Eastern Iowa Fall Color Photos!

Fall Color Hiawatha,Iowa

Fall colors are really starting to increase with the cooler weather we have had this week. Early and Late turning trees are peaking in color and many areas have reached moderate color status. Sugar Maples & Ashes are bright and beautiful shades of orange, purple and yellow, Red Maples are red and orange and Hackberry trees are turning light yellow. Evenwhere you go at least some sort of color can be seen. Late turning trees like Aspen, Silver Maples and Oaks are mostly still green, however some are starting to show signs of turning.

Fall color along Iowa Mississippi River Bluffs Sabula, Iowa

I took a visit of the Mississippi River Bluffs area and fall color is abundant and starting to get bright.  I feel that over the next week or two, we will be at near peak color.

Fall Color along Mississippi River Bluff Sabula Iowa

Ashes can be seen here turning yellow and Maples orange.

Sugar Maples turning orange & yellow turning along Illinois Woodland

Sugar Maples are famous for their orange-yellow color some of which can be seen here. 

October 13th-14th Cooler Temperature Report Widespread Frost reported outlying areas

 Crisp Fall evening October 13th 2013 Hiawatha,Iowa

The areas 1st frost of the season was reported in a 2 consecutive nights this past week as temperatures dipped into the middle to lower 30s with some areas getting a killing frost. The 1st night with frost went virtually un warned by local weather outlets. A cool crisp high pressure system that settled in behind a cold front that past through over the weekend is the cause of the frost. The frost is general was said to be quite heavy in outlying areas and countrysides where temperatures as cool as the lower 30s were reported. However large metropolitan areas away from airport readings did not see frost and temperatures remained in the upper 30s. Inner city areas around Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City where there are large concentrations of buildings and pavement prevented frost from forming. Here in Hiawatha, I had a low of 38.F both Sunday morning and Monday morning. I did not have frost in the lawn and no plants were effected.

Coldest Morning Lows October 13th-14th

 Monticello 30.F
Waterloo Airport 32.F
Williamsburg 33.F
Robins 34.F
Coralville 34.F
Iowa City Airport 36.F
 Independence 36.F 
South Waterloo 36.F
Marion 36.F
Eastern Iowa Airport 37.F
Central City 37.F
 Hiawatha 38.F 
Downtown Cedar Rapids 40.F 

Fall Color Report # 3 color is increasing but still consider low for all areas.

Regional Color Map

The fall color map this week shows an expansion of color across Central Minnesota and Wisconsin. Low color is still all that is being found across Southern Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas South Dakota and Nebraska. Moderate color is expected to soon expand across Southern Minnesota, Northern Iowa and Southern Wisconsin in the upcoming weeks.

Fall colors in Eastern Iowa.

Here in Eastern Iowa fall color is continuing to increase. Most areas are still on the low end of the fall color spectrum but are beginning to approach moderate color. Ash trees are at peak and are in colors in yellow and purple. Maples both Red and Sugar Maples are turning orange and red. Burning bushes are turning fire red and Amur maples are turning as well. In areas where there are earlier turning trees concentrated in one area color is good, however when looking at the canopy as whole most of the canopy is still green and the colors that are there are not yet bright. Mid to late turning trees like Oaks, Aspens and Silver Maples are still green as well.

Area fall color report

Cedar Rapids Metro Low Color
Iowa City Low Color
Waterloo Low Color
Anamosa Low Color
Independence Low Color 
   

Fall Color Report #2- Low color all areas

Regional fall color report

Color is increasing across Minnesota and Wisconsin where some areas are reporting Moderate color. Further north, peak color is being observed across Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Fall color among Green Ash Species October 6th 2013

Here in Eastern Iowa, most areas are still reporting low color, however fall colors have been increasing quite a bit across the area. Ash trees are still taking the main show, but most are quite beautiful at this time with Green Ash turning beautiful gold-yellow color, White ashes are purple. Maples, both sugar and red as well as autumn blaze species are just starting to turn red and orange. These are all mostly Early changing trees. Late changing trees such as oaks, aspens, cherries, birches are still green. I suspect that fall colors will really start to increase this next week.

Fall Color Reports

Waterloo/Cedar Falls Low Color
Cedar Rapids Low Color
Iowa City Low Color
Anamosa Low Color
Manchester Low Color    

October 4th severe thunderstorm report. Strong winds & Golf ball sized hail reported.

Storm front from early morning storms Friday October 4th

A very strong fall storm system lead to the development of a very late severe weather outbreak across Iowa. A late warm, humid airmass with temperatures in the 80s and dewpoints in the 70s was the fuel for these severe storms. From the storms, several tornadoes were reported in far Northwest Iowa where the worst of the severe weather was seen. Here in Eastern Iowa we dealt with several rounds of storms all of which hit during the morning hours Friday. The first wave 1st developed west of Des Monies and produced significant damage in that area. It pushed across the state following I-80 and weakened to below severe levels by the time it reached Eastern Iowa around 2-3am, still strong winds around 40-50MPH were reported, but no damage was reported. The 2nd wave of storms developed Southeast of Des Monies and these storms were more along the pulse-like nature. These storms moved northeast into Iowa County and pulsed to severe limits in that area and produced golf ball sized hail in the Amana area. This storm moved northeast towards the Cedar Rapids metropolitan area and did cause a scare for the Southeast Cedar Rapids and Marion, but luckily the storm weakened before reaching the metro. This storm was the last one of severe levels to effect Eastern Iowa. Rainfall amounts across the area ranged from 0.08" in Waterloo to 0.79" here in Hiawatha and even 2" plus in the Center Point-Central City area.

Interesting Note- lightning seen over 100 miles from storms in Northeast Iowa:

Late evening around 10pm, there was several reports of lightning flashes as far south as Cedar Rapids and Washington, I myself witnessed the lightning and it was not your typical thunderhead lightning that you can see for 100s of miles from some storms, it was true lightning flashes in the clouds and it was intense and constant. Several residents reported that it was more intense then normal and very strange. All this lightning was centered in storms from storms 118 miles from Cedar Rapids in Northeast Iowa in the Cresco-Decorah areas.

Storm Reports from Eastern Iowa

2 miles W of Amana 1.75" golf ball sized hail

Fridays severe weather risk.

The SPC has issued a Moderate Risk For severe thunderstorms for Northern into Central Iowa with a Slight Risk for the majority of Iowa on Friday. The risk area includes Waterloo, Marshalltown, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City as well as surrounding communities. The moderate risk area is showing a heightened risk for Northern & Central Iowa. everyone Northwest of a line from the Davenport Metropolitan area to Centerville,Iowa is with in the risk area. Strong thunderstorms will form along a strong fall cold front in Centeral and Northwestern Iowa in the early afternoon Friday and move east. Arriving here in Eastern Iowa during the evening hours. The biggest threat will be large hail and damaging winds for our area here in the east. But the risk for tornadoes is certainly there especially where storms 1st develop which seems to especially be near the Waterloo-Marshalltown area north and westward where the moderate risk area is located.

By sure to see your favorite internet weather source for more information

SPC outlook links can be found HERE

Unusually Warm Summer-Like October warmth next few days, Then a strong fall storm system will bring storms and severe weather threat for Friday followed by very cool Fall-like temperatures for the weekend patchy frost north?

Regional Forecast Map.

A warm summer-like airmass has overtaken much of the Upper Midwest and this will continue for the next few days. However a strong fall storm system will split the region in half keeping the summer-like warmth to the south and keeping cool-rainy conditions to the north. The two airmass colliding will cause the threat for a severe weather outbreak across parts of Nebraska, Southeastern Minnesota, Northern Missourri, Wisconsin and Northwest Illinois on Friday as the cold front pushes through. Heavy Rain appears likely along and north of the warm front across Southern Minnesota and Wisconsin. The storm system will have quite a punch to it un-like other storms we've had and other weather outlooks are saying the severe weather threat may be quite a bit higher then we've seen in awhile. Saturday after the passing of the cold front significantly cooler temperatures will be felt across the entire Upper Midwest.

For the local area expect that we will have one more sunny, dry day Wednesday with sunny skies and highs in the middle 80s and lows in the lower 60s which is some 10-15 degrees warmer then where we should be. Temperatures will be near 80 both Thursday through Friday but rain chances will increase. Thursday the chance for isolated thunderstorms will begin to increase as a warm front lingers near the area and these storms could develop at any time during the day Thursday. Friday will bring the best chance for rain along with the threat for severe thunderstorms developing. It appears that the afternoon and evening a ling of strong to severe thunderstorms will push in from the west. Strong winds and heavy downpours will be the main threats, however there will be other threats as well. Saturday will only have a chance of morning thunderstorms with the afternoon being significantly colder with strong northerly winds. Highs will only be in the upper 50s to lower 60s after being near 80 most of this week. Clearing skies Saturday and Sunday nights could allow for temperatures to fall into the upper 30s, the 1st for most of the area especially North towards the Waterloo area. I will have updates on this frost chance as it approaches. Monday through Tuesday looks beautiful with cool temperatures in the middle 60s and lows in the lower to middle 40s.

Wednesday, Sunny skies and warm, breezy south winds to 25MPH Highs in the lower to mid 80s. Wednesday Night, Partly Cloudy with lows in the middle 60s.

Thursday, warm and humid, A chance of showers and thunderstorms developing during the day. Breezy south winds with highs in the low 80s. Thursday Night, Partly Cloudy with a lingering shower or thunderstorm, lows in the middle 60s

Friday, Warm and humid with breezy south winds. Showers and thunderstorms moving in during the afternoon and evening. Some could be severe. Highs in the lower 80s. Friday Night, Showers and thunderstorms, some could be severe. Lows in the upper 50s.

Saturday, Clearing skies, Much cooler, Cool with strong northwest winds to 25MPH. Highs in the upper 50s to lower 60s. Saturday Night, Clear skies, lows in the upper 30s to lower 40s.

Sunday, Sunny skies and pleasant. Light winds with highs in the middle 60s. Sunday Night, Clear skies, patchy frost possible north areas. Lows in the upper 30s to lower 40s.

Monday through Wednesday, Sunny skies and warming temperatures. Highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s. Lows in the upper 40s to low 50s.

Looking Ahead

We may be able to pull off one more nice day on Thursday before the next storm system arrives for next weekend. Another strong fall storm system brings a cold rain spreading through the Midwest bringing steady rain chances both Friday and Saturday the 11th and 12th. This will be leaving a cool fall like start to the week of Monday the 14th. This will bring another chance of frost which appears to be a much better chance this this weekends. It remains cool and sunny through the 17th of October.