The National Weather Service in Des Moines says a High Wind Warning remains in effect until 6-p.m. Sunday (1/1) for the following counties in the KJAN listening area: Cass, Adair, Adams, Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Greenem Guthrie, Madison, Ringold, Taylor & Union.
Northwest winds will range from 30-to 40-mph this afternoon and this evening, with gusts of up to 60-mph possible. The winds may be strong enough and prolonged enough to result in tree and property damage. In addition, power outages due to tree damage may be possible.
In addition, a Wind Advisory is in effect until 5-p.m. Sunday, for the far western and southwestern counties, including: Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby. Winds of 25-to 45mph are expected in the advisory area.
Here is the Skyscan Forecast for Saturday, December 31st of 2011:
Today: Isolated showers after 3pm. Cloudy. S @ 15-20 then W @ 25-30 w/ gusts up to 35. H 54.
Tonight: Rain in the evening, then a chance of snow between 9pm and Midnight. NW @ 25-30 w/ gusts up to 50. L 27. Less than half inch snow possible.
New Years Day: Sunny. NW @ 20-30 w/ gusts up to 50. H 36.
Monday: Sunny. NNW @ 15-20. H 29.
Tuesday: Sunny. H 36.
Mother Nature took Iowans on another wild ride in 2011. State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says the summer long flooding along the Missouri River certainly topped the year’s weather news, but strong spring storms and drought conditions also garnered headlines. The tornado season started early, with eight twisters touching down on March 22nd. “The biggest outbreak of the season came on April 9,” Hillaker said. “We had 20 tornadoes on that afternoon and evening. The most damaging one hit Mapleton that evening.” Around 100 homes in Mapleton were destroyed while 14 residents were injured. An even 50 tornadoes touched down in Iowa this year – the last one on July 7.
“We had the earliest end to our tornado season since 1962,” Hillaker said. Following four straight years of extremely wet weather, 2011 was marked by a lack of significant rain across much of the state. Hillaker said sections of eastern Iowa had above normal precipitation, but it was very dry elsewhere. “Especially northwestern sections of the state where a pretty big part of Iowa is classified right now as (having) severe drought conditions,” Hillaker said.
On average, Iowa received 32-inches of precipitation in 2011. That’s about three inches below normal. Dubuque recorded the most precipitation over the year with 46 inches. Much of city was pounded with roughly 12 inches of rain in a 24-hour period between July 27 and 28. Ida County in northwest Iowa had the least amount of precipitation over the year with 20 inches, according to Hillaker. The year is ending with a rather unusual December featuring warmer than normal temperatures and just two-and-a-half inches of snow, on average, statewide. Snowfall totals over the previous four Decembers, between 2007 and 2010, have averaged between 13 and 24 inches.
(Pat Curtis/Radio Iowa)
A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM SUNDAY FOR MOST OF THE KJAN LISTENING AREA, EXCEPT FOR THE FAR WEST/SW COUNTIES, WHERE THE ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 3-P.M. TODAY UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
The National Weather Services says winds should increase early this (Saturday) evening and remain strong through Sunday. The strongest winds will likely be during the day, Sunday. Northwest winds from 25-to-45 miles per hours can be expected, with gusts up to 55-mph.
The prolonged period of strong winds will impact travel, especially for high profile vehicles over the holiday weekend. MInor property damage is also possible with wind speeds of this magnitude.
A Wind Advisory means that winds of 30 MPH or higher are expected. They can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.
For those persons in the northern fringe of our listening area, the National Weather Service has issued a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY for wind and blowing snow, which is in effect from 6-pm today through 3-a.m. Sunday. The advisory includes Denison, Carroll, Sac City, Storm Lake, Ft. Dodge, Algona and Mason City.
Rain is expected to mix with and change to snow after 6-pm west of I-35, and east of I-35 in northern Iowa, after 9-pm. Total snow/ice accumulations in the advisory area across western and northern Iowa, are expected to range from 1-to 2-inches by early Sunday morning.
**WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3-P.M. TO MIDNIGHT FOR: SHELBY, POTTAWATTAMIE, MILLS, MONTGOMERY, FREMONT & PAGE COUNTIES, AND FROM 6-P.M. SAT. THRU 6-P.M SUN. FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE LISTENING AREA.** In addition, a Winter Weather Advisory has been posted for Crawford & Carroll Counties from 6-pm today thru 3-a.m. Sunday.
Today: Isolated showers after 3pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 54. Windy, with a south wind 14 to 17 mph becoming west between 23 and 26 mph. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight: Rain before 9pm, then a chance of snow between 9pm and midnight. Low around 26. Windy, with a northwest wind between 25 and 31 mph, with gusts as high as 49 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
New Year’s Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36. Windy, with a northwest wind between 23 and 30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 19. Wind chill values as low as 5. Windy, with a northwest wind between 20 and 22 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 29. Windy, with a north northwest wind between 14 and 21 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 17.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.
The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a Wind Advisory in effect from 6-p.m. Saturday through 6-p.m. Sunday, for the following counties:
CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR and RINGGOLD COUNTIES
Issued 332 PM CST FRI DEC 30 2011
TIMING…WINDS SHOULD INCREASE EARLY SATURDAY EVENING AND REMAIN STRONG THROUGH SUNDAY. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL LIKELY BE DURING THE DAY ON SUNDAY.
WINDS...NORTHWEST WINDS FROM 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS FROM 45 TO 50 MPH.
IMPACTS…THE PROLONGED PERIOD OF STRONG WINDS WILL IMPACT TRAVEL, ESPECIALLY HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND. MINOR PROPERTY DAMAGE IS POSSIBLE WITH WIND SPEEDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WINDS OF 30 MPH ARE EXPECTED. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.
Here’s the forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area, and today’s weather stats.
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333 AM CST FRI DEC 30 2011 National Weather Service/Des Moines
EARLY THIS MORNING…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN. BREEZY. NORTHWEST WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.
TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 40S. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.
TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW IN THE LOWER 30S. WEST WIND NEAR 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTH AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SATURDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 50S. SOUTHWEST WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN THROUGH MIDNIGHT…THEN PARTLY CLOUDY AFTER MIDNIGHT. WINDY. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S. NORTHWEST WIND 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 40 MPH.
NEW YEARS DAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. WINDY. MUCH COLDER. HIGH IN THE MID 30S. NORTHWEST WIND 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 40 MPH.
SUNDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY. LOW AROUND 20.
MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. HIGH IN THE LOWER 30S. LOW 15 TO 20.
326 AM CST THU DEC 29 2011
TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 50S. WEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.
TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN IN THE EVENING. LOW IN THE MID 30S. WEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.
FRIDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 40S. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.
FRIDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE LOWER 30S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.
SATURDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 50S. SOUTHWEST WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY. LOW IN THE LOWER 30S.
NEW YEARS DAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. WINDY…COLDER. HIGH IN THE UPPER 30S. LOW IN THE LOWER 20S.
MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY…MOSTLY CLEAR. HIGH IN THE MID 30S. LOW 15 TO 20.
Here’s the weather forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area (Podcast)…
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