We are in the midst of quite a mild period for this time of year with temperature anomalies 5-10 degrees above normal. These mild temperatures will continue through Tuesday before a cold front midweek send temperatures down a little but, back to normal levels. With this drop comes a light chance for rain as well but the overall risk is quite low. The European Ensemble has about a tenth of an inch late Wednesday into early Thursday, but notice many members have little if any a

We haven't had to deal with Jack Frost and his icy touch more than a handful of times this year. However, Friday night the situation was prime for frost. In fact, it was one of those situations where old Jack could end up tossing in a freeze for good measure. A freeze occurs when surface air temperatures drop to 32°F (0°C). North of I-80 that benchmark has been achieved. South of I-80, it's been a different story where lows have been no colder than 33-37. Even where readings

Here we are November 6th and so far, no killing freeze. Flowers are blooming, the grass is green, and like it or not El Nino is largely to blame. El Niño by the way, is a natural climate oscillation characterized by the warming of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific. It alters the path of the Pacific jet stream, often producing a split flow with minimal interaction from the northern branch here in the Midwest. That restricts cold air intrusi

That storm that rolled through the Midwest Tuesday has today found a new home in Canada. That's allowed a cold front to sweep through the region, kicking up brisk westerly winds that have gradually been driving temperatures down. Wednesday evening readings were only in the 40s in many spots with wind chills approaching the upper 30s. Actual temperatures were 12 to 16 degrees colder than 24 hours earlier, mind you a noticeable change! Despite the initial energy having passed w

For the most part, our weather pattern is unfolding about the way it was expected to at this point in our storms evolution. Low clouds and rain were prevalent ahead ot the trough Tuesday with the heavier rains falling just NW of the Quad Cities in my Iowa counties. Doppler radar estimates have some 2-3 inch totals in a narrow band from Iowa City to Cedar Rapids. Additionally a few 2 inch amounts are also shown from Tipton southwest to West Liberty and Ainsworth. Here are the