• ON THE ROAD: Hunting Tornadoes in Oklahoma

    ON THE ROAD: Hunting Tornadoes in Oklahoma

    After an active few days across the Upper Midwest, things in Iowa are not only quiet, but they’re going to get cold.  So not really any chance of severe weather in the region for a while.  So storm chaser Ben McMillan is heading to greener pastures so to speak.  An [...]

    continue reading »

     
     
  • WXALERT: T-Storm Watch Until Midnight

    WXALERT: T-Storm Watch Until Midnight

    As expected, the Storm Prediction Center has issued this watch for portions of Nebraska, western Iowa and southern Minnesota. Thunderstorms are expected to explode along a cold front draped over the area.   The primary threat from these storms will be very large hail and strong, damaging winds.  An isolated tornado [...]

    continue reading »

     
     
  • WXALERT: Watch Coming Soon as Storms Expected to Fire

    WXALERT: Watch Coming Soon as Storms Expected to Fire

    The Storm Prediction Center is preparing a watch for much of northwest Iowa, eastern Nebraska and portions of Minnesota.  The watch is expected to be issued within the hour.  Rapid thunderstorm development is expected late this afternoon with all modes of severe weather possible. At this time it is unclear [...]

    continue reading »

     
     
  • 3:00pm UPDATE: Forecast Still on Track

    3:00pm UPDATE: Forecast Still on Track

    The Storm Prediction Center has gone ahead an issued its 2000z update a little early and there’s good reason or that… they didn’t have to change much.  Things are still on track and the thinking has not changed from a few hours ago.  Explosive thunderstorm development is expected across portions [...]

    continue reading »

     
     
  • 12:00pm UPDATE: Here Comes the Cold Front

    12:00pm UPDATE: Here Comes the Cold Front

    Iowa is baking today.  Baking under the hottest temperatures of the year.  Those conditions are ahead of a cold front expected to be the focal point of explosive severe thunderstorm development today.  And once again this threat comes during the all important Memorial Day Holiday.  The greatest threat for an [...]

    continue reading »

     
     
  • 3:30pm UPDATE: Warm Front Trekking North

    3:30pm UPDATE: Warm Front Trekking North

    The map above tells the tale.  The warm front is surging north now, bring very warm and very humid conditions to the southern half of the state.  With northern Iowa still in the 60’s, temperatures in southern Iowa are quickly approaching 90 and rising.  Although a cap should prevent any [...]

    continue reading »

     
     
  • Central Iowa… We Have a Problem…

    Central Iowa… We Have a Problem…

    It’s not always the nastiest storms imaginable that can cause the biggest problems.  And unfortunately the Des Moines National Weather Service was reminded of that on Friday Night.  A thunderstorm was moving through the Johnston area, where the office is located (just northwest of Des Moines).  A lightning strike hit [...]

    continue reading »

     
     
  • All Eyes on A Warm Front

    All Eyes on A Warm Front

    I trust everyone can forgive me for my children’s doodle above.  That was my attempt to roughly illustrate the position of a warm front that’s remained relatively stationary this morning.  And that’s a problem. See it was expected by this afternoon, this front would be well on its way through [...]

    continue reading »

     
     
  • Stormy Night Could Bring Hail to Iowa

    Stormy Night Could Bring Hail to Iowa

    Are you ready for the next round?  and the next? and the next?  No my keyboard isn’t stuck, our newly active weather pattern couldn’t come at a worse time.  Many will be out and about this weekend, at the same time threats for severe weather arrive for Iowa.  Let’s begin [...]

    continue reading »

     
     
  • Four Years Later, The Scars Remain

    Four Years Later, The Scars Remain

    There is something to be said about finding positives in the face of udder catastrophe.  If ever there was an example of that, it would be Parkersburg, IA.  The tiny town in northern Iowa was known for one thing… football.  That is, until a cloudy Sunday Afternoon in 2008. On [...]

    continue reading »