The mayor of an Iowa town featured in a documentary airing on the National Geographic channel says the production is a little one-sided. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a potential 2020 presidential candidate, financed the film and was in Iowa last week to tout it. Val Swinton is … [Read more...]
Wet fall washes away drought in all parts of Iowa
The soggy weather in recent months frustrated many farmers who were delayed in harvesting crops, but Iowa's wettest fall since 1941 has pulled the entire state out of drought conditions for the first time since May of last year. Tim Hall, coordinator of hydrology resources for the Iowa DNR, says … [Read more...]
Snowy, icy weather poses a fall risk on sidewalks and steps
The official start of winter is still a couple of weeks off but Iowans are already slipping and sliding on ice and snow-covered sidewalks, steps and roadways. Julie Richter, with the Wright County Department of Public Health, suggests Iowans stock-up on ice melting products and -- chicken … [Read more...]
November drier than normal despite late snowstorm
The dry fall weather farmers were looking for finally came in November -- much later than they'd hoped. State Climatologist Justin Glisan tracked the numbers for November. "Our statewide precipitation averaged around one-point-six-two inches -- which is about four-point-three inches below … [Read more...]
Forecast has rain, freezing rain and snow in the weekend outlook
For the second consecutive weekend, Iowa's bracing for a snowstorm. While southern and eastern Iowa got socked over the Thanksgiving holiday with up to 17-inches of snow, this time northwest Iowa is expecting the worst of it. Meteorologist Alex Krull, at the National Weather Service, says the … [Read more...]
DOT director says upgrades helping reduce snow plow accidents
Iowa Department of Transportation director Mark Lowe says DOT snow plows are involved in fewer accidents due to equipment and technology upgrades. Each of the 902 state-owned snowplows are now equipped with flashing blue lights as well as GPS Automatic Vehicle Locating systems and dash … [Read more...]
Sunday snow leaves many communities starting the week digging out
Iowa kids from Chariton to Washington to Davenport are getting an extra day of Thanksgiving vacation as many schools across the southeastern third of the state canceled classes due to heavy snow. Sunday's blizzard dumped 6-12 inches of snow on much of the region, but meteorologist Brooke Hagenhoff, … [Read more...]
Weekend travel could get difficult with winter weather
Tens of thousands of Iowans will be traveling for Thanksgiving and they could face a challenge getting home a few days after the holiday. The immediate forecast calls for warmer temperatures for much of Iowa with highs in the 40s and even low 50s in some areas. The National Weather Service say … [Read more...]
Cold weather on the way with snow forecast in northern Iowa
There's still more than a month of fall left, but it's going to start looking and feeling a lot more like winter later today as a cold front glides over Iowa. Meteorologist Craig Cogil, at the National Weather Service bureau in Johnston, says the rain will change to snow late this afternoon and … [Read more...]
Kids get coats donated just in time for cold weather
Just in time for possible record low temperatures this weekend, hundreds of central Iowa school children received free winter coats this morning. UnitedHealthcare donated the coats to Des Moines' Samuelson Elementary School. Pashion Muhammad, the school's community coordinator, was thrilled when … [Read more...]