The month of June in Atlantic was about six-degrees warmer than normal, and we received less rain than we typically would see. Weather data compiled here at the KJAN Studios (The official National Weather Service reporting site), show the Average High last month (rounded-off) was 88, compared to the normal average high of 82. Our Average Low in June was 61, which was three-degrees above average. On June 17th, we tied a 103-year old record high when we reached 102-degrees (it was first set in 1918). Atlantic received 2.92 inches of rain last month, compared to the average of 4.98 inches.

Looking ahead to the month of July, we can expected an Average High of 86-degrees, an Average Low of 63, and rain typically amounting to 4.62-inches. We’ll let you know how the data compared to the norm,  when we compile the data on August 1^st.

(Radio Iowa) – Despite recent rain, most of Iowa is still rated as abnormally dry or in moderate to extreme drought and fire officials are urging extreme caution when it comes to fireworks. “We still haven’t had enough rain to get a lot of moisture build up, so it’s still dangerous,” Estherville Fire Chief Richard Beaver said. “The best thing I can say is if you’re going to light them, be very, very, very careful. Have a water hose handy and watch what’s going on.”

Beaver warns a grassy area that looks green can still catch fire. “It’s not the green stuff that you catch on fire, it’s the dead brown stuff underneath that catches fire and then once it catches fire, the green stuff will burn,” he said. If you do intend to shoot off fireworks, Beaver’s advice is to do so in an open area where you can see where they land.

“If you can’t see where they’re coming down at, they can land in the grass and lay there and smoke for a long time and then all of a sudden you’ve got a fire after you’ve gone to bed,” Beaver said.

(Radio Iowa) Today (Wednesday) is the last day of June and what marks the end of the peak season for tornadoes in Iowa. National Weather Service meteorologist Kenny Podrazik says April, May and June were relatively quiet months for severe storms. In fact, it’s been a fairly quiet year. “So far, there’s only been six confirmed tornadoes in the state and that’s through the end of June,” Podrazik says. “Normally, through the end of this month, the statewide totals would typically average around 34 or 35 tornadoes.” That means Iowa has only seen about one-sixth the usual number of tornadoes by this date, not that anyone is complaining.

“I’m totally fine with being below normal for tornadoes,” Podrazik says. “We don’t like seeing people’s property getting damaged and things like that. That’s one of the things we’re okay with for right now.” Tornadoes can strike at any time of day and during any month of the year and Podrazik says it’s entirely possible we’ll see some twisters in the weeks ahead. “We’ll have a little bit of a secondary season into July and then we definitely get some storms in August,” he says. “Obviously, the derecho is still fresh in folks’ minds from last year. We’re still not out of the woods yet but the peak season, June, is typically when we have the most active severe weather.”

The derecho that tore across Iowa on August 10th of last year was the most damaging thunderstorm in United States’ history. It caused 13-billion dollars damage, most of it in the state of Iowa. Also last year, Iowa saw 28 tornadoes with no reports of injuries or deaths due to the storms.

Today: Areas of fog this morning; Partly Cloudy w/isolated showers & thunderstorms. High 82. Variable breeze @ 5-10.

Tonight: P/cldy. Low 62. N @ 5-10.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy w/isolate showers. High 84. N @ 10.

Thursday: P/cldy. High 84.

Friday: P/Cldy. High 82.

Monday’s High in Atlantic was 85. We received .05″ rain. Our Low this morning, 66. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 85 and the Low was 75. The Record High on this date was 102 in 1934. The Record Low was 46 in 1950.

Today: Area of morning fog; Cloudy to Partly Cloudy skies w/scattered showers & thunderstorms, mainly this afternoon. High 80. SE winds @ 10 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy w/scattered showers & thunderstorms. Low 65.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy to Cldy w/scatt. shwrs & tstorms. High 82. N winds @ 10.

Wednesday: P/Cldy w/scatt. shwrs & tstrms. High around 82.

Thursday: P/Cldy. High 84.

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 83. Our Low was 62. Last year on this date, the High was 89 and the Low was 68. The Record High was 103 in 1936. The Record Low was 50 in 1896 & 2006.

Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Light and variable wind becoming west northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming south southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Light and variable wind. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming west southwest around 5 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday: A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Skyscan Forecast  Saturday, June 26, 2021  Dan Hicks

Today: Partly cloudy to cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms. NW @ 10-15. High 80.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Light and variable winds. Low 60.

Sunday: Partly cloudy. A few scattered showers and t’storms in the afternoon. W @ 10. High 83.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Light and variable winds. Low 61.

Monday: Partly cloudy. Scattered showers and t’storms, especially in the afternoon. High 82.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy to cloudy. Scattered showers. High 80.

The latest version of the Iowa Drought Monitor (released June 24th), shows very little change in drought conditions across the State, despite rain last week and earlier this week. The data show last week, slightly more than 94.6% of Iowa is Abnormally dry (D-0 to D-4 rating). This week, the rate improved slightly, to about 92.5%. Three months ago, a little more than 41% of the State was Abnormally Dry.

Cass and many other counties across parts of western, southern and east central Iowa are in a Moderate Drought (D1-D4). The percentage (76.15%) is slightly higher than last week (76.04%), thanks to widely scattered rainfall. The worst (Severe) drought conditions (D2-D4) continue to impact a large area of central, north central, northwest and northeast Iowa, where nearly 44% of counties are affected. That’s up from 40.82% last week. The Severe drought expanded as well across southern and northwest Minnesota, due to worsening precipitation deficits and vegetation conditions.