(Atlantic, Iowa) – What some meteorologists are calling an “Unprecedented” weather event is staged to sweep across Iowa this afternoon and evening, bringing destructive winds and tornadoes. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon tells KJAN News this storm system could present as strong or stronger straight line winds than the August Derecho that caused millions of dollars in damage across the state.

The storm system is expected to push through from west to east at up to 80 miles per hour.

Kennon advises you to keep abreast of the latest developments in this fast mover.

Once the storm front passes through, you need to be prepared to encounter downed power line and tree limbs, not to mention debris from area properties. In your home or business, remember to go the interior of your structure when strong winds and tornadoes are in the area.

(Johnston, Iowa) – The National Weather Service, today (Wednesday), reports widespread very strong winds are anticipated this afternoon and this evening, but severe thunderstorms are possible as well. A line of severe thunderstorms is expected to move rapidly west to east across central Iowa between 4pm and 8pm at speeds of 60 to 70 mph. The primary severe weather threats will be damaging winds and a few tornadoes. With non-thunderstorm winds already gusting from 60 to 70 mph, winds in thunderstorms could reach 80 mph or more.

Conditions could change very rapidly today with little reaction time as storms approach. Monitor weather conditions closely with safe shelter available and nearby.

Today: Partly cloudy to cloudy & very windy. A chance of showers & thunderstorms w/severe storms possible later today. **HIGH WIND WARNING from Noon until midnight**High 70. S @ 20-40 w/gusts to 50+ mph.

Tonight: Showers & thunderstorms ending late. Low 30. W/SW @ 20-40 w/gusts 50+ before diminishing overnight.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy & cooler. High 41. W/NW @ 10-20.

Friday: P/Cldy. High 44.

Saturday: P/Cldy to cldy. High 32.

Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 59 (24-hour high ending today at 7-a.m.). Our 24-hours Low was 27. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 23 and the Low was 7. The Record High on this date was 64 in 2002. The Record Low was -19 in 1901.

(Harlan) – Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Alex Longo reports Shelby County will be in a burn ban, effective immediately, and lasting until 8-a.m. Thursday, Dec. 16th.  A Burn Ban is issued by local or state officials, at the request of local fire chiefs, during periods of extremely dry conditions or under other conditions, when open burning may constitute a danger to life or property.

There is a High Wind Warning in effect for Wednesday across most of Iowa. Any fires that do start, either accidentally or otherwise, can be explosive and spread quickly. Violating the Burn Ban is a simple misdemeanor, punishable by a fine. For more information, call 712-755-2124.

(Radio Iowa) – A D-N-R expert says the state’s drought situation has improved dramatically as we enter the winter. Tim Hall says the drought isn’t completely gone. “Right now about half the state is shown in some sort of drought condition — but most of that is D-zero — which is abnormally dry,” Hall says. “Now there’s a little stretch of D-1 moderate drought kind of winding its way from north-central Iowa down toward Waterloo in little patches.” Hall says the wet October was the big turning point — as a dry November didn’t help. “Had we seen normal rainfall in November — we might have gotten some improvement. Right now, the conditions are holding pretty steady in the state at about 13-percent of the state is now shown as D-1 moderate drought. And the total amount of the state shown in some form of drought is just over 50 percent,” according to Hall.

Hall says the warmer temperatures have left the ground warmer and the door open for any moisture that falls to still be helpful. “It’s not frozen yet. It’ll take a pretty decent stretch of cold weather to get that soil frozen — especially at the top,” he says. “Once that soil at the ground surface freezes — that pretty much shuts down the infiltration of moisture. So, hopefully, we’ll get a few more weeks where we can get some water into the ground.” He says any rain or snow we get now is a bonus. “It’s really important to keep an eye on what’s going on here probably for the next couple of weeks. Any moisture we get will help us out — because it’ll get locked into the soil profile,” Hall says.

Hall says the water that gets into the ground now will be key when it comes time to plant once again in the spring.

Today: Mostly sunny. High 56. S @ 10.

Tonight: Fair to partly cloudy. Low 30. SE @ 5.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High 58. S @ 10-15.

Wednesday: P/Cldy, warm & windy w/a chance of showers & thunderstorms late. High 68. **High Wind Watch in effect**

Thursday: P/Cldy. High 38.

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 54. Our Low this morning, 30. Last year on this date, the High was 27 and the Low was 6. The Record High was 65 in 1921. The Record Low was -20 in 1961.

Today: Sunny & breezy. High around 49. S/SW winds 10-20 mph w/gusts to near 30.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. South wind 10-20 mph.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.SE winds at 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 56. South wind 5 to 15 mph.

Wednesday: Partly sunny & windy, w/a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. High near 71.

Saturday’s High in Atlantic was 42. Our Low this morning, 27. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 32 and the Low was 16. The Record High was 62 in 1921 & 1968. The Record Low was -20 in 1932.

Skyscan Forecast  Saturday, December 11, 2021  Dan Hicks

Today: Becoming partly cloudy. NW @ 15-30, shifting to the W @ 10-15 this afternoon. High 40.

Tonight: Fair to partly cloudy. SW @ 5-10. Low 20.

Sunday: Fog early then mostly sunny. SW @ 10-15. High 54.

Monday: Partly cloudy. High 56.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 60.

We picked up a light glaze of ice and .2″ of snow overnight at the KJAN studios. Yesterday’s high was 38 and the low was 28. This day last year the high was 38 and the low 28. The all-time record high for today was 64 set in 1965. Record low was -14 in 1917. Sunrise this morning at 7:36 a.m. and sunset is at 4:50 p.m.

Today: Mostly cloudy w/light rain this afternoon. High around 40. Winds E @ 10-20 mph.
Tonight: Cloudy w/light rain changing to light snow. Low 29. N @ 15-30.
Tomorrow: Light snow ending in the morning; Becoming P/Cldy. High near 40. NW @ 15-30 diminishing in the afternoon.
Sunday: P/Cldy. High 54.
Monday: P/Cldy. High 56.

Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 56. Our Low this morning, 34. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 57 and the Low was 23. The Record High on this date was 58 in 1891. The Record Low was -14 in 1917.