Author: Meteorologist Maurer

(IowaStormCenter.com) — The active pattern will continue the back half of December with mild temperatures. A ridge will build above average temperatures into the plains December 23rd extending through the 31st with below average shunted toward the east coast states. The pattern will continue active with two warm/cold storm systems anticipated December 26th through the 31st favoring rain/thunderstorms with a transition to snow toward the end of the period. Additionally, the potential will be there for severe weather if enough gulf moisture can work northward with the onset of these systems. Then below average temperatures will return after the New…

(IowaStormCenter.com) — Alberta clipper system with pulse of snow accumulation and gusty winds for Thursday. A clipper system will hit Thursday with a pulse of snow increasing over northern Iowa 4-7 AM. The main axis of snow will work into east central Iowa mid/late morning before tapering off from northwest to southeast overnight into Friday morning. A widespread trace-2″ of snow will extend over the north and east portion of the forecast area with higher amounts across northeast Iowa. Additionally, strong northwest winds will increase Thursday afternoon with gusts over 35+ MPH across the central to southwest half of Iowa,…

(IowaStormCenter.com) — The Long Range weather warning was issued on Wednesday and now the final forecast today for the heightened freezing rain risk later this evening through Saturday. A strong pacific system will move into the plains from the Intermountain west today with a warm frontal zone draped over the center of Iowa which will be the focus for ice accumulation with the system. Main points summarized below. 1. Freezing rain/sleet mix will develop over west central/SW Iowa 3-6 PM today extending into northwest Iowa 6-9 PM with the onset of sleet/snow. 2. All activity works eastward into central Iowa…

(IowaStormCenter.com) — Strong pacific system to bring rain, freezing rain and accumulation snow Friday evening through Saturday. A pacific storm system will eject into the plains on Friday with precipitation developing over Iowa by the evening. This activity will continue to work east/northeast into your Saturday before moving off to the east by Saturday night. The Long Range Weather Watch that we issued on Monday is now a warning for the freezing rain threat over central Iowa. Additionally, a swath of accumulating snow will extend over north/northwest Iowa. Right now, the snow and freezing rain risk will be near or…

(IowaStormCenter.com) — Another round of arctic air and scattered snow showers will sweep through the area Wednesday through Thursday. The main impulse of snow showers will start over northwest Iowa after 3 PM today and continue southeast into central and eastern Iowa overnight into Wednesday morning. This will have localized bursts of snow with scattered snow amounts of a trace-2″ over the entire forecast area. Then very cold temperatures set in tonight through Wednesday night with wind chill values maximizing early Thursday morning. – Meteorologist Maurer –

Long Range Weather Watch Issued for December 13, 2024 – Subject: Ice Storm – Highest Populated area is Des Moines and Cedar Rapids Confidence: 70% and rising fast Discussion: A storm system moving into the Intermountain West that will cause the major Santa Ana Winds in Southern California later today and into Tuesday will bring freezing temperatures to us over the week. This will work with the same upper system that will curve up out of the plains for this event to happen. As the storm curves from northwest to southeast across New Mexico to southwest to northeast to our…

(IowaStormCenter.com) — Arctic air will briefly make a return next week along with a round of snow showers and gusty winds. A frontal system is forecast to move across the plains Sunday/Dec. 8 through Tuesday/Dec. 10. Additionally, strong west/northwest winds will surge into the northern plains on Monday/Dec. 9 with gusts over 35+ MPH favored in the orange shaded zone. Behind this front, another round of arctic air will settle in across the north/central plains Wednesday/Dec. 11 through Thursday/Dec. 12. Solutions are also in good agreement on a flurry/snow shower risk over the area, however given the scattered nature of…

(IowaStormCenter.com) — The December forecast is in at Iowa Storm Center with temperatures trending colder. A ridge of high pressure in the west will bring cold storm systems over top the ridge into the north/central plains supporting a clipper pattern for the first half of December. This will yield average to below average temperatures and precipitation. Then a pattern shift is increasingly likely the back half of the month. This will open the door for pacific systems to track west to east and thus an uptick in winter storm potential over the north/central plains and upper Midwest around the 20-30th…

(IowaStormCenter.com) — Here is your Thanksgiving travel outlook for the sate of Iowa with a couple of rain/flurry chances. The main storm system will move south and east of Iowa tomorrow, but we will watch for isolated pockets of drizzle along and south interstate 80 Wednesday morning. This is followed by a couple of rain showers over far southeast Iowa in the afternoon with flurries across northern Iowa. Once Thanksgiving Day hits, scattered flurries will linger over far north/northeast Iowa before tapering off later in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy with highs in the 20s to lower 30s. Then…

(IowaStormCenter.com) — Snow showers and strong winds expected Wednesday through Thursday with the backside of our current storm system. Snow showers will work into northern Iowa 6-10am Wednesday morning and continue to move southeast through Wednesday night into early Thursday. While snow showers are hitting on Wednesday, strong northwest winds will gust 30-50 MPH with the highest over western Iowa. These showers will be pesky over the northeast half of the state with a risk for localized squalls Wednesday afternoon which will lead to reduced visibility at times and minor snow accumulation. A quick trace-2″ of snow is in the…