon County observed one-inch diameter hail falling just south of Audubon, and at 9:40, a large tree fell one a vehicle in Stuart due to winds officials estimated were up to 60-miles per hour. At around 9:30-p.m., winds estimated at up to 55-miles per hour were reported to have occurred 10-miles north of Greenfield.

Winds of up to 70-miles per hour blew a semi tractor-trailer over on Highway 30, near Carroll, at around 9:45-p.m., and there were reports of quarter-sized hail reoccurring about 10-minutes later back in Union County with scattered reports of similarly-sized hail occurring elsewhere.

Officials with the National Weather Service in Valley, NE, say an EF-1 Tornado was the cause of damage Monday night, in western Iowa’s Monona County. The twister struck between 8:45- and 8:53-p.m., about 4-miles south of Turin.

The tornado’s path was an average of 300-yards wide, and 7.1-miles long. When it initially touched down, it produced sporadic tree damage near the intersection of County Road E-60 to L-14, in Monona County. The twister moved northeast and hit a farmstead, downed power lines and destroyed a grain bin.

It continued northeast through the Loess Hills, producing varying degrees of tree damage, before crossing County Road E-54 and 277^th Street, where it destroyed more trees and a few outbuildings. The twister continued its trek northeast across 258^th Street, where it hit another farmstead, tearing-off part of the roof off of a house, destroyed some outbuildings and several more trees.

Before it dissipated, the tornado crossed another road and knocked down power lines. No injuries were reported. Officials say the EF-1 twister produced peak winds of up to 90-miles per hour. An EF-1 tornado typically has wind speeds ranging from 86- to 110-mph.

24-hour rainfall totals (7am Mon-7am Tue) 6/21/11

Atlantic – .65″

Audubon – 2.8″ total (1.8″ yesterday, 1.0 the day before)

Hamlin – 1.00″

Harlan – .91″

Massena – .57

If you live in the KJAN listening area, have a rain gauge, and would like to tell us how much rain and/or hail you received, please e-mail kjannews@metc.net. Thanks!

More heavy storms crossed Iowa overnight, bringing at least three reports of tornadoes along with heavy rain, hail and high winds. Meteorologist Craig Cogil, at the National Weather Service, says there are scattered reports of damage across the state. 

Cogil says most of the reports were for wind damage but there were also some reports of large hail. The highest winds were clocked in Woodbury County at 70 miles an hour. Tornadoes were reported in Plymouth County near Kingsley, in Polk County near Valeria and in Hardin County near Eldora. Damage is still being assessed. No injuries are reported.

In Western Iowa, thunderstorm wind damage was reported to have occurred: near Logan and Missouri Valley, at around 8:30-p.m ; near Mapleton and Little Sioux at around 8:45-p.m., and then again at around 9:15-p.m.; and, near Carroll at just about 10:15-p.m.

Winds gusting up to 60-miles per hour were reported near Red Oak at around 9:25-p.m., and in Cumberland, at around 9:50-p.m.

(Radio Iowa & NWS)

Here is a summary of storm reports from around the area from the storms which passed through late Sunday night thru early this (Monday) morning (as compiled by the Nat’l. Weather Service)…(updated 8:52-a.m.)

Monday

6:55-a.m – 3.15″ rain reported by Ray Book, in Harlan (an official NWS observer). 1.12″ fell from 7am-Sat. thru 7-am Sun., & 2.03″ from 7am-Sun thru 6:50-a.m. today, in addition to some hail.

6:00-a.m. – rainfall in Atlantic from 4-am to 6-a.m.=  .14″

3:27-a.m. Power outage in Atlantic thru 4:28-a.m. Tree fell on power line during strong winds. Large part of town south of Highway 6/7th Street was without power. Numerous 6-inch diameter tree branches down. A 40-to 50-foot tree fell on top of a house. (See pictures on kjan.com. Click “news” under the Community Hub, and scroll down).

3:08-a.m.- half-dollar sized hail (1.5″-diameter) south of Logan, in Harrison Co.

1:54-a.m. – Penny sized hail (.75″-dia.) 3 miles west of Pacific Junction, in Mills County.

Sunday

11:52-a.m. – Kellerton, Ringgold County: Thunderstorm wind damage. Four mature trees downed along with numerous 4-to 6- inch diameter limbs. Two separate power lines downed by falling trees. An abandoned mobile home moved off of its foundation. (Time estimated by radar).

11:23-p.m. – Nickel-sized hail (.88″-dia.) in Shenandoah, Page Co.

11:15-p.m – Golfball-sized hail (1.75″-dia.) in Sidney, Fremont Co.

10:50-p.m. – Pea-to-dime-sized hail (1/2″-dia.) & heavy rain in Sidney.

10:35-p.m. – quarter-zied hail (1″-dia.) northeast of Arispe, in Union Co.

10:33-p.m. – 1.5″ hail in Arispe, in Union Co.

10:03-p.m. – .88″-dia. hail north of Clarinda, in Page Co.

10:00-p.m. – 1″-dia. hail 4 miles south of Clarinda.

Plenty of rumors are floating about the looming flooding in Council Bluffs and the city is taking steps to separate truth from fiction. Art Hill, a spokesman for Council Bluffs, says they’re launching a 24-seven flooding hotline so people can get answers to any questions right away.

“We are establishing an information line,” Hill says. “It’ll always be staffed by a person to relate information they’ve been hearing and whether or not it’s correct.” He says the city is also updating its website constantly with the latest flood data. Hill urges Council Bluffs residents and business owners to register on the city’s Code Red notification system.

“If, geographically, your home or business is in a location that might be impacted in some way, you’ll get either a phone call or a text telling you about it,” he says. Hill says officials want to make sure all residents with special needs get help in case there is an evacuation due to flooding — or some other emergency.

“Whether it’s because of limited mobility or age, they (should) register with the city and in the event of an evacuation, we’d have the information.” The information line is (712) 328-4672 and the website is: www.councilbluffs-ia.gov

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES - The suspension of recreational boating by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers on the Missouri River between Sioux City and mile marker 550 where Iowa,
Missouri and Nebraska meet includes backwaters of the river.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has also closed boat ramps at Blue Lake,
Browns Lake and Snyder's Bend because of the flooding occurring on the Missouri
River.

"This is an extremely dangerous situation, not only for recreational boaters, but
for rescuers if a problem should occur on the water," said Robert Garrison, chief of
the law enforcement bureau for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

The DNR closed all state run boat ramps on the Missouri River on June 2nd.

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, violation of the order establishing
the suspension of recreational boating in the designated area can result in a
maximum civil penalty of $40,000 for each violation.

A "willful and knowing" violation of the no-boating order can also result in a
felony charge punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or a prison sentence from
five to 10 years.

The month of May in Iowa was marked by severe storms and drastic swings in the temperature. State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says 13 tornadoes touched down last month across Iowa. “Which is actually average for us this time of year,” Hillaker said. Eight tornadoes hit parts of western Iowa on May 11th.

The town of Lenox sustained the most damage, but no one was killed or seriously injured. Five more tornadoes ripped through rural areas of northeast and east-central Iowa on May 22. Iowa’s already recorded 37 tornadoes in 2011. “That already exceeds the total for last year and (2009),” Hillaker said. “The normal annual total is 48, so we’re not quite to that point.”

In 2008, Iowa recorded 120 tornadoes that killed 13 people – primarily in Parkersburg and New Hartford and at a Boy Scout camp in western Iowa’s Harrison County. Hillaker says Iowans should remain on alert for severe weather in the weeks to come. “June, on average, is our busiest month of the year for tornadoes in Iowa,” Hillaker said.

The statewide average temperature in May turned out to be “normal,” according to Hillaker, but the month included extreme heat and cold. The hot spot was Jefferson – which hit 100-degrees on May 10. Just one week earlier, on May 3, the coldest temperature of 20-degrees was recorded in both Spencer and Sibley. Hillaker says the statewide average rainfall was 5.2 inches. Normal rainfall for May is 4.25 inches.

Here in Atlantic, we received 4.17-inches of rain in May, which is three-tenths of an inch above normal. Our average High was 72-degrees, which is 10-degrees cooler than normal. The hottest day was on May 10^th, when we hit 97-degrees. The average low was 48, which is about average for the month.

(Sources: Radio Iowa, NWS, KJAN weather records)