(Radio Iowa) — As spring approaches, forecasters say Iowa’s in for some rollercoaster temperatures. While many of us enjoyed high temps in the mid 40s over the weekend, it’s back to winter today (Monday) with ice, sleet and snow. Meteorologist Kenny Podrazik, at the National Weather Service in metro Des Moines, says the northern few tiers of counties will see rain change over to snow this morning and this afternoon. “Anywhere from Algona, Estherville, Mason City, even as far east as Decorah, that whole area is going to see a decent amount of snow,” Podrazik says, “and there’s certainly the potential for a light glaze of ice as well.”

Parts of the region could get up to a half-foot of new flakes. “Estherville and Algona could see one-to-two inches of snow,” Podrazik says. “The further east you go, you could see higher amounts, like two-to-four in Mason City, and northeast portions of Iowa could see three-to-six or four-to-six inches of snowfall by later today.” Twenty-five counties across Iowa’s northern third are under a Winter Weather Advisory and where ice is accumulating, driving will quickly become hazardous. The forecast calls for a big dip into colder weather this week and another significant warm-up by the weekend.

“We could see some subzero temperatures Wednesday night into Thursday morning,” Podrazik says. “Then, by Saturday and Sunday, we’ll be back into the mid- or upper-40s and certainly couldn’t rule out a couple of spots topping 50 degrees on one of those days.” Spring will arrive in a little over a month on March 19th.

Today (Washington’s Birthday): Mostly cloudy & breezy w/periods of light rain. High near 41. SE winds @ 10-20 this morning becoming NW this afternoon w/gusts to near 25.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, w/flurries possible this evening. Low 20. NW @ 20-25mph.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High near 35. NW @ 10-15.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 11. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy w/a chance of flurries. High around 22.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 7.
Thursday: Mostly Sunny. High near 28

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 51. Our Low was 31. We received .09″ rain overnight in Atlantic (as of 5:58-a.m. today). Last year the High in Atlantic was 31 and the Low was 7. The Record High in Atlantic on Feb. 17th was 71 in 2017. The Record Low was -34 in 1958.

Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. Light south wind increasing to 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Tonight: A chance of drizzle, mainly after 5am. Cloudy, with a low around 32. South wind 6 to 8 mph.

(Monday) Washington’s Birthday: A chance of drizzle, mainly before 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 44. South wind 6 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Blustery, with a north northwest wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 31. North northwest wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 24.

Skyscan Forecast  Sunday, February 15, 2020  Dan Hicks

Today: Partly cloudy. Warmer. SW-W @ 10-20. High 42.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. W @ 5-10. Low 22.

Sunday: Partly cloudy to cloudy. S @ 10-15. High 42.

Monday: Mostly cloudy. Light rain and snow mixed. High 38.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 27.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (573.5KB)

Subscribe: RSS

Today: Partly cloudy. High 28. SW @ 10-20.

Tonight: P/Cldy. Low 22. S @ 5-10.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy to Cloudy. High 42. SW-W @ 10-20.

Sunday: P/cldy to cldy. High 42.

Monday: Mostly cloudy w/a light rain-snow mix. High 37.

Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 10. Our 24-hour (ending today at 7-a.m.) will be/is -8. At 5-a.m. it was 0 degrees. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 34 and the Low was 0. The record High for February 14th in Atlantic, was 68 in 1934. The Record Low was -20 in 1936.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The National Weather Service says there’s an elevated flood risk along the eastern Missouri River basin this spring. That’s because the soil remains wet and significant snow is on the ground in North Dakota and South Dakota. Communities along the lower Missouri River already were bracing for the prospect of more flooding this spring because many of their levees remain in poor shape after last year’s massive flooding.

FILE – This March 18, 2019, file photo, taken by the South Dakota Civil Air Patrol and provided by the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management shows flooding along the Missouri River in rural Iowa north of Omaha, Neb. (Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management via AP, File)

Nearly everywhere that flooded last year in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri is at some risk to flood again because of the extensive damage to levees.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Schools, businesses and organizations remain closed or opening late this (Thursday) morning, because of the arctic cold front that’s descended upon eastern Nebraska and most of Iowa. The National Weather Service says temperatures will be about 10-20 degrees below average in the northern and central Plains. Wind chills as low as 30 below zero were expected in some spots.

The extreme cold could keep both states in a deep chill Friday as well. The weather service also warns of icy roadways and sidewalks because of the rapidly falling temperatures overnight. Surfaces that look wet may be icy.

**Wind Chill Advisory in effect this morning**

Today: Mostly sunny. High 12. NW @ 15-30. Wind chill values as low as -30.

Tonight: Fair to Partly cloudy. Low -4. SE @ 5-10.  Wind chill as low as -15.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High 27. S @ 10-20.

Sat./Sun.: P/Cldy to Cldy. Highs around 40 both days.

Wednesday’s High in Atlantic was 38. Our Low this morning (as of 5-a.m.) was -6. We received .3″ snowfall overnight. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 36 and the Low was 4. The record High for February 13th in Atlantic, was 63 in 1934. The Record Low was -30 in 1905.

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY remains in effect for the entire KJAN listening area this morning. The ADVISORY is in effect until Noon for: Crawford-Carroll-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Cass-Adair-Madison-Adams-Monona-Harrison- Union-Taylor and Ringgold Counties; and until 10-a.m. for Pottawattamie-Mills-Montgomery-Fremont-Page Counties.

* WHAT…Very cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 30 below zero.

* IMPACTS…The bitter cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.

The National Weather Service has extended the coverage area for a WIND CHILL ADVISORY to include the entire KJAN listening area. The WIND CHILL ADVISORY remains in effect from 12-a.m. until Noon Thursday, for Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Cass-Adair-Madison-Adams-Union-Taylor and Ringgold Counties, and from 10-p.m. tonight until 9-a.m. Thursday, for Pottawattamie-Mills-Montgomery-Fremont-Page Counties.

Temperatures will plummet and it is possible that wet or slushy roads could flash freeze, creating icy spots on roadways Wednesday evening. Wind Chills as low as -20 to -30 can be expected overnight tonight into mid-day Thursday. The cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Winter Weather & Wind Chill Advisories are in effect for those counties along and north of Highway 30. (See https://www.weather.gov/dmx/) for details.