Today: Partly cloudy. High 72. W/SW @ 10-15 mph.
Tonight: P/Cldy to cloudy. Low 30. N @ 5-10.
Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy. High 45. NE @ 5-10.
Friday: P/Cldy. High around 65.
Saturday: Cloudy w/a chance of showers & thunderstorms. High near 65.

Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 68. Our Low was 24. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 57 and the Low was 24. The Record High on this date was 76 in 1992. The Record Low was -12 in 2014.

(Radio Iowa) – For Iowans who love building snowmen, going snow skiing or sledding, it’s been a lackluster winter as we’ve been lacking in snowfall. State climatologist Justin Glisan says had snow during February, just not very much of it.  “Generally, if we look at western Iowa, that was the driest part of the state and anywhere from eight to ten inches below average,” Glisan says. “As we move further east into central and north-central Iowa, anywhere from four to eight inches below average.”

Only the far southeastern tip of the state was above average for snowfall during February. As for temperatures, Glisan says Iowa had a statewide average of 21-degrees in February, which is three degrees colder than normal. While we’ve been enjoying unseasonably warm weather in recent days, Glisan says not to be fooled as there’s still much colder weather ahead in March.

“We do see a signal for below-average temperatures but also an elevated probability of wetter conditions across the state,” Glisan says. “That would be great as we start ramp up the amount of rainfall that we get into the growing season given the drought conditions that we do see across the state.” (You can read February’s weather data for Atlantic on the Weather page at kjan.com)

The climatological winter ended Monday, while astronomical spring arrives on March 20th.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Weather data for the month of February, 2022 in Atlantic, shows we were warmer than normal. The warmest day was 68, on the last day of the month. The average High of 41 was six degrees above the average. Conversely, the average Low of 9 degrees was six-degrees cooler than the monthly norm. The lowest temp on the 25th, was -7. Precipitation in February (including melted snowfall/ice) amounted to just .11″, which is .85″ less than what we would normally see. Snowfall for the month was just four-tenths of an inch.

During the month of March in Atlantic, the average High is 48 and the average Low is 26. We typically see 2.38 inches of precipitation (Including melted snowfall), in March.

We’ll let you know how the data compared to those stats, when we compile the data next month.

(Radio Iowa) – As we start the month of March, many Iowans are looking ahead to spring. Despite this week’s unseasonably warm weather, a prediction from the Farmers’ Almanac indicates winter will be holding on a little longer. Managing editor Sandi Duncan says we shouldn’t expect to be sporting shorts and t-shirts anytime soon. “Spring officially arrives on the calendar on March 20th, but it looks like it’s going to take a little time for it to warm up,” Duncan says. “However, overall it doesn’t look too extreme. We’re seeing pretty much average temperatures and normal precipitation in your neck of the woods.”

But, Duncan says to keep those boots and snow shovels handy as there is the possibility of a blizzard late in April. “So just when everyone thinks winter is long gone, Mother Nature might throw us all a curve ball,” she says. The Farmers’ Almanac is predicting that once spring-like temperatures do settle in, we are likely to see slightly warmer-than-normal temperatures here in the Midwest.

“It’s going to be a little warmer in the northern half of the country — which includes your area — than it is in the South,” she says. “So some people might refer to this spring as a backward type of spring, but overall the Farmers’ Almanac is showing your area is going to have pretty much average temperatures. Starting off slightly cool, going back and forth and the possibility of a big storm at the end of April.”

Looking ahead, Duncan says much of the upper Midwest will experience a sizzling summer. The Almanac’s forecasts extend out from six to 16 months and they’re based on a formula established two centuries ago. “It was set on a bunch of rules that we’ve altered slightly but we still consider a lot of the rules that our founding editor in 1818, we still follow them,” Duncan says. “They are rules that talk about sunspot activity, tidal action, the Moon, the position of the planets. They apply them to different weather conditions and they’ve been doing a pretty good job for us.”

She says those who follow the publication’s long-range outlooks say they’re 80 to 85% accurate.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who want a crash course in severe weather can be a part of the storm spotter classes starting next month. Meteorologist Allen Curtis, at the National Weather Service in Johnston, says COVID-19 threw a wrench in their training efforts in recent years, but they’re getting back on track now. “We are actually reintroducing some of our in-person spotter training this year,” Curtis says, “but we will also be continuing to do a handful of virtual classes, for people who want to do that.” All sorts of people of all ages can sit in on the courses.

“Whether you have an interest in severe weather, a casual interest in weather, or even if you have a fear of weather and you just want to get more familiar with it,” Curtis says, “this is the kind of class we recommend to the public.” The classes include a multimedia presentation containing information about identifying and reporting severe weather, spotter safety, severe weather climatology in Iowa, thunderstorm structure and threats, and more. Students will learn about derechos, too.

“We’re going to cover a number of things, ranging from recent severe weather — so if people remember December 15th, that’s a big one that we’ll cover,” Curtis says. “We’ll transition into things you can do to stay safe, individually, traveling with your family, things to look for in the sky, and things like how you can prepare at home, what items to have ready.” The courses run about an hour, they’re open to anyone and they’re free.

The first class will be held on March 15th in Adel, with more to follow in cities including: Hampton, Creston, Eldora, Corning, Fort Dodge and Grinnell, in addition to several virtual classes. Learn more at: www.weather.gov/dmx and click on the Storm Spotter link.

Today: Partly cloudy. High 62. W @ 10-15 mph.
Tonight: Fair to P/Cldy. Low 30. W @ 5 mph.
Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High 65. W/NW @ 10-15.
Wednesday: P/Cldy. High 65.
Thursday: P/Cldy to Cldy. High 47.

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 57. Our Low was 11. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 36 and the Low was 20. The Record High on this date was 71 in 1972. The Record Low was -23 in 1962.

Today: Sunny, with a high near 51. Wind chill values as low as 10 early. Light west wind becoming west southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 22. South southwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. Light west wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Light west southwest wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.

Saturday’s High in Atlantic was 41. Our Low was 6. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 53 and the Low was 24. The Record High on this date was 71 in 2016. The Record Low was -16 in 1960.

Today: Areas of fog this morning; Mostly Sunny. High 38. SW @ 10-20.
Tonight: Fair to P/Cldy. Low 18. SW @ 5-10.
Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High 49. W/SW @ 10-15.
Monday: P/Cldy. High 52.
Tuesday: P/Cldy. High 56.

Friday’s High in Atlantic was 29. Our Low was -7. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 46 and the Low was 23. The Record High on this date was 72 in 1896. The Record Low was -28 in 1963.

Today: Partly-to Mostly Sunny. High 22. NW @ 10-15.
Tonight: Fair to P/Cldy. Low 5. Winds light & variable.
Tomorrow: Mo. Sunny. High 39. SW @ 10-20.
Sunday: P/Cldy. High around 50.
Monday: P/Cldy. High again around 50.

Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 22. Our Low this morning, -3. We received .3” snow Thursday, at KJAN, with a melted liquid value of just .01″. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 41 and the Low was 21. The Record High on this date was 70 in 1995. The Record Low was -12 in 2014.