Today: Areas of fog this morning; P/Cloudy. High 48. SW @ 10-15.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 32. SW @ 5-10.

Tomorrow: Mo. Cldy. High 42. S @ 10.

Friday: Mo. Cldy w/a chance of light afternoon rain.  High 45.

Saturday: Mostly Cloudy w/a chance of morning rain. High around 45.

Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 32. Our 24-hour Low (ending at 7-a.m. today) was 25. Last year on this date, our High in Atlantic was 15 and the low was -3. The Record High in Atlantic on this date was 61 in 1951. The Record Low was -28 in 1984.

Today: Areas of fog this morning; Cloudy. High 37. NW @ 10-20.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 19.

Tomorrow: Areas of morning fog; P/Cldy. High 48. SW @ 10-15mph.

Thursday: P/Cldy High 48.

Friday: Mostly Cloudy. High near 45.

Monday’s High in Atlantic was 33. Our 24-hour Low (ending at 7-a.m. today) was 30. We received .37” of an inch of precipitation over the past 24-hours, here in Atlantic. Last year on this date, our High in Atlantic was 3 and the low was -8. The Record High in Atlantic on this date was 57 in 1989. The Record Low was -21 in 1984.

Slick sidewalks, parking lots and roadways could remain a problem this morning (Tuesday) as temperatures across the state hover around the freezing point. A slight warmup is expected to arrive tomorrow (Wednesday), but National Weather Service meteorologist Brad Small says that could bring another danger along rivers — ice jams.

“So, as all of this ice that’s accumulated on the grass thaws and releases into the streams and we get a little more melting…the potential for those ice jams will increase,” Small says. There’s little that can be done to prevent ice jams from happening and they can quickly lead to flash flooding.

“The ice just bottles-up, blocks up the flow, and anywhere upstream of that potentially could see flash flooding…you could get water and/or even ice chunks in your yard,” Small says. “You’re pretty much at the mercy of the river.” High temperatures on Wednesday are expected in the upper 30s to near 50. Highs on Thursday are forecast to reach the 40s to low 50s.

(Radio Iowa)

The National Weather Service is updating the amount of ice that has accumulated at various communities across the state this morning. Ice generally ranged from .1″ (one-tenth of an inch) to .2″ across parts of west-central and southwest Iowa, to as much as .3″ in eastern Iowa, near Cedar Falls.  An additional .1″ to .25″ can be expected across the listening area before the precipitation ends early Tuesday morning.

Atlantic, .1″ (KJAN)

Audubon (1 mile S/SE), .1″

Carroll, .1″

Lorimor, .2″

Mt. Ayr, .25″

The ice storm will continue through much of the day today with the bulk of the freezing rain accrual occurring through around midday. An additional tenth to quarter inch of ice is likely by this afternoon across much of central Iowa. Above freezing temperatures at the surface look to creep into southern Iowa later this morning and mitigate the additional ice amounts. By tonight, light wintry mix is anticipated on the backside of the low pressure system over northern Iowa where light snow/sleet accumulations are possible. Mainly light freezing rain or freezing drizzle can be expected elsewhere with an additional glaze of ice possible. Once this system clears the state late tonight, above normal temperatures return to the state by the end of the week.

Ice-covered tree limbs are snapping across a wide section of Iowa, causing hundreds of power outages. An Ice Storm Warning is posted for much of western and central Iowa, stretching as far east as Waterloo. Meteorologist Brad Small, at the National Weather Service bureau in Johnston, says that layer of ice is making travel very slow-going.

State and local crews are spreading sand, salt and brine on the roads, feverishly working to make those thoroughfares passable, but the elements aren’t cooperating. “Air and road temperatures are hovering right around the freezing mark, plus or minus a degree or two,” Small says. “There will be some melting today but unfortunately, with this additional rain, we could see additional accumulations of ice. Temperatures for highs will only be the mid-30s at best and that’s only over southern Iowa.”

Sometimes, even the road crews get into trouble. Earlier this (Monday) morning, two Adair County snowplows and a County truck spun off White Pole Road into the ditch south of Interstate 80. No injuries were reported.

(Photo submitted)

Tuesday morning’s commute should be much better, Small says, as the road crews will have had a full day or more to combat the sheets of ice. “Tomorrow, there could be some minor melting but the good news is, we don’t have any precipitation in the forecast into mid-week,” Small says. “We may actually see highs in the 30s and 40s and possibly even 50 or more by Thursday.”

In southwest Iowa, about 62 customers of the Southwest Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative were without power in Taylor and Ringgold Counties, combined, and minor, scattered outages were reported by Mid-American Energy in Pottawattamie County. The few customers affected in Pott. County had their power restored by 9-a.m. or so. As of 9:30-a.m., Alliant Energy reported 64 customers were affected by an outage in Adair County, 90 in Madison County, and 27 were affected in Union County.

Power outages were worst in the Des Moines metro as MidAmerican Energy reported nearly 24-hundred customers had no electricity earlier today, though the utility say most are now back online.

(Radio Iowa/KJAN)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A few states in the Midwest again are on alert for icy conditions, while strong storms are moving through the Houston area. While the weekend’s storm caused travel issues in parts of Oklahoma and Kansas, some meteorologists acknowledged it fell short of dire forecasts. Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa are expected to see a mix of rain and freezing rain today (Monday).

Strong storms moved through Houston on Monday morning, following a night of storms.  There was at least one tornado in Texas on Sunday evening, and severe weather kept some fans, the Packers and a few Cowboys inside Dallas’ AT&T Stadium for more than hour after the NFL divisional playoff game on Sunday night.

In southwest Iowa, only scattered power outages were reported this morning, due to icing.

Today: **ICE STORM WARNING through late this evening**

Area of fog, periods of freezing rain/drizzle this morning; Rain/drizzle this afternoon. High 34. E/SE @ 10-20.

Tonight: Freezing rain or drizzle changing to light snow. Low 31. NW @ 10-15.

Tomorrow: Cldy to P/Cldy. High 38. NW @ 10-20mph.

Wednesday: P/Cldy High 48.

Thursday: P/Cldy. High near 50.

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 35. Our Low this morning was 28. We received .2” of an inch of precipitation over the past 24-hours (ending at 7-a.m. today, here in Atlantic. Last year on this date, our High in Atlantic was 20 and the low was -8. The Record High in Atlantic on this date was 64 in 1990. The Record Low was -25 in 2009.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Travel remains hazardous in parts of Iowa and Nebraska as ice storms move north and east through the states. Authorities say most roadways that have been treated in anticipation of sleet or freezing rain are safe for cautious navigation. But untreated sidewalks, streets and rural roads could be treacherous Monday.

Fears of widespread power outages Sunday and early Monday have not materialized. Major utilities in both states report that fewer than 20 customers don’t have electricity. Air travel is problematical. More than 20 Monday departures have been canceled at Omaha’s Eppley Airfield and five at Des Moines International Airport.

National Weather Service meteorologist Josh Boustead says more rain is expected in both states Monday, but the temperature in most spots is hovering above the freezing mark.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Store shelves are running low on ice melt and pantry staples in parts of Nebraska and Iowa as residents prepared for a predicted ice storm. The National Weather Service has issued an ice storm warning for parts of the southeastern corner of Nebraska for late Saturday, extending to Monday morning. Areas from the Iowa-Missouri border on north are under a winter storm watch.

The weather service says light freezing rain is forecast to develop overnight Saturday into Sunday, with the majority of icing expected Sunday through Monday. Ice accumulations of one-quarter to three-quarters of an inch appear likely, making driving dangerous and threatening to bring down tree limbs and power lines.

Authorities have urged residents to gather enough food, water and fuel and to stay indoors during the storm.

Officials with the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency, Saturday, offered some tips on how to keep warm in the event of a power failure during the anticipated ice storm. Operations Officer Jason Wickizer says “Kerosene heaters are only as safe as the people who use them,” meaning “You have open flames, and some intense surface temperatures,” and people need to use common sense.

Using Kerosene heaters indoors can be a rewarding experience. Many of the heaters out there allow you to view the flame while it is in use. Kerosene heaters can be safely used indoors, and here here are some tips and precautions about using Kerosene heaters indoors:

#1. CARBON MONOXIDE

Kerosene heaters produce Carbon Monoxide, so do gas stoves, candles, oil lamps, etc. Some heaters produce more than others, and the amount of emissions produced by any one heater may vary depending on the heaters condition. So, service your heater, keep it clean, and make sure it is in peak operating condition at all times.

When using a Kerosene heater you do need to provide it with adequate fresh air, investing in a carbon monoxide detector would not be a waste of money. Do Not close yourself up in a single room with a Kerosene heater, keep adjacent rooms, and doors open. If your house is very air tight (newer homes) you need to crack open a window, maybe leave a flue open on your fire place if you have one, this creates a natural draw, continuously circulating fresh air.

There are add on filters available to use on your heater that will reduce it’s emissions.

#2. FIRE HAZZARDS

Kerosene heaters create very high surface temperatures, therefore they need not be too close to items that can be considered combustible such as furniture, drapes, papers, walls, etc. you get the point. Wickizer recommends a good 24″- 36″ clearance all around a convection type heater (the round ones) for safety purposes. Do not set pans of anything on top of your heater unattended that may boil over into your heater. If your heater does not have a drip tray, it is not a bad idea to have a metal pan of some sort to sit it on.

Kerosene is not a volatile fuel, meaning it is not really explosive, it has a relatively high flash point. Kerosene needs a media or heat for combustion. Something soaked in kerosene will readily light easily when a flame is applied, such as a wick, wood, carpet, a chair, rope, etc, a media, something soaked in kerosene will burn easily, now heat, kerosene heated becomes much more volatile, meaning vapors can more easily be ignited, example a heater that has just been put out, and you immediately attempt to relight, it will relight with a poof, as the temperatures there at the wick are at their flash point, make sense. If your heater gets turned off, or goes out, do not attempt to relight for 15-20 min.

#3. DANGER IN MIXING FUELS.

Never use a gasoline can for Kerosene, what ever type of container you use make sure it is clearly marked, and has had only Kerosene in it. It takes very little gasoline mixed with kerosene to create an unpleasant, and dangerous explosion. Be weary of fuel additives, some of these can become dangerous as well if used in improper amounts. Alternative fuels are available, but do your research, make sure they are safe. Wickizer says he uses only K-1 Kerosene in his heaters.

#4. DON’T LET THE CHILDREN GET BURNED, OR YOU EITHER!!!

Kerosene heaters produce very high surface temperatures, many of the newer heaters provide cages to help  reduce the risks, but even the cages get very hot, and will burn you. Talk to your children, and keep the heater where it will not be tripped over when in use, keep it out of high traffic areas. Many older heaters do not have safety features, or cages to prevent burns, so again, use common sense.

#5. HEATERS WITH SAFETY’S / WITHOUT SAFETY’S?

There are a lot of people out there collecting, and using vintage heaters. There are risks involved, as back when these heaters were made the manufacturers were not so worried about lawsuits based on human error, they expected their products to be used with common sense. Therefore many of the older heaters are not equipped with anti tip over devices, cages to prevent terrible burns, etc. knock one of them over you will have a fire, touch one of them while in use, you will have a terrible burn.  Keep your heater out of danger zones such as high traffic areas, so no one, pets, or children, would be likely to knock it over. Make sure the heater is sitting level, and if it is sitting on a non-flammable surface.

#6 REFUELING

Consider refueling outdoors, this prevents spilling of fuel on your floors, carpet, table, etc. find something that makes refilling easy for you such as siphon pumps, smaller light weight cans w/ flexible hoses, etc. large cumbersome containers can make refilling a chore. You can make a stable roll around cart to sit your heater on if you have one of these heavy models. If you spill fuel, clean up your mess immediately.

#7 STORING FUEL

Keep your fuel in airtight containers, preferably plastic in construction, and try to keep them in an area not subject to dramatic temperature changes. Keep your storage containers out of the sunlight.

#8 DON’T LEAVE A LIT HEATER UNATTENDED

Your home should not be left unattended while the heater is lit. If you are at home, monitor the device, and it it begins to malfunction, you should be able to smell it.

#9 CAN I LEAVE ONE BURNING ALL NIGHT

Yes you can leave a heater burning all night, but here is what you must do…

1. Use a heater you are familiar with, you know is in good condition, and you trust it, meaning it does not give you problems.
2. Make sure you are allowing the heater adequate ventilation, don’t close it up in the bedroom with you, or in a bathroom, etc.
3. Make sure you have a working smoke alarm you CAN hear, and a carbon monoxide detector is a good idea as well.
4. Make sure you, your kids, etc. are educated on how to get out, and you have a way to get out should a catastrophe should occur.

To summarize: Wickizer says if you use your heater with common sense, take care of it, and keep it in good working order, you can expect many years of good dependable warm service from your heater.