From Arctic Air to warmth. Storm system to bring Rain to the south and sleet and snow to the north towards Waterloo, up to 1" possible. Then everyone feels the warmth Sunday as highs rise to the upper 30s to middle 40s, then temperatures going up and down after this day.

Regional Weather view

Weather across the region will be warming up significantly after our outbreak of arctic air last week. Some places will even gone from below zero weather last week to rain this week. A weak weather system moving across Southeast Iowa will bring rain to the 1/3rd of Southeast Iowa, and sleet and snow along a corridor roughly from Des Moines to Waterloo. Northwest of there, Northern Iowa, Southeast Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin, Mason City to Rochester will see snow with minor accumulations. This feature will be fast to move out as a strong warm front from the southwest brings a push of very mild air into the area. Highs listed above are Fridays highs compared to Sundays highs. Come Sunday temperatures as warm as the 50s could be felt as far north as far southern Iowa. With highs near 60 as one nears Central Missouri. It will be a dry week after the said storm system above passes with temperatures swinging up and down but generally in the 20s to middle 30s.

Local Weather View

 Saturday we will get a brief cool down to the 20s and 30s being this storm, before the big warm up Sunday. I have raised forecasted highs for tomorrow due to the fact that areas to our southwest have little snowcover and the warm up appears stronger then first anticipated. Under sunny skies I believe highs will be as listed above, in the upper 30s to middle 40s in the south. If more snowcover can melt Friday it will help us even have a higher shot at warmer temperatures. Most of our snowcover will be melting away this week regardless of Fridays highs/rain as skies will remain sunny with several days with highs around the 32.F mark, accept for Wednesday when we get a brief shot of cooler air before it warms back up, Weather will be dry from Saturday through Thursday next week.

Friday, Sleet/snow across the North, Rain to the south. Highs in the low 30s north to mid to upper 30s south. Snow accumulation across the north around 1" Friday Night, Snow possible with light accumulations. Lows cooling in the middle 20s

Saturday, Partly Cloudy skies with light winds. Highs in the upper 20s to lower 30s. Saturday night, Partly Cloudy with lows in the upper 10s.

Sunday, Sunny and warm with southerly breezes. Highs in the upper 30s north to lower to middle 40s south. Sunday Night, Increasing clouds with lows in the mid 20s

Monday, Cooler with northerly breezes. Cloudy skies with  Highs in the upper 20s to lower 30s. Monday night, Cloudy with lows in the low to mid 20s.

Tuesday, Breezy, Partly Sunny skies with highs in the lower to mid 30s. Tuesday Night, Mostly Cloudy and breezy with lows in the mid 10s

Wednesday, Colder with cool wind chills. Windy with highs in the low to mid 20s. Wednesday Night, Cloudy skies with lows in the mid 10s.

Thursday, Sunny skies and warmer. Southerly breezes. Highs in the middle to upper 30s. Thursday Night. Turning colder and blustery with lows cooling to the in the lower 10s. 

Looking Ahead

Friday the 17th an chunk of an arctic airmass will moved southeast through the Midwest and deliver us another spell of cold temperatures. It comes in dry, however a clipper system could produce some snow in our area Saturday the 18th, but most of this will be confined to Northern Iowa. Sunday the 19th we begin a warming trend, which really comes into play between the 20th and 21st. High temperatures could have a run and the lower to middle 40s category. Wednesday the 22nd a storm system spreads rain to our south to areas of Missouri, Southern Illinois and Kentucky. This leaves us dry but brings in a brief shot of slightly cooler air. After this time frame the jet stream then sits directly over Iowa leaving us more prone to storms. January 24th shows a chance of some wet snows over Iowa, but it does not look significant.At the very end of the run, the 25th model shows a better organized storm moving towards Iowa. It has the potienal to be rain across the southern half and snow across the northern half, but it is far to early to determine where this storm will go at this time.

Cold Temperature Report- bitter cold temperatures of -20.F reported with wind chills of near -50. Coldest in recent history

Cold Evening January 7th

We are now on the upward trend side of an arctic outbreak that hit the region and our area starting on Saturday. According to multiple weather agencies the cause of the arctic outbreak was literally a piece of the polar vortex from the Arctic Circle broke off and moves south as a large area of high pressure that settled over the middle of the country. The full blast of this arctic outbreak arrived Sunday into Monday when temperatures fell into the middle to upper teens below zero and highs remained well below zero through Monday. Once it fell below zero Sunday temperatures remained below zero through Tuesday afternoon generally ranging from -10 to -5.F for highs. The cold was ridden down on very strong winds Sunday the 5th when winds gusted over 40MPH at time also causing blowing and drifting. The worst of the wind chills were 40 to 50 below zero. Most area schools and even some businesses closed as a result of the cold and people with old car batteries were stranded. This cold snap was well advertised and well warned, however it was a little on the lighter then forecasted side here in Eastern Iowa. The majority of the extensive advertising for this cold snap was for the forecasted wind chills as well as because it has been quite a few years since its been that cold. I happened to have spent the entire cold snap up in Northwest Wisconsin where the air temperatures fell to the coldest level I've seen physically with a low of -28.F below at the nearest official station in Rice Lake,WI. Wind chills there were near -50.F at times. I did do the hot water thrown into cold air test and not much of that 3 cups of water I threw made it to the ground! The good news is we can expect a significant warm up for the area this week with highs nearing 40 by Sunday. Below is a list of coldest lows seen / along with coldest wind chills and gusts associated with this airmass.

 Manchester -20.F
Waterloo Airport -19.F/-45.F 37MPH
Monticello -18.F/-46.F   38MPH
Vinton -18.F/-46.F 33MPH
Independence -18.F 39MPH
 South Waterloo -18.F
 Mt Vernon -18.F
 Marion -18.F
 Cedar Falls -17.F
Cedar Rapids Eastern Iowa Airport -17.F/-40.F 40MPH
Hiawatha -16.F
 Williamsburg -16.F
 Downtown Cedar Rapids -16.F
Coralville -16.F
Iowa City -15.F/-41.F 38MPH




  

Extreme Cold to ascend on the region late tomorrow. Coldest temperatures in 20s could be seen. Dangerouly cold wind chills likely appoaching -45 to -50.F some areas

Regional Weather View

There is only one thing making headlines in the Midwest and that is the extreme cold that is about to ascend onto the region. A bitter cold Arctic Airmass will soon be pledging into the U.S strait from Northern Canada, and a deep snowpack and the extent southward of the arctic high will allow for Very cold to extremely cold temperatures to be seen across all of the Midwest. The core of the coldest extreme air will be seen in all or most of South and North Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin. Temperatures in this area will be the coldest seen in nearly 20 years and have the chance at night will fall into the -20s to -30s be zero range and high temperatures will remain well below zero in this area. Wind chills could be -50 to -70 below zero. This has already lead to the closing of all schools in the State of Minnesota. Elsewhere in the Midwest will also be extremely cold for their respective areas, but generally lower single digits for highs and just above or below zero lows will be seen elsewhere. There will really be not much in the way for precipitation accept for a few scattered arctic flurries. Wednesday warmer temperatures will move into the area putting an end to the extreme cold.

Local Weather View

Locally attention will be completely on the extremely cold airmass mentioned above. The arctic front will reach our area tomorrow afternoon as temperatures will drop through the day and will be in the single digits, then eventually below zero. Once we fall below zero Sunday Night it is very likely we will remain below zero until Tuesday and locations towards Waterloo will not rise above zero until Wednesday. The worst of the extreme cold will be Monday Morning and Monday its self. Low temperatures will range from -18.F towards Iowa City to -25. F towards Waterloo, Cedar Rapids will probably be near -20.F. There is a chance some locations of the north could see temps near -30. This level of cold has significance as according to the local NWS it will be the coldest Eastern Iowa has seen since 1996, and in fact it even challenges our 20 year average plant hardiness zones which states that Cedar
Rapids south does not typically see temperatures lower then -20.F This could be a challenge to shrubs and trees on the lower end of the hardiness scale. Monday high temperatures will not rise above -9.F  for many Eastern Iowa Citys, and to make things worse winds could gust near 20MPH, which means wind chill values will near -45 to -50.F. It is likely the Watch will need to be upgraded to a Wind Chill Warning. Monday night will not be much of an improvement as lows will still be in the middle to upper 10s below zero. People should take this cold on a more serious level as it does have a life treating nature to it if not taken seriously. Temperatures will finally warm up on Tuesday when Cedar Rapids southward will rise above zero. By Wednesday, all locations should be in the middle to upper 10s as light snow moves in with an approaching warm front. There is hope however...Thursday and Friday temperautres will rise to the upper 20s to near 30.


Saturday, Cold. Strong Northwest winds and low wind chills. Dropping temperatures through the day with highs near 30 early. Saturday night, Blustery with cold will chills Partly cloudy with lows in the single digits below zero

Sunday, Cold! Partly Sunny with Blustery NW Winds and extremely cold wind chills nearing -30.F Highs in the single digits below zero. Sunday Night, Very Cold! Lows in the lower to middle 20s below zero. Wind chills nearing -45.F

Monday, Very Cold! Blustery NW Winds and extremely cold wind chills nearing -45.F or colder at times. Highs in the teens to lower dingle digits below zero. Monday night, Very Cold! Lows in the upper single digits to lower 20s below zero. Wind chills near -45.F or colder

Tuesday, Cold! Not as blustery, Sunny skies with highs on either side of zero. Tuesday Night, Increasing clouds with lows in the middle to upper single digits below zero.

Wednesday, Warmer and cloudy with a chance of light snow. Highs in the mid to upper 10s Wednesday night, A chance of light snow with lows in the low 10s

Thursday, Partly Sunny skies with lows in the low to middle 20s. Thursday night Partly Cloudy with lows in the mid 10s.


Looking Ahead

The long range charts do show good news. Next weekend into the week of the 13th the models have been continuing to hint warmer temperatures finally coming into the area. I don't want to do out too far on the limb, but it does appear we have the chance for several days between the 12th and 14th that could be near 40.F. However, the model shows this warm up is followed by a significant snowstorm on the 15th which brings Eastern Iowa and neighboring Missouri, Minnesota and Wisconsin significance snow. This is of course followed by another arctic airmass. The models show do show it warming back up into the 30s, maybe 40 again towards the end of the run on the 18th and 19th, but that is too far to say we will actually experience that by the time those dates get here. Overall the long range charts show variable weather with snowstorms and cold and warm ups in between. Which is normal for Eastern Iowa.

Arctic Airmass now in place for the next several days. Several clipper systems will bring minor accumulatings snows to the area over the week.

Regional Weather View

An Arctic Airmass will remain in place over the Upper Midwest for the rest of this week. The entire region will feel the cold airmass with the exception of Kansas and parts of Missouri which will get breaks from the cold with highs in the 40s. The most extreme cold will be across the north. North Dakota, Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin will see several days in a row with highs now getting out of the mid single digits below zero with night time lows around -20.F. Now with a northwest flow over the region, several clipper systems will ride down the back side of the jet stream and will bring several changes for accumulating snows across South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Saturday the entire region will get a brief break from the cold as warmer  air is pushed into the region. It will be brief as Sunday already more cold air will be pushed back in the north then making its way south next week.

Local Weather View

Locally we can expect a cold, very active week ahead of us in terms of weather. An arctic airmass will remain parked over our area for the rest of the week, however it will moderate, and then fluctuate back to colder as the week goes by as clipper systems pass. Highs will generally range from the low single digits to the mid 10s over the next several days and lows will range from as cold as the middle single digits below zero to the lower single digits above zero. Saturday we'll get a break when highs will rise to the upper 20s to near 30. With a northwest flow in place and the back side of the jet stream overhead, this will set the stage for several clipper systems to move through our area, many of the next several days, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will feature snows, ranging from light to moderate intensity. Accumulations will range from a trace in one of the systems to a few inches, Several models agree that Wednesday has the best chance over higher accumulations. My map above is a little on the vague side for accumulations, but these will be the general accumulations from all the systems combined. I am being quite a bit on the low side compare to what some models are showing, but there seems to be significant uncertainty in any one system accept for Wednesdays.

Monday, Not as windy, Mostly Cloudy with Light snow developing, minor accumulations. Highs in the upper single digits. Monday night, Snow and flurries, otherwise cloudy skies. lows near zero.

Tuesday, Snow, some could be moderate at times. Highs in the upper single digits to lower 10s. Total accumulations 2-4" Tuesday night, Snow or flurries. Otherwise cloudy with lows in the lower single digits.

New Years Day! Cloudy with a chance of light snow. Highs in the low to mid 10s. Wednesday Night, Flurries and light snow with lows in the single digits above zero. Accumulations 2-4" over the corse of all systems. 

Thursday, Partly Sunny skies and cold with highs in the lower 10s and upper single digits. Thursday night, Clear and cold with lows in the lower to middle 10s below zero.

Friday, Sunny and chilly, Light winds with highs in the lower to mid 10s. Friday Night, Increasing clouds with lows in the lower to middle 10s.

Saturday, Much warmer, Cloudy skies with highs in the upper 20s to lower 30s. Saturday night, Cloudy, fog possible with lows in the mid 10s

Sunday, Cloudy with a chance of snow in the afternoon. Turning bluster and much colder late in the day. Highs in the mid 20s. Sunday Night, Blustery, Clear skies with lows in the 10s below zero.


Looking Ahead

The extended forecast  does not really look all that great. It shows the arctic front passing through on Sunday this week setting us up for a very cold start to the month. We could be looked at a few days of extreme cold here ourselves in Eastern Iowa, especially Tuesday the 7th. It shows the region bring pretty much dry accept for a chance of a clipper system here or there. Looking towards the 9th of January the models do try and attempt bulid a warm airmass to the west and moving into our area, which will bring warmer temperatures t seasonal normals for a span of possibly several days. Saturday the 11th the models try to develop a storm system over the region, which at this point brings some snow to Eastern Iowa as well as areas of Minnesota and Wisconsin, but the models have troubles determining if this will be significant or not. Like a classic storm very cold air follows behind this storm, with a warmer air, Seasonal temps, coming back into place by Tuesday the 14th. More on this later. 

 

December 28th warm temperatures

The past couple of days have brought warm temperatures to Iowa as the jet stream has lifted northward allowing for warm temperatures to flow into our area on strong southerly winds from the south, giving us the break from come temperatures last week. Both the past 2 days brought highs in the 40s, however today was the warmest of the 2 days as the biggest push of southwest air flowed into our area from Missouri and Kansas. Highs were in the middle to upper 40s area wide and it is the warmest it has been in weeks. Western Iowa saw highs that neared or hit 60.F including 51.F at Des Moines 55.F at Council Bluffs and 61.F at Sioux City. I was in Northwest Wisconsin for the past week for the Christmas holiday, where it was very snowy with highs only as warm as about 36.F, when I returned I did notice a large drop in the snowcover, with even grass showing again. Below is a list of high temperatures seen today.

 Williamsburg 49.F
Downtown Cedar Rapids 48.F
Kalona 47.F
 Marion 45.F
Iowa City 45.F
Hiawatha 45.F
Manchester 44.F
Waterloo 43.F
Vinton 43.F
Mechanicsville 42.F
Eastern Iowa Airport 42.F
Independence 41.F
Monticello 41.F 

December 21st-22nd Winter Storm totals. Heavy snow seen

Snowy scene December 22nd 2013

The area is shoveling out from low end winter storm which hit the region starting late last night in the form of sleet then changing for snow, which fell heavy at times. For the most part the snow started after most people fell alseep and was done by the time most people woke up. The storm blanketed the region with 4-7" of fresh snow, with the most being reported in the south. The lest amounts came from areas of the north and west towards Waterloo and Blackhawk County. However this storm produced a bit less then was forecast because severe thunderstorms that were on the Southeast side of the storm did rob some of the moisture available for the snowstorm, thus keeping totals down some. There was also sleet which occurred over our area which also kept totals down. Winds were not as much of an issues as forecasted either with gusts being reported generally around 20MPH or less and As a whole, the snowstorm side did turn out a little on the lower end then was forecasted. By the mid morning hours, most of the snow was done and travel resumed. Below is a list of reported snowfall totals across the area. Now for tonight and Monday cold air will funnel into the our area from the Northwest and highs will only be in the single digits tomorrow with wind chills around the -20.F zero mark. Expect that it will warm on the days leading to Christmas with maybe some light snow Christmas eve, then another cool down after Christmas.

 Willamsburg 8.0"
Mount Vernon 6.75"
Brighton 6.70"
2 miles WSW Iowa City 6.70"
Solon 6.50"
Atkins 6.10"
North Liberty 6.10"
Monticello 6.0"
Bertram 6.0"
Independence 6.0" 
Washington 6.0"
Anamosa 5.80"
Springville 5.70"
Swisher 5.70"
Vinton 5.50"
Marengo 5.50"
Cedar Rapids 5.50"
5 miles NW Iowa City 5.50"
Hiawatha 5.25"
Iowa City 5.0"
Jesup 5.0"
Cedar Hills 4.80"
Central City 4.50"
Waterloo 3.90"

Sigificant snowstorm arrives to Eastern Iowa late Saturday night through Sunday. 5-8" likely with white out condtions and blowing snow causing travel impacts. Arctic air arrives behind this feature with highs in the single digits.

Regional Weather view

Top story of the regional weather is a storm system that is about to move through the Upper Midwest. This will cause widespread wintery travel impacts including heavy snows in Missouri Southeastern 2/3rds of Iowa, Northwest Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.Cities such as Kansas City, KS Cedar Rapids,IA and Madison,WI will be effected. Sleet, snow and ice will impact Southeast Missouri and the rest of Illinois  including Ouincy,IL Peoria,IL and Chicago,IL. A separate storm system will spread light minor snow accumulations into South Dakota, Minnesota and Northern Wisconsin. This will be ahead of arctic front moving down behind the southern Winter Storm. This airmass will bring highs into the single digits with lows well below zero across much of the region. Expect moderating temperatures for Christmas eve/Christmas day with mostly dry weather from the Iowa Boarder South and minor snows across that line north.

Local Weather View

Impacts and accumulations: For Eastern Iowa we can expect that the full brunt of this storm will be hitting our area. A low pressure system will pass through Far Eastern Illinois, this will spread a very intense band of snow through Eastern Iowa. The snow will heavy to very heavy at times possibly reaching 2" per hour totals. Whiteout conditions will be possible at times and these conditions will move in quickly and once they start it will likely last for several hours. Widespread significant snowfall totals will be likely, but the highest amounts will set up roughly southeast of a line from La Porte City to Independence line, effecting the entire 380 corridor area.  Expect the highest totals of 6-9" seen across the Southeast including Iowa City and Mount Vernon. slightly less, but still significant amounts of 5-8" will be seen for Williamsburg and the Cedar Rapids Metro area up to Manchester. There will be very sharp cut off in snowfall totals as one heads Northwest. 2-4" are expected across the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area. Travel impacts will be likely with the worst conditions being Sunday morning, with heavy snow lessening by the afternoon. After the initial heavy snow Northwest winds will Gusty winds to 35MPH will cause blowing and drifting snow the rest of the day, but due to the wetter nature of the snow it will not be significant as it could be.Expect the worst drifting to be in open rural areas/fields To make matters worse, Monday the cold air behind this storm will settle into Eastern Iowa and highs will only be in the single digits with lows around -10.F in all areas.

Tuesday through Christmas Day and next weekend:

Tuesday through Christmas we can expect much better conditions. There will be no weather delays in Eastern Iowa and we can expect dry weather with skies ranging from partly sunny to mostly sunny. Temperatures will moderate to the upper 20s on Christmas Day, but this warm up will be brief as a secondary shot of reinforcing show of arctic air will arrive for Thursday after Christmas. Some light snow or flurries action could be seen with this front but amounts will be very light and not cause issues. Highs and Lows Thursday and Friday will be back into the 10s for highs and the middle single digits below zero for lows. Saturday there could be some light snows again but amounts look again light and Sunday will be warmer, near 30 with partly sunny skies.

Saturday, Cloudy skies with snow developing late. Highs in the upper 20s. Saturday night, Snow, snow will be heavy at times. Turning increasingly windy with blowing snow possible. Winds gusting to 30MPH Lows in the low 20s. 

Sunday, Snow, Snow will be heavy at times in the morning before tapering in the afternoon. White out conditions in the morning Windy with blowing and drifting snow. Winds gusting to 35MPH at times. Storm total accumulations 5-9" across the South and Central and 2-4" across the north. Highs in the lower 20s Sunday night, Lingering light snow with slacking winds. Lows on either side of zero.

Monday, Cold! Sunny skies, Blustery northwest winds with low wind chills. Lows in the middle single digits. Monday night, Cold! Clear skies with lows in the upper single digits below zero to the lower teens below zero.

Tuesday, Sunny skies, not as windy and not as cold. Highs in the mid 10s. Tuesday Night, increasing clouds with lows in the lower 10s.

Christmas Day Much warmer, Partly Sunny skies with highs in the middle to upper 20s. Wednesday night, Cloudy skies with a chance of light flurries or snow. minor light accumulations. lows in the single digits.

Thursday, Partly Sunny with a chance of flurries, otherwise just cloudy skies. Highs in the middle 10s. Thursday night. Cloudy with lows in the middle single digits below zero.

Friday, Partly Cloudy skies, light winds with highs in the upper 10s. Friday night, lows in the single digits.

Weekend: Looks dry with cooler temperatures in the 20s on Saturday and highs right around 32 on Sunday. lows will be in the 10s.

Looking Ahead

The end of December into the 1st part of January look cold with clear skies with maybe a few clipper systems moving through Eastern Iowa with the majority of them to the north. Then towards the very end of the model run we see a storm system trying to take shape around Monday the 6th. This system looks to effect a very large portion of the midwest, but this is still a long ways out. The jet stream does try to take on a warmer look for us possible sometime after the 6th, but we will know more once the model gets past that date.