(Radio Iowa) – As we survive the steamy, hot summer, some Iowans may find solace in pondering the cooler weather of the inevitable change in seasons, but the new edition of the Farmers’ Almanac predicts anything but a mild winter ahead. Editor Peter Geiger says the winter forecast map carries just five words floating over Iowa and the Midwest: “Hibernation Zone, Glacial, Snow-Filled.” Geiger says the publication is calling for an exceptionally snowy, extremely cold winter for 2022-’23.

“When we look at the predictions, we talk about some snow in late October, but then we talk about it being heavy snow on Thanksgiving. We talk about significant snow after that. We talk about heavy snow on the 1st, 4th and 7th of December,” Geiger says. “It’s going to be one of those unrelenting kind of winters where you dream about how nice it is when it’s hot in the summer.” While parts of Iowa have seen triple-digit heat indices multiple times this summer, Geiger says the winter before us will prove to be equally extreme.

“What really scares me about the winter is the cold,” Geiger says. “So we talk about this sharp cold, maybe as low as minus-40. I don’t think it’s going to be minus-40 in Iowa, but within the region, you’re going to see some really cold temperatures almost from the middle of January through the early part of February, and then some snow even in March.” The new edition of the almanac is due on store shelves August 15th and Geiger says it will include tips for coping with the predicted high cost to heat our homes during the frigid months.

“For example, you can use bubble wrap. If you spray a window with water and then put bubble wrap on, it insulates the window for the winter,” Geiger says. “I mean, it’s very simple, very inexpensive but it’s very possible.” Founded in 1818, the Lewiston, Maine-based almanac boasts a forecast accuracy rate of 75-to-85-percent which Geiger says is derived from a formula developed more than two centuries ago.

“It’s based upon sunspot activity, planet positions, the effect the moon has on the earth, and we actually have a page in this year’s almanac that talks a little bit about how we go about doing it,” Geiger says. “When we say it’s going to be minus-40 degrees, I think it’s an indication of how potentially cold it could be, as opposed to the fact that you can count on minus-40.”

In addition to weather predictions, the Farmers’ Almanac contains all sorts of information on gardening, cooking, home remedies, folklore, managing your household, living in harmony with nature, and more.

(Radio Iowa) – Three state agencies are developing guidelines and real-time resources for city and county officials who may have to restrict water usage during a drought emergency. Tim Hall of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the first-ever state “drought plan” would leave decisions about limiting water usage to local officials.  “We’re trying to set up a framework that will help local communities, local water utilities, emergency management folks be prepared to deal with a drought when it comes by answering those questions: ‘What should be do and when should be do it?’ and we can provide the data and the information that helps them make those decisions,” Hall says.

The latest information from the U.S. Drought Mitigation Center shows there are “extreme” drought conditions in four northwest Iowa counties, but water shortages haven’t dropped to the level of what’s called an “exceptional” drought. “We have seen droughts on a fairly regular schedule. We saw, of course, a significant drought in 2012,” Hall says. “We saw some very dry years in 2020 and 2021. This year is looking pretty dry as well.”

In July, state officials hosted meetings in Sioux City, Cedar Rapids and Creston to hear from water utilities, local communities, county emergency managers and industries that use water. A final virtual meeting is being held this (Wednesday) morning with about 70 representatives of those groups. “We’re almost to the end of the stakeholder piece,” Hall says. “We have a science and data team that’s looking at information that’s available and how we might establish some trigger mechanisms for the state, so we are right in the middle of developing of the heavy duty stuff of the plan right now.”

Hall is the hydrology resources coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. On Thursday, Hall will be issuing a statewide summary of water resources. He says water levels in some areas of northwest Iowa are alarmingly low. “As the temperatures start to climb and we don’t see any precipitation, it could get a little bit rough in some places,” he says.

The situation, though, isn’t currently as dire as the last major drought of 2012, according to Hall.  “But on a local basis, there are some areas of northwest Iowa that are struggling to see what their water situation is going to be in three weeks, four weeks, six weeks if we don’t get much rain,” Hall says.

According to the state climatologist, unseasonably dry conditions persisted across Iowa last week and the drought intensified in the state’s northwest corner.

Today: Cloudy to partly cloudy, w/scattered showers & thunderstorms possible, mainly this morning. High near 90. S winds becoming N/NW @ 10-15.
Tonight: Fair to P/Cldy. Low 62. Winds light & variable.
Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High 90. E @ 10.
Friday: P/Cldy. High 94.
Saturday: P/Cldy. High near 98.

Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 95. The Low was 75. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 80 and the Low was 52. The Record High on this date was 107 in 1930. The Record Low was 42 in 1907.

(Radio Iowa) Much of Iowa’s expected to roast in this week’s heat wave — which may end up lasting much longer — and it follows a very steamy July. State climatologist Justin Glisan says the just-ended month was one-degree warmer than normal statewide and we had one-inch less of rainfall than the average. Glisan says Iowa’s farmers are especially concerned about forecast models that show more of the same during August. “We’re getting into the teeth of the growing season but also the warmest part of the year for Iowa late July and August,” Glisan says, “and we’re definitely going to turn on the furnace this week.” The Climate Prediction Center is releasing its maps for expected temperatures and precipitation during August — and both show the hot, dry trend will continue for Iowa during the month ahead.

“It doesn’t bode well for the drought conditions that we’re seeing, especially in northwestern Iowa where we have D1 to D3 drought, the extreme drought category,” Glisan says. “We would like to see timely rainfall to hold the crop on, but right now, the probabilities, they’re not working in our direction.” If there’s a bright spot to the past month, Glisan notes there was no severe weather anywhere in Iowa during July.

“We don’t have severe weather, we don’t have thunderstorms, we don’t get rainfall and hence, drought conditions expand,” Glisan says. “We saw similar behavior last year at this time. Drought was more pervasive last year, D1 to D2 across much of the northern two thirds of the state.” While we’re in the third year of a La Nina pattern, Glisan says it’s still too early to say if the warmer, drier weather will last into the fall months.

Jim Field visits with Freese-Notis Meteorologist Dan Hicks about our recent run of hot, dry weather.

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Today: A slight chance for isolated showers this morning; Mostly sunny. High 98. Heat Index around 105. Winds S/SW @ 15-25. * Heat Advisory in effect from 1-until 8-p.m.*

Tonight: P/Cldy. Low 76. S @ 10-15 mph.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy to cloudy w/scattered showers & thunderstorms. High 90. S-N @10.

Thursday: P/Cldy. High 90.

Friday: P/Cldy. High around 95.

Monday’s High in Atlantic was 94. The Low was 63. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 80 and the Low was 52. The Record High on this date was 103 in 1930. The Record Low was 42 in 1907.

(Radio Iowa) – Students at Iowa State University will have the opportunity to study climate science in the upcoming school year. The university’s new major aims to prepare its students to bring about solutions to climate change. Owen Halverson, an I-S-U junior who plans to study climate science, says he sees the degree as a means to address increased severe weather patterns.

“This is one of the biggest, if not the biggest problem facing the world right now,” Halverson says. “This is the way I see that I can be helpful to everyone else in the future.” Kristie Franz, the I-S-U chair of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, says it can prepare them for careers in everything from sustainable design planning to advising private industries, like insurance. But, she adds, all pathways will give students the knowledge to strategize against climate change.

“The current generation is recognizing that legitimacy of the science and observing it as well, along with the rest of us and really want to do something about it, because it’s their future,” Franz says, “so they want to be a part of the solution.” The degree will allow students to choose from six areas of focus — ranging from climate policy to agriculture. Program directors hope the area of study can help launch students into growing climate jobs in both private and public sectors.

Franz says the coursework will consist of many classes within the university’s earth science department and it will also integrate economic and communications courses.

(reporting by Kendall Crawford, Iowa Public Radio)

The National Weather Service-Des Moines has announced that hot and humid conditions will present safety hazards this week. Heat indices will likely be over 100 degrees over the next 7-14 days. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon, says with excessive heat expected to persist, facilities in Cass County have opened their doors to people who need a break from the extreme heat. In Atlantic, the Nishna Valley YMCA at 1100 Maple Street is open from 4:30am to 8:30pm Monday thru Thursday and 4:30am to 6:30pm on Friday. Libraries throughout Cass County will also be available as cooling stations during their regular operating hours.

The NWS-DM recommends that you drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.

Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  The month of July, here in Atlantic, was pretty much on-par as far as the average high is concerned. The normal average high is 86. Last month our average high was 86.5-degrees. The average low is normally 63. The actual average in July 2022, was almost on target, at 62.7-degrees.

As you probably guess, we fell far short of the rainfall norm, which is typically 4.62-inches, in July. Last month, though, we only squeezed 1.26-inches out of the clouds, which is a deficit of three-inches.

Looking ahead to the rest of this month: The average High in August is 83 and the Average Low is 61. Rainfall typically amounts to 3.88-inches. Check back with us on Sept. 1^st to see how our weather fared in August.

Today: Partly cloudy. High 91. Winds N/NW @ 10 mph.

Tonight: P/Cldy w/isolated thundershowers. Low 70. Winds light & variable.

Tomorrow: Mostly Sunny & hot. High 98. * Heat Advisory in effect from1-until 8-p.m.* SW wind @15-25

Wednesday: P/Cldy w/scattered showers & tstrms. High 92.

Thursday: P/Cldy. High 90.

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 86. Our Low was 64. Last year on this date (Aug. 1st), the High was 81 and the Low was 52. The Record High on this date, in Atlantic, was 102 in 1897. The Record Low was 42 in 1898.