(Radio Iowa) – Republican Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson recently joined with Democrat Congresswoman Cindy Axne in sending a letter to the National Weather Service after reports of technical delays in warnings of severe storms. Those delays came earlier this month on the day that seven people died in tornadoes. “I want to make sure that everybody has the tools to effectively warn their communities,” Hinson says. “…our emergency managers, our meteorologists, that’s who we are talking to right now to find out where the breakdowns happened in the communication on their end” Hinson says.
The delays in tornado warnings on March 5th were due primarily to a damaged fiber optic cable. National Weather Service staff came up with a workaround and a warning that a tornado was likely to hit near Winterset was issued 20 minutes in advance. Hinson says they hope to hear back more from the N-W-S on how things can be improved. “So we can find out what the actual legislative proposals need to be, to find out what I need to do in terms of resources or policies — so we make sure that we get these problems fixed so we can keep people safe,” she says.
Hinson says her conversations with local and state officials indicate the damage will not rise to the level needed to be approved for a federal disaster declaration. “As of now no — but we will continue to monitor any feedback from our local folks as well,” Hinson says. Governor Kim Reynolds has issued state disaster proclamations for the ten counties hit by the tornadoes on March 5th. Those counties are Adair, Benton, Decatur, Jasper, Lucas, Madison, Polk, Tama, Warren, and Wayne counties.
1040 AM CDT Fri Mar 18 2022
Snow may create some travel issues in southwest Iowa today, mainly in the form of reduced visibility and slushy roads. Temperatures near to above freezing should limit the extent of impacts to travel conditions.
Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Cass-Adair-Madison-Adams-Union-Taylor Counties….WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM.
Mills-Montgomery-Fremont-Page Counties…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON
* WHAT…Snow. Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 4 inches. Locally higher amounts on grassy or elevated surfaces may occur. The wind will gust as high as 35 mph.
* IMPACTS…Plan on snow or slush covered roadways and slippery road conditions.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Slow down and use caution while traveling.
Today: Mostly cloudy w/a snow-rain mix. A late High of 38. N/NE @ 15-30 mph.
Tonight: P/Cldy. Low 23.
Tomorrow: Areas of morning fog; Becoming Mo. Sunny. High 58. SW @ 10-15.
Sunday: P/Cldy. High 72.
Monday: Mo. Cldy w/showers & thunderstorms developing late. High around 68.
Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 49. Our Low this morning was 30. We received 2.1 inches of snow overnight into early this morning, at KJAN. Thursday’s rainfall and snow amounted to 1.58″ of liquid precipitation. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 51 and the Low was 20. The Record High on this date was 81 in 2012. The Record Low was -1 in 1893.
256 AM CDT Fri Mar 18 2022
Rain has changed to snow across the advisory area this morning and continue through the day. Roads may become snow or slush covered at times causing slick conditions to develop.
Guthrie-Dallas-Cass-Adair-Madison-Adams-Union-Taylor Counties
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON…
* WHAT…Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 4 inches. Locally higher amounts on grassy or elevated surfaces may occur. The wind will gust as high as 35 mph.
* IMPACTS…Plan on snow or slush covered roadways and slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact this mornings commute.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Slow down and use caution while traveling. For the latest travel conditions, check the Iowa 511 app, www.511ia.org or dial 511.
(Radio Iowa) – Parts of western Iowa are again in “severe drought” and extremely low soil moisture levels may linger even longer, as the National Climate Prediction Center is now forecasting the current La Nina will last well into summer. Meteorologist Dennis Todey, director of the U-S-D-A’s Midwest Climate Hub in Ames, says that could extend a serious worry for Iowa farmers as planting season nears.
“If we were in relatively decent shape soil moisture-wise right now, I wouldn’t be as concerned, but given that we have dry conditions and that we’re not seeing big help so far this spring, that’s what has me concerned,” Todey says. “Any increase in chances that the drought continues is going to be a problem.” Todey says much of the region is heading into spring with very dry soil and the C-P-C is forecasting drought areas may expand across the Central Plains into spring. 
“Originally the thought was that La Nina was going to continue weakening this spring and would not be in effect in the summertime,” Todey says. “Some of the models are hinting that this La Nina could last, maybe not strongly, but last into the summer.” The latest map from the U-S Drought Monitor shows roughly 45 Iowa counties are in the category of abnormally dry, with about 36 counties in moderate drought.
Large sections of Monona and Woodbury counties are now listed as “severe drought,” while there are only around 16 counties where soil moisture levels are considered normal.
Today: Mostly cloudy w/a chance of sprinkles this morning, & light rain this afternoon. High 53. NE @ 10-15 mph.
Tonight: Cloudy w/ rain becoming mixed w/snow late. Low around 34. NW @ 10-15.
Tomorrow: Cloudy w/a snow-rain mix through mid-day. High near 40. N @ 10-20.
Saturday: P/Cldy. High near 58.
Sunday: P/Cldy & warmer. High near 70.
Wednesday’s High in Atlantic was 73. Our Low was 34.
Wednesday’s High in Atlantic was 75. Our Low this morning, 29. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 39 and the Low was 32. The Record High on this date was 84 in 1894. The Record Low was -11 in 1906.
Today:Partly cloudy. High 72. SW @ 10-20 mph.
Tonight: P/Cldy. Low around 40. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow: P/Cldy w/light rain. High 55. N @ 5-10.
Friday: Mo. Cldy w/light rain-snow early. High 45.
Saturday: P/Cldy. High 56.
Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 57. Our Low was 25. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 46 and the Low was 35. The Record High on this date was 84 in 2015. The Record Low was -4 in 1900.
(Radio Iowa) – Both of Iowa’s U.S. Senators and two Iowa congresswomen are asking for answers AND upgrades after reports of technical delays in the National Weather Service warnings of severe storms that killed seven Iowans earlier this month.
Congresswomen Cindy Axne of West Des Moines and Ashley Hinson of Marion have written the acting director of the National Weather Service. They’re asking for an explanation of the problem in the Dallas/Fort Worth office that delayed release of Iowa tornado warnings on March 5th. Axne and Hinson say the delays are unacceptable and addressing them should be the highest priority. Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst are co-sponsoring a bill to update forecasting technology and communications equipment in the National Weather Service.
The delays in tornado warnings on March 5th were due primarily to a damaged fiber optic cable. National Weather Service staff came up with a work around and a warning that a tornado was likely to hit near Winterset was issued 20 minutes in advance.
Today: Patchy fog this morning; Partly cloudy. High near 60. NW-SW winds at 10.
Tonight: Fair to P/Cldy. Low around 35. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: P/Cldy to Cldy. High 72. SW @ 10-20.
Thursday: P/Cldy to Cldy w/a chance of light rain. High 57.
Friday: P/Cldy to Cldy w/a chance of light rain in the morning. High 48.
Monday’s High in Atlantic was 59. Our Low this morning was 27. Last year on this date, the High was 38 and the Low was 35. The Record High on March 15th in Atlantic, was 79 in 2003, and the Record Low was 0 in 1944.
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
RSS