(Radio Iowa) — A massive thunderstorm in Africa’s Sahara Desert created an enormous dust cloud thousands of feet high and the plume that’s made a six-thousand mile journey across the Atlantic Ocean may impact Iowa this weekend. State climatologist Justin Glisan says it’s an exceptionally rare event.
This satellite photo provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, shows a could of dust coming from the Sahara desert arriving to the Caribbean Monday, June 22, 2020. The massive cloud of dust is blanketing the Caribbean as it heads to the U.S. with a size and concentration level that meteorologists say hasn’t been seen in roughly half a century. (NOAA via AP)
“They’re calling it the Godzilla plume because we haven’t seen a dust plume from West Africa stay together in the spatial scale that it is in over 50-to-60 years,” Glisan says. “It’s a unique phenomena that we’re seeing.” People who have compromised immune systems, especially those who may have COVID-19, are warned to stay indoors as much as possible for the next several days.
“We should see some affect of the plume in basically air quality, more particulate in the air,” Glisan says. “People with breathing problems will see increased aerosols near the surface and that will produce breathing problems.” Depending on how the jet stream moves the dust across the country and into the Midwest, photographers in Iowa may have a golden opportunity to shoot some gorgeous pictures thanks to the plume, especially at dawn and dusk.
“Because you have that particulate in the air, it acts to scatter sunlight towards the prettier colors of the spectrum, red, pink, purple,” he says, “so we should see very lovely sunrises and sunsets.” Car washes in Iowa could be busier next week, as Glisan says we may see a thicker coating of dust on our vehicles than usual, especially if they’re not in a garage. Outdoor plants, too, will get dusty, although farmers likely won’t need to be worried about their crops.
“We won’t see major affects on agriculture, but, if you think about how you have dust in the atmosphere, that limits the amount of sunlight that gets to the surface and to the leaf area of corn and soybeans,” Glisan says. “It might limit photosynthesis but being a short-lived event, I don’t think it will have a major impact on things.”
The skies may not appear as blue for the next several days either, he says, as the dust makes the air far above us whiter, much like when there’s a big forest fire in Canada and the smoke is carried here on the wind.
Today: Partly cloudy. High 85. SE @ 10.
Tonight: P/Cldy w/isolated showers & thunderstorms. Low 65. SE @ 5-10.
Tomorrow: P/Cldy w/isolated shwrs & tstrms. High 89. S @ 10-20.
Saturday: P/Cldy to cloudy w/showers & thunderstorms likely in the morning. High 85.
Sunday: P/Cldy to cldy w/scattered showers & tstrms. High near 90.
Wednesday’s High in Atlantic was 84. Our Low this morning, 51. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 82 and Low, 62. The Record High on this date was 106 in 1937, and the Record Low was 40 in 2004.
Today: Partly cloudy. High 79. NW @ 10.
Tonight: Fair to P/Cldy. Low 58.
Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High 83. SW @ 10.
Friday: P/Cldy w/isolated showers & thunderstorms. High 88.
Saturday: P/Cldy to cldy w/scattered showers & tstrms, especially in the morning. High 85.
Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 78. Our Low this morning, 50. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 80 and Low, 61. The Record High on this date was 105 in 1937, and the Record Low was 41 in 1961.
Today: Partly cloudy. High 77. N @ 10-15.
Tonight: P/Cldy. Low 55. N @ 5.
Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High 79.
Thursday: A chance of afternoon showers & thunderstorms. High 83.
Friday: P/Cldy w/isolated showers & tstrms. High 88.
Monday’s High in Atlantic was 81. Our Low this morning, 58. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 77 and Low, 60. The Record High on this date was 105 in 1937, and the Record Low was 44 in 1958.
Today: Partly cloudy to cloudy w/scattered showers. High 79. NW @ 10-15.
Tonight: Fair to P/Cldy. Low around 57. NW @ 5-10.
Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High 77. NW @ 10-15.
Wednesday: P/Cldy. High 79. Thursday: P/Cldy w/scattered thunderstorms. High 83.
Sunday’s high was 89 and last night’s low was 65. This day last year we had a high of 81 and a low of 64. The all-time record high on June 22nd was 100 degrees in 1933 and the record low was 39, in 1972. Sunset tonight is at 8:57-a.m. and sunrise tomorrow is 5:46-a.m.
Today: Increasing cloudiness w/a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. High near 87. S/SW winds 10-20 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, through about midnight. Low around 65. Winds becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 7am., otherwise Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Light and variable wind becoming N/NW @ 10-20 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 78.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 83.
Yesterday’s high was 82 and last night’s low was 61. This day last year we had a high of 79 and a low of 65. The all-time record high on June 21st was 101 degrees set in 1988 and the record low was 38, in 1902. Sunset tonight is at 8:57am and sunrise tomorrow is 5:46 am.
Today and tonight: Rain showers may develop early this afternoon. Mid to late afternoon, stronger thunderstorms are forecast to develop. A few storms may be severe producing large hail and damaging wind gusts. An isolated tornado is possible. In addition, heavy rainfall is possible with stronger thunderstorms. This may lead to flooding issues in areas that have seen heavier rainfall over the past few
days. Local creeks and streams may also rise to the top of their banks.
Monday through Saturday: Rain showers and thunderstorms are forecast to continue into Monday. The main concern will be the potential for flooding due to heavy rainfall. At this time, there does not appear to be a notable severe threat with thunderstorms on Monday.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT…
Spotter reports may be needed if severe thunderstorms develop. Rainfall reports would be greatly appreciated this afternoon.
Skyscan Forecast Saturday, June 20, 2020 Dan Hicks
Today: Partly cloudy to cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms later this morning and afternoon. Variable winds 5-10. High 78.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms ending. N @ 5-10. Low 60.
Sunday: Partly cloudy to cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms by mid to late afternoon. SE @ 10-15. High 84.
Monday: Mostly cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms. High 78.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 78.
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Skyscan Forecast Saturday, June 19, 2020 Dan Hicks
Today: Partly cloudy to cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms ending this morning, then redeveloping in the afternoon. N @ 10-15. High 78.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Light E winds. Low 63.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms. E @ 10-15. High 78.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 82.
Monday: Mostly cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms in the morning. High 78.
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