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Farmers in waiting mode until weather lets them start planting

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Joel DeJong

Many Iowa farmers are anxious to start their spring field work, but Mother Nature has other ideas, with recent snowfalls and continued cold weather.

Iowa State University Extension crops specialist Joel DeJong says due to the frigid soil temperatures, farmers are limited on what they can do. “I’ve heard of a little manure being hauled, but past that, very little other activity out in the fields,” DeJong says. “I’m not sure it’s really been fit for the activities to go on. We know it’s going to take a little while for that soil to warm up. It’s going to take a few days of average to above-average temperatures to get us there.”

DeJong says soil temperatures need to be at least 50 degrees — and climbing — for suitable growing conditions for corn and soybeans, and we’re nowhere near that. “Soil temperatures are still in the low 30s, just over 32 degrees, and actually looking at temperatures all the way at our sites that measure to 50 inches, it’s only about 35 to 36 degrees at 50 inches,” DeJong says. “That’s a big chunk of slab of soil that we’re going to have to warm up before it’s really fit for the crop growth.”

If we would start having outside air temperatures in the 60s for a period of about a week, we may begin to see the soil temperatures rise enough to germinate corn seeds. However, DeJong says farmers may be lacking in patience. “We’re probably not going to see people wait that long, because more than likely, if we had that scenerio, we’re going to be drier, so, we’re going to see a lot of those other activities start,” he says. “There’s a few producers that probably will, if it’s early next week, that’s typically the week that most people really want to get going and going hard. So, if the soil conditions are fit, they’re going to go out there and plant and they’re are just going to trust that it’s going to warm up.”

He notes, the good news farmers can take away about this year’s field conditions is that we do have either adequate — or surplus — levels of moisture.

(By Dennis Morrice, KLEM, Le Mars)

 

Northern Iowa once again looking at more snow in forecast

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Northern Iowa is in the path of yet another winter storm. National Weather Service Meteorologist Mike Fowle says the area is still digging out from a weekend blizzard that dumped up to a foot of snow near the Minnesota border.

“It looks like we had five to eight inches around the Fort Dodge area and anywhere from four to nine inches across the Mason City area,” Fowle said. The next system is expected to bring more heavy snow to the area, along and north of Highway 20, late Tuesday night through Wednesday.

“Right now, the forecast in the Fort Dodge area is anywhere from two to five inches,” Fowle said. “Up around Algona, Estherville, and Mason City – we’re talking five to eight inches, perhaps some locally higher amounts in that area.” To make matters even worse, there could be a period of freezing rain.

“At this point, the ice amounts don’t look to be real heavy, but maybe up to a tenth-inch of freezing rain or sleet in that area,” Fowle said. Areas south of Highway 20 can expect mostly rain late Tuesday and Wednesday. High temperatures statewide today will be roughly 20 degrees below normal for mid-April. Fowle expects conditions will improve later this week, with temps climbing into the 40s and 50s.

“Normal temperatures around this time of year are in the low 60s generally, so we’re still going to be a bit below normal,” Fowle said. “For those of us dreaming of spring, we’ll at least see periods of sunshine and temperatures moderating, at least somewhat.”

The weekend storm included some record-breaking temperatures. Des Moines, Waterloo, Ottumwa, and Mason City broke records on Sunday for coldest-high temperatures for the date.

 

Northwest Iowa under a blizzard warning

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Iowans have enjoyed weather conditions the past couple days that are more typical for mid-April, but a return to winter is right around the corner.

Highs will be climbing into the 70s in some areas this afternoon, before rain and snow move in tonight. National Weather Service Meteorologist Todd Heitkamp says the heaviest snow, 4 to 8 inches, is expected over far northwest and north-central Iowa. A blizzard warning is posted for an area that includes Le Mars, Spencer, and Algona.

“No matter how much snow falls across the area this weekend, the other thing we have to keep in minds is the winds,” Heitkamp says. “The winds are going to be gusting at 40 to 50 miles an hour and that’s going to cause all kinds of reduced visibilities, whiteout conditions, and blizzard conditions in many areas.” Thunderstorms are possible across Iowa late this afternoon and evening. Some could be severe with large hail, damaging winds, and possibly tornadoes.

The rain will transition to snow in many locations. Atlantic, Des Moines, Marshalltown, and Waterloo can expect one or two inches of snow. Heavier snowfall totals are forecast to the north with two to three inches in Carroll and Ames, three to four inches in Fort Dodge and Decorah, and four to six inches in Storm Lake and Mason City.

Heitkamp say this likely won’t be the last winter storm of the season. “We have another storm coming in at us again late next week,” Heitkamp says. “This is just a pattern that is not changing right now. You know, a lot of people are wanting the moisture, but it would be nice to have it in the form of rain instead of snow. Right now, Mother Nature is not cooperating…obviously with this storm this weekend and then the next storm that’s probably coming in probably next weekend.” It’ll begin turning colder this evening. By Sunday, high temperatures will likely remain in the 30s across the entire state.

(Dennis Morrice, KLEM, Le Mars, contributed to this story.)

 

Winter conditions blamed for fatal accident near Norwalk

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An ice-covered bridge is blamed for a crash that killed a Des Moines teenager.

The crash happened around 8 p.m. Sunday on Highway 5 near Norwalk.

Eighteen-year-old Malik Rucker was a passenger in the car that entered a ditch and rolled several times.

His father, 46-year-old Famous Rucker, was driving and lost control of the car while crossing an icy bridge, according to an Iowa State Patrol crash report.

Malik’s mother, 41-year-old Aisha Rucker, was injured in the crash.

Malik Rucker was a senior at Des Moines Lincoln High School.

 

The cold to warm to cold weather pattern expected to continue again this week

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A DOT snowplow camera view of Highway 20 near Fort Dodge.

It may be a rollercoaster week ahead where Iowans use both the heaters and air conditioners in their homes and cars.

Meteorologist Kurt Kotenberg, at the National Weather Service office in metro Des Moines, says flurries are still flying this morning after Sunday’s snowstorm that dropped between 6 and 8 inches of snow in northern Iowa.

“We even had a report from Clear Lake, just south of Mason City, that came in with nine inches of snowfall,” Kotenberg says. “It’s pretty widespread, 6 to 7 to 8 inches up in our north, all the way from Estherville to just north of the Waterloo area.”

While we’re 20 days into spring, it hasn’t felt like it in Iowa, with multiple snowfalls and temperatures some 30-degrees below normal. Kotenberg says spring-like weather will be arriving very soon, but it likely won’t last long.

“We’re going to go from 6 to 7 to 8 inches of snowfall in northern Iowa on Sunday to 70s possible by Wednesday, 70s looking even more likely by Thursday and Friday,” Kotenberg says. “I wouldn’t be surprised if even 80s start creeping up in northern Missouri here.”

While many Iowans will welcome the warmth, the forecast calls for it to be gone by Saturday. “We’re dropping back down into the 30s and 40s and we cannot rule out another bit of snowfall for next weekend, especially for northern Iowa,” Kotenberg says. “There’s a lot of time between now and then, but we’re definitely going to be on a rollercoaster this week, in terms of weather.”

Thunderstorms and severe weather are possible on Friday, he says, as the arriving cold front collides with the warm air. Keep up with the changing forecast at weather.gov.

 

Put the garden shovel away and bring the snow shovel back out

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This National Weather Service map shows the winter weather outlook.

Spring officially arrived two weeks ago today, but many Iowans are dealing with yet another blast of winter.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Ken Podrazik says snow will be falling through this evening with the heaviest amounts over northern Iowa.

“Along the northern two tiers, from Algona to Mason City – north to the Minnesota border, could see anywhere from four to six inches,” Podrazik said. “Along the border there, they could see a six to eight inch snow band.”

Locations along Highway 20 can expect one to three inches of snow. Most of the southern half of the state will receive rain. Northwest winds will also increase, reaching speeds of 20 to 40 miles an hour this afternoon and evening. Some unusually cold conditions for the first week of April will arrive tomorrow morning.

“Lows are going to be dipping down into the single digits across northern Iowa and in the lower-to-mid teens in central and southern Iowa,” Podrazik said. Wind chill readings, in northern Iowa, could hit five to 10 degrees below zero. A slight warm up will arrive on Thursday, but another cold spell returns for the weekend.

“Normal highs for this time of year are in the upper 50s and normal lows are in the middle 30s,” Podrazik said. “We’re several degrees below that and unfortunately, we’re going to stay in the cold throughout much of the week and into the weekend.”

 

Insurer saw big increase in hail damage claims in Iowa last year

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Hail damaged car.

Iowa’s largest auto insurer says the Hawkeye State saw a dramatic increase in hail storms last year and made the top ten list of states with the most expensive losses.

State Farm reports paying out $96 million in hail damage claims in Iowa last year, compared to only about $10 million the previous year. State Farm agent Drew Edmond says if you’re on the road and hear on the radio hail is coming, take immediate action.

“Get to as safe of a place as you can, whether that means your own garage or just someplace that’s enclosed so you don’t have to withstand as much damage as you would driving or having your vehicle exposed to the elements,” Edmond says, “That’s the foremost thing to do when the storm is coming or when you’re in the midst of the storm.”

If you’re at home during a hail storm, he suggests quickly making a move to limit potential damage in every room with windows. “Definitely closing the drapes, closing the blinds and the shades,” Edmond says. “What this can do is reduce the blowing glass that’s broken by the hail. That’s something you can do while the storm is taking place.”

While hail can hit during any time of the year, the most popular season for hail is spring. If you have roof damage after a hail storm, document it with pictures, make temporary repairs to prevent more damage, save receipts and take pictures of your repairs. When hiring a roofer, Edmond says don’t rush into a contract, don’t let yourself be pressured into signing anything and don’t pay up front.

“Get multiple estimates from roofers and don’t just go with the first roofer you see,” Edmond says. “Definitely make sure that it’s someone local that you’re going to be able to get a hold of. A lot of times, if it’s not a local person, they might leave and you’ll never be able to get a hold of them again.” When remodeling, he says to consider impact-resistant roofing to reduce hail damage. The insurer says Iowa ranked ninth among the 50 states for most hail damage in 2017. Texas, Illinois and Minnesota were the top three, with number-one Texas reporting 610-million dollars worth of losses, more than six times Iowa’s figure.

 

Winter ban on shutting off utilities for unpaid bills ends April 1st

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Tens of thousands of Iowans are at risk of having their utility services disconnected next week when a winter heating moratorium comes to an end.

Christine Taylor, with the Iowa Department of Human Rights, oversees the state’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP.

“We’ve had approximately 73,000 people approved for the program, so once the moratorium is over, all of those people are at risk,” Taylor said. Under Iowa law, utility customers approved for LIHEAP cannot have their natural gas or electric service cut off due to unpaid bills between November 1 and April 1. Taylor is encouraging those customers to contact their local community action agency if they’re unable to catch up on their utility debt.

“They may be eligible for crisis assistance, which might help them stay connected,” Taylor said. LIHEAP is a federally funded program. Iowa households that qualified this winter received an average payment of $450 to help them pay for utilities. According to Taylor, Iowans who qualify for LIHEAP could also avoid losing gas and electric service with a note from their doctor.

“If they have a medical condition that would cause a serious issue, they can certainly contact their utility company and possibly get a note from their doctor that explains how detrimental it would be to turn off their utility service,” Taylor said.

All utility customers in Iowa, including those who don’t qualify for energy assistance, can often maintain their service by entering into a payment agreement with their provider to pay accumulated debt over time.

 

 

Statewide tornado drill planned Wednesday for Severe Weather Awareness Week

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This is Severe Weather Awareness Week as Iowans are reminded how to prepare for and respond to storms, tornadoes, flooding and more.

Meteorologist Ken Podrazek with the National Weather Service in metro Des Moines, says severe storms typically hit during two times of day, but they can strike at any time. “There’s two different peaks, sometime in the late afternoon between 4 and 6 P-M, and then a secondary peak during the overnight hours around midnight,” Podrazek says. “That’s when we get into the low level jet and get the overnight thunderstorms that race across the state.”

Severe storms are more frequent during the spring and early summer months, but they can strike during any time of the year. There were 55 tornadoes in Iowa last year, seven more than the average of 48. Podrazek says tornado warnings should be taken very seriously.

“Any time there’s a tornado warning issued, you definitely need to take cover,” he says. “Even if you think it might go north or south of you, it’s good practice to always get to safety.” A statewide tornado drill is scheduled for Wednesday morning. A test tornado watch will be issued at 10 a.m., followed by a test tornado warning. Podrazek says it’s an opportunity to develop plans on where you’d go in the event a real tornado warning is issued.

“This is a great time for local businesses and schools to practice their severe weather preparedness plan and to actually get to safety,” he says. Another major concern in Iowa is flooding, which is one of the leading weather-related killers.

“It’s resulted in 84 deaths per year throughout the United States,” he says. “That’s higher than tornadoes, higher than lightning, higher than winter storms. The only one that’s ahead of it is heat-related fatalities. As far as thunderstorm-related, flooding and flashing flooding, that’s the biggest one that kills people.” More than half those flooding deaths happen in motor vehicles when people try to drive across a water-covered roadway.

“We always say ‘Turn Around, Don’t Drown’ and we absolutely mean it,” Podrazek says. “A lot of times you see water over the road, you don’t know how deep that is, how fast it’s going, if the road is intact. It doesn’t take a whole lot of water to sweep an adult off their feet and it doesn’t take a whole lot of water to move a vehicle either.” Podrazek says flooded roads are worse at night when your vision is more limited. He notes, just six inches of fast-moving water can knock over and carry off an adult, while 12 inches of water can float a smaller car, and if the water is moving, it can carry the car away. Some 18 to 24 inches of flowing water can carry away most vehicles, including large SUVs.

Learn more about Severe Weather Awareness Week at weather.gov.

(Thanks to Bob Fisher, KRIB, Mason City)

 

Another snowstorm predicted for this first weekend of spring

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There may be a few songbirds chirping, but the sounds of spring will soon be overtaken with the scrape of metal shovels on concrete and the drone of snow-blowers. Before long, this first weekend of spring will look much more like mid-winter.

Meteorologist Jeff Johnson, at the National Weather Service, says heavy snow is in the forecast for wide sections of Iowa. Johnson says, “We have Winter Storm Warnings out for much of north-central Iowa from the Mason City area as far west as Estherville, down through Waterloo and then to the southeast to Cedar Rapids and then to the Quad Cities.”

That warning runs from tonight  into midday Saturday. Much of Iowa will see at least some snow, but some areas will see eight to ten inches, likely between Mason City and Waterloo, with 6 to 8 inches forecast for Cedar Rapids, Dubuque and Davenport.

“Keep in mind, this isn’t going to be your typical light January snow,” Johnson says. “This is the heavy, wet variety and it’s going to accumulate all over the place, it’s going to stick to the roads tonight. It will overwhelm any warm layer we have there near the surface and just accumulate quickly.” Depending on the timing of the storm’s arrival, some areas of the state could be nearly a foot-deep in snow quite rapidly and power outages are a possibility.

“It’s going to impact travel. If it gets heavy and wet enough and it sticks on things and we get some wind afterwards, we could even see some infrastructure issues, broken trees and power lines perhaps,” Johnson says. “At minimum, it’s going to be a significant hazard to travel.” The first day of spring was this past Tuesday, but it hasn’t felt very springlike this week. Johnson predicts that won’t be changing anytime soon.

“We’re in this pattern of occasional storm systems coming through and we’re primarily on the cool side of these systems, meaning, we could get some brief warming but cooler-than-normal for this time of year and continued wet pattern for the next week or two,” Johnson says. “Nothing real springlike.” This may not be the last snowstorm of the season, either. He says snow isn’t unusual in Iowa well into April.

Keep close tabs on the changing forecast at weather.gov.