Wednesdays High Temperatures middle 40s seen

Tree of 5 Seasons Downtown Cedar Rapids December 18th 2013

Today was a much welcomed beautiful day in Eastern Iowa, we had sunny skies and southerly winds. The southerly winds pushed warm air into our area rising temperatures ranging from the upper 30s and middle 40s. The warm moved quickly across Iowa, but then slowed down as it moved into Eastern Iowa. The front parked just northeast of a Waterloo to Cedar Rapids to Iowa City line, which is why locations northeast of this line had temperatures remain in the upper 30s. Southwest of this line, especially the Southwest part of the area had temperatures in the middle 40s. The warmest reported temperature was 46.F from Williamsburg. Even warmer temperatures were seen outside of Eastern Iowa in other parts of the state. Other temperatures include 51.F at Des Monies 56.F at Lamoni and 59.F at Shenandoah. Below is a list of local highs seen across Eastern Iowa. Warm ups like these are certainly not deemed as unusual for Iowa, as it is fairly typical for these to arise once in a while in Winter for a day or two before it cools down.


Willamsburg 46.F
Washington 45.F
Kalona 43.F
Hiawatha 43.F
Iowa City 42.F
 Waterloo-Cedar Falls 42.F
Belle Plain 42.F  Vinton 42.F
Cedar Rapids 41.F
Mount Vernon 40.F
 Independence 37.F
Monticello 37.F
Manchester 36.F

Introducing a new weather map & Warmth ahead for the middle of this week, low to middle 40s for Wednesday and Thursday. Cooler next weekend, 20s-Full forecast issued.

Regional Weather View

Across the region, a much anticipated warm up for most areas as the jet stream lifts briefly north into Minnesota. This will bring warmth northward with widespread 30s across Minnesota and 30s and 40s across Iowa with a chance of a temperature near 50. In Missouri and Kansas temperatures will warm near 50 and even 60. Thursday a low pressure system will past through Minnesota bringing a chance of a few light rain showers in Iowa with snow in the north. This same storm will also bring colder air back in for the end of the week bring 20s and 30s widespread across the southern part of the area. With the worst of the arctic air staying in Minnesota and Wisconsin where single digits highs are likely.

Local Eastern Iowa View for This week

I am introducing a new map that I made for Eastern Iowa. This new map features a close up view of the areas 3 largest Metropolitan areas in East Central Iowa that I cover as well as the surrounding communities. I feel this new map will help better define the area in which I cover. On the map now is the forecast for the upcoming week with the soon to arrive warm up thats heading our way. Monday will signify the start of the warm up with highs warming to the middle 20s. Tuesday and Wednesday is when the warmth will really start to come in as we will have sunshine with highs warming to the middle 30s on Tuesday and the lower to middle 40s for Wednesday and Thursday with the only exception being maybe still an upper 30 degree reading towards Waterloo. Areas near Iowa City and southward towards Washington and Mt. Pleasant may very well approach 50 those 2 days. Scattered light rainshowers and drizzle will spread into Eastern Iowa on Thursday as the cold front nears. There is a chance for some freezing drizzle as the rain starts, but it should not be significant Friday the cold front passes cooling temperatures back down in the 20s for highs, which is will where they will stay through next weekend.

Tuesday, Warmer, Sunny and Windy with highs in the lower to middle 30s. West winds gusting to 30MPH. Tuesday night, Clear skies with breezy west winds. Lows in the middle 10s.

Wednesday, Sunny, Pleasant, not as windy with highs ranging from the upper 30s in the north, to the lower to middle 40s in the south and central part of the area. Wednesday night, Increasing clouds, lows in the upper 20s and lower 30s.

Thursday, Cloudy with a chance of rain, possibly starting off as freezing rain or drizzle then rain. Highs in the upper 30s and lower 40s. Thursday night, Colder with NW breezes Cloudy skies with a chance of rain, possibly becoming freezing rain. Lows in the middle 20s

Friday, Colder with northwest breezes, Sunny skies. Highs in the lower to mid 20s Friday night, Clear skies with lows in the lower teens

Saturday/Sunday, Increasing clouds with a chance of snow. Highs in the lower to mid 20s. Lows ranging from the upper 10s to lower 10s

Monday, Colder and breezy. Sunny skies, highs in the lower 20s. Monday Night, Clear skies with lower in the upper single digits to lower 10s

Looking Ahead

This weekends snow chance: The models are hinting and the potienal for a weekend snowstorm this weekend December 21st and 22nd, but only 1 model shows it hitting Eastern Iowa, and at this point it shows it grazing the area with the worst effects in the Far Southeastern part of Iowa. Most of it looks to miss, however it still needs to be watched for the potential that it could track back towards our area.

Christmas Day at this point looks kinda cloudy but dry with temperatures somewhere around the mid to upper 20s. It shows several small storms missing our area to the north. Friday the 27th looks colder with a chance for some light snows with a clipper system. Saturday and Sunday the 28th-29th a brief warm up for Iowa. We may see the middle 30s especially Sunday before an arctic front pushes cold air quickly back into our area for Monday the 30th and Tuesday the 31st. Heading into the 1st day of January, the model shows a low pressure system tracking over Kentucky bring heavy snows to Eastern Iowa and significantly colder temperatures behind that. But there is still plenty of time for this to change. 

Christmas scenes around the Cedar Rapids Metro

Downtown Marion December 14th 2013

Today was a nice day to go out and about and take some photos of the areas decorations in anticipation for the Christmas season. Here in Marion, the trees are lit up at night and there is Christmas music in the park playing during the day. Today, like the past couple have days have been sunny with clouds and a few flurries at times, but highs have been much more bearable in the middle to upper 20s compared from where they were last week in the teens and single digits. Sunday will feature 1 more cold arctic day for Eastern Iowa until we get a nice break from the cold next week when we'll have several days with highs in the upper 30s and even lower 40s, Tuesday through Thursday, however it will be short lived as another arctic air mass will come down for next weekend.

Downtown Cedar Rapids December 14th 2013

 Snowcover around the area is still plentiful, as seen here in Downtown Cedar Rapids along the Cedar River, however it seems like the past few days it has been compacting and even melting slightly especially on southern/western slopes I really noticed it driving along 380 through the city. It appears as though we may add a little bit of snow tomorrow night as a clipper system slides through Eastern Iowa. Right now 0.50 maybe an inch is possible, but it surely doesn't look like much. It will be interesting to see how much of this stays on the ground next week and if we'll have a good solid white Christmas.

North Center Point Road, Hiawatha December 14th

I really like the snowflake decorations Hiawatha has put up, and the snow on the ground matches perfectly!

December 10th-11th Snowfall totals and stats for the month

Iowan Winter Day December 11th 2013

Another snowfall immersed Eastern Iowa late last night into this morning. The cause of the snow was a quick, but potent clipper style storm that slide across Southern Iowa spreading snow across much of Iowa. The highest amounts and heaviest totals were centered in Central and Eastern Iowa along Highway 30 from Ames through Marshalltown and the Cedar Rapids metropolitan area. Temperatures were in the upper teens and 20s at the the snow fell. Then as the storm pushed out, Northeast winds picked up to near 30MPH dragging in bitterly cold temperatures back down to the single digits, with wind chills into the teens and 20s below zero, prompting wind chills statements from the National Weather Service. Also seen this week were the coldest temperatures seen of the season so far ranging from -10.F at Cedar Rapids Eastern Iowa Airport to -13.F at Monticello. Near the bottom of this post is totals from this event plus lowest temperatures seen.

For the month here in Hiawatha, Iowa ( North Cedar Rapids Metro ) with last nights snow of 3.00" brings the monthly total to 6.75" which is only 2" from the average of 8.70" for the month. The snow on the ground currently is 4.50"

 Scotch Grove 4.50"
Anamosa 4.0"
Independence 4.0" ( -9.F )
Urbana 4.0" ( -8.F )
Olin 3.90"
Monticello 3.90" ( -13.F )
Marion 3.50" ( -2.F )
Hiawatha 3.0" ( -5.F )
Stanwood 2.80"
Cedar Hills 2.50" ( -2.F )
Cedar Rapids 2.30" ( -10.F )
Lisbon 2.50"( -6.F )
Belle Plain 1.50" ( -7.F )
Solon 1.50"
Waterloo 1.40"  ( -6.F )
North Liberty 1.30"  ( -7.F )
Tiffin 1.00"
Iowa City 0.80" ( -9.F )

December 8th-9th snowfall event

December 9th snowfall

It is now full fledged Winter here in Eastern Iowa as a new blanket of snow ranging from 4" across the central part of the area to just over a half inch over parts of the south, however, all areas now have snow cover. The recent Snowfall is thanks to a weak winter storm which produced a low that moved through Southeastern Iowa spreading widespread snowfall across much of the region. It was actually snowing across a good 200 300 miles as far north as Minneapolis,Minnesota. The highest accumulations from the storm were right here in Eastern Iowa and farther west towards Central Iowa and Des Monies. The snow fell while it was relatively calm and temperatures were in the 10s and 20s, making for a very powdery snowfall. Snow was heavy at times especially in the afternoon Sunday, Winds did pick up slightly during the snow but was not a huge issue. There were reports of quite a few accidents across the area including a major accident on interstate 90 near Williamsburg. Overall this snow should be typical for December standards, but locals are saying this winter so far odd that we have had so many sticking snowfalls this early in the season. Below is a list of snowfall reports Sunday into Monday morning.


Belle Plain 4.0"
4 miles N Marengo 4.0"
Vinton 3.80"
Hiawatha 3.75"
Atkins 3.50"
 Scotch Grove 3.50"
Cedar Hills 3.30"
Springville 3.30"
Cedar Rapids 3.0"
Marion 3.0"
Bertram 2.90"
Independence 2.50"
North Liberty 2.50"
Iowa City 2.40"
Solon 2.30"
West Branch 2.20"
Cedar Falls 2.0"
Parnell 2.0"
Waterloo 1.90"
Stanwood 1.50"
Wellman 1.50"

Sunday Snowfall Forecast for Eastern Iowa, then 2nd blast of arctic air poised to move southeastward

Regional weather view for the upcoming week.

Winter... That is one word to describe the weather for the next few days across the region. Right now the Upper Midwest is in the middle of an arctic airmass number 1. Now a new lower end strength Winter Storm will effect the Upper Midwest bringing widespread snow across a huge area. Much of the states of Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Northwestern Illinois and Wisconsin will be effected with snow by this storm. The low will track across Southeastern Iowa and Missouri which will put the heaviest snow in a swath from North Central Iowa to Southeastern Minnesota to Northwest Wisconsin. Arctic airmass # 2 will arrive behind this for Monday bring 10s and single digits for highs as the weather calms down once again.

For Eastern Iowa we can expect snow to develop late Saturday into the day Sunday. Most of Sunday will likely feature snow showers some of which could be heavy at times, which could cause some commute issues. Temperatures will be in the 20s and winds will be fairly light which will produce a light fluffy type of snow. Accumulations will range across the area but it will be highest the farther north and west you go. Accumulations will be 2-4" over Northwest parts of our area. Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Independence and Manchester can expect to see these amounts. Vinton, Cedar Rapids-Marion, Anamonsa and Monticello will see 2-3" of snow, while the southern parts, Iowa City, Washinton and Mount Pleasant will only see around an 1" or less. There will be a fairly sharp cut off.

The snow will end Sunday night and cold air will pour into Eastern Iowa for Monday when in which we will have arctic sunshine and highs in the lower 10s to possible upper single digits across the far north for highs. Lows Monday Night will fall below zero briefly before we see an increase in temperatures to the 20s for Tuesday, with continued sunshine. Wednesday a weak, but reinforcing shot of cold air will bring lower to middle 10s back into the pictures and it will still be sunny. Its not until Thursday through next weekend that we see a warm up with temperatures rising to the upper 20s and lower 30s, which it more typical for December.

Sunday, Snow, come could be heavy at times. Highs in the lower 20s. Sunday night, Snow in the evening before ending. Total accumulations 2-4" across the North and Central areas. 1" or less for the Southern areas. Lows in the upper single digits.

Monday, Cold! Arctic sunshine with cold wind chills. Highs in the lower 10s to upper single digits. Monday Night, Clear skies, cold with lows in the lower single digits below zero then remaining steady.

Tuesday, Warmer, Sunny skies with highs in the lower 20s. Tuesday night, Mostly Cloudy, flurries possible. Lows in the lower single digits.

Wednesday, Cold with cold wind chills. Highs in the lower to mid 10s. Wednesday night, Cold with lows in the lower single digits.

Thursday-through next Saturday. Warmer, Partly Cloudy with increasing clouds Southerly breezes with temperatures rising to the upper 20s to middle 30s Friday being the warmest day. Lows in the 20s each night.

Looking ahead

Sunday will be colder with temperatures cooling back into the 10s for highs as another show of arctic air. This will bring about dry weather as well. However this airmass is short lived as the forecast models have been persistent at a fairly significant warm up arriving in Mid December around the 15th, however it is still early to decide how significant, but it does show temperatures could rise into the 40s, and possible near 50? for a few days as we approach the 17th of December. A cold front pushes through around the 21st of December bring briefly cooler conditions, however then a another storm system coming front the south brings rains for December 22nd, some of which could be heavy, behind this feature colder air would follow. Overall the 2nd part of December could be warmer then the 1st part has been.

Yesterdays warm temperature report/Wind and colder temperatures today

Garden on a mild foggy December 5th Day

The past week day or so has been very changeable in terms of weather here in Eastern Iowa. We went from mile temperatures in the 40s and 50s which peaked Wednesday to highs as warm as the middle 50s in the far south to the middle 40s north. Highs dropped to the 20s for today. All of this was thanks to a huge snowstorm hitting up to our north in Minnesota and my hometown area of Northwest Wisconsin. This huge storm which dumped 2 1/2 feet of snow on parts of Far Northern Minnesota near Duluth was responsible for the very mild temperatures we seen yesterday. The cause of it was as the low slowly moved northeastward through Southern Minnesota, the southerly winds on the south side of the storm pumped very mild air in from the south, but due to a frozen ground from past snowcover, very dense fog rolled in and remained in place for 1 full day and 2 mornings. It warmed up for so long I was even able to get some quick last minute plantings into the ground and I did not encounter any frozen soil at all, which makes December 3rd the latest ever I was able to garden. However late Wednesday after temperatures peaked, the cold front blew through and temperatures dropped 10 degrees in an hour. and by Wednesday morning they were in the 10s, with Northwest winds gusting between 35 and 40MPH Below is a list of highs seen yesterday/compared to today along with highest winds gusts. We seen no snowfall or only flurries with only a few hundredths of an inch of rainfall with this storm.

Hiawatha 49.F/23.F 36MPH
Cedar Rapids, Eastern Iowa Airport 49.F/23.F 36MPH
Vinton 49.F/23.F 35MPH
Waterloo 45.F/22.F 30MPH
Independence 45.F/25.F 31MPH
Monticello 50.F/25.F 31MPH
Iowa City 53.F/23.F 32MPH
Washington 54.F/23.F 33MPH