Episode Summary: "What in the Weather" — April 2, 2026

• 00:27 – Iowa Weather History (1982): A dramatic cold front brought an 84–85°F high, then a 40°F temperature drop within an hour, followed by snow and blizzard conditions.

• 01:28 – This Week's Forecast: Two rounds of potential severe weather Thursday and Friday; rainfall 1–2½"+; followed by a weekend cool-down with frost and freeze potential.

• 03:09 – Discussion of how soil moisture affects overnight lows and frost levels across Iowa.

• 03:47 – Northwestern Iowa identified as driest region, likely to miss the heavier rains forecast for the east.

• 04:26 – Extended Outlook: Near-normal temps mid-April; wet pattern through at least the first half of the month; warmer, wetter signals toward late April.

• 06:33 – Recent Weather Recap: Monday night hail in central Iowa (Polk/Story Counties); vivid lightning; multiple rounds of rainfall from moving low-pressure systems.

• 08:15 – Dan describes seeing wavy cloud formations; Justin explains gravity waves caused by thunderstorms interacting with the tropopause.

• 10:26 – Temperature Extremes: Warmest—91°F in Clarinda; Coldest—10°F in Fayette.

• 11:04 – Specialty Crop Impacts: Early sweet corn planting underway; benefits of using plastic mulch for soil warmth.

• 13:19 – Fruit Crop Updates: Grapes at bud swell, plums blooming, pears at tight cluster—potential freeze risk; link to Michigan State's fruit freeze chart.

• 14:43 – Strawberry growers cautioned about freeze damage; row cover and sprinkler tips for small and large patches.

• 16:06 – Emerging Pest Alert: Lily leaf beetle —Have you seen it?

• 16:57 – Good Friday Potato Tradition: Historical planting custom versus agronomic timing; Dan's reflections on planting dates, frost tolerance, and pest cycles.

• 18:52 – Discussion of biodynamic planting calendars (Maria Thun and Stella Natura) and how lunar cycles are used by some to guide crop timing.

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Episode Summary

00:00:08 – 1907 Iowa weather history: record 92°F March heat, followed by volcanic eruption–driven spring cooling

00:01:31 – New March 2026 heat record: Little Sioux hits 97°F, breaking the all‑time Iowa March temperature record and surpassing previous 92°F marks from 1907 and 1986.

00:03:37 – This week's forecast: small rain chance Thursday, brief freeze Friday night, then temperatures rebounding into 70s–80s with a more active pattern and storm chances late next week.

00:04:48 – Mesoscale vs. synoptic systems: how models handle uncertainty, why forecasts "oscillate" several days out, and what that means for multiple‑day rain and severe weather threats.

00:07:03 – 7‑day QPF and early April outlooks: light northwest to heavier southeast Iowa rain gradients, plus warmer‑wetter Climate Prediction Center outlooks hinting at more thunderstorms.

00:08:56 – April patterns, wind, and frost risk: why April is Iowa's windiest month, how high‑amplitude ridges/troughs can still bring freezes amidst hot spells, and thoughts on planting timing vs. last frost dates.

00:12:57 – Recent extremes recap: details on the recent blizzard with 70 mph gusts, interstate closures, and the rapid flip to record March heat across Iowa and neighboring states.

00:14:29 – Severe Weather Awareness Week: overview of Storm Prediction Center convective outlook categories (marginal to high), the new "conditional intensity" layer, and how hatching now signals potential for violent tornadoes.

00:19:14 – Specialty crop planning: why growers may want to do spring tillage early ahead of a wetter, more active April while still being cautious about planting frost‑tender crops too soon.

00:20:16 – Recent crop impacts: damage to overwintered green onions in low tunnels, contrasting resilience of bulb onions and spinach, and low‑tunnel disease issues like sclerotinia in flowers after rapid warmups.

00:23:28 – Greenhouse tomato disease update: significant Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus losses in Red Deuce, and strong recommendations to switch to TSWV‑resistant tomato varieties despite good yield potential of Red Deuce.

00:24:26 – Mechanical weed control field days: University of Minnesota's free, on‑farm mechanical weeding workshops (starting May 27 at Featherstone Farm) featuring cultivating tractors, tools, hands‑on demos, and peer learning for vegetable growers.

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Episode Summary

• [00:00:19] Welcome and introductions — Dan Fillius and Justin Glisan kick off the episode.

• [00:00:40] On this day in Iowa weather history — a powerful 1954 storm brought dirty snow, sleet, freezing rain, and widespread damage to telephone and power lines across Iowa.

• [00:01:19] Week ahead forecast — a winter storm system is expected this weekend with significant precipitation, especially in northeast Iowa, along with high winds and red flag warnings through Friday. Warmer and drier conditions are expected later in the month.

• [00:04:02] Recent weather notables — much of Iowa has seen 170–400% of normal precipitation so far this month, with temperatures running about 14 degrees above average statewide.

• [00:05:16] Severe weather recap — two severe weather events struck the region, including a tornado watch in central Iowa and a historic hail event near Kankakee, Illinois, where football-shaped hailstones measuring 6–8 inches were reported, potentially a new state record.

• [00:10:26] Iowa's first tornadoes of the season — two tornadoes reported in Lee County in far southeastern Iowa caused minor damage.

• [00:10:47] Specialty crop updates — Dan shares observations on overwintering crops including garlic, onions, kale, Salanova, and flowers, with notes on what survived the winter and what didn't.

• [00:15:53] Nitrogen mineralization — an overview of Iowa State Extension's FACTS tool, showing how much nitrogen is mineralized across Iowa's climate divisions, when it peaks, and what it means for early-season crop fertility planning.

• [00:19:23] Closing — no episode next week due to spring break; the show returns the last week of March.

episode summary generated using Claude.ai

• Season 4 kicks off with Dan Fillius and Justin Glisan; Madelynn Wuestenberg is on maternity leave
• On this day in Iowa weather history: the record-breaking snowstorm of March 4–6, 1959, which stranded an estimated 20,000 vehicles in Des Moines
• Active weather week ahead: strong to severe thunderstorm potential, especially southern Iowa, with 1.5–2.5 inches of rain possible in the southeast over the next 7 days
• Climate outlook: leaning warm and wet through mid-March, with conditions trending back toward near-normal by the 8–14 day window
• 2026 humidity outlook: drought in the Southern Plains may mean lower dew points and overnight lows than the notably muggy summer of 2025
• Meteorological winter recap: warmer than average, significant snow drought, and the 22nd driest winter on record
• Deep dive into the MRCC's Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index (AWSSI), including historical highlights back to 1953
• Specialty crop update: Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus confirmed in a heated greenhouse; field testing and variety resistance (Big Beef Plus vs. Red Deuce) discussed
• Cotyledon salt damage in tomato transplants revisited; grower conducting potting media trial
• Resources mentioned: Randall Vos's article on grape vine dormancy and chilling hours; Cornell asparagus webinar (March 17, $20); open position for ISU vegetable production specialist

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Iowa Specialty Producers Conference | February 24, 2026 | Ankeny, Iowa

This episode is a live recording of the What in the Weather podcast session presented at the Iowa Specialty Producers Conference. State Climatologist Justin Glisan and host Dan Fillius cover current weather conditions, a full 2025 weather year in review, and crop and pest impacts for Iowa specialty producers.

Current Conditions & Outlook

• February 2025 has been one of the top five warmest on record; the state is now in a brief cool spell following a significant snowfall event near Waterloo (12–14 inches)
• Precipitation is at 72% of normal statewide, with northwestern Iowa below 50%; drought conditions are emerging and could worsen if dry weather continues
• The forecast for early March shows a warm and wet signal, which typically brings increased thunderstorm activity

2025 Weather Year in Review

• 2025 was the 25th warmest year on record (1.3°F above average); the past five years are the warmest five-year period on record
• June and July were exceptionally humid — dew points above 70°F were recorded on more than half of July's days, producing heat index values near 109°F
• The second wettest July on record was followed by a dry fall — Red Oak went 33 days without measurable precipitation
• Iowa recorded 36 tornadoes in 2025, below the average of 44, with no fatalities

2025 Weather Superlatives

• Coldest stretch: Feb. 10–22, with daytime highs as low as -20°F (NW Iowa) and a dew point of -29°F in Sioux County
• Warmest overnight low: 82°F in June (Quad Cities)
• Highest temperature: 101°F, Little Sioux (June 20)
• Coldest overnight low: -23°F, Fayette
• Biggest single rain event: 8.64 inches in Decorah
• Wettest location: Boone at 47.84 inches; driest: Randolph at 24.56 inches
• Longest growing season: southeastern Iowa; shortest: northwestern Iowa

Crop Impacts

• Low winter precipitation in 2024–25 led to garlic winter damage on multiple farms
• Wet June and July caused widespread disease, delayed plantings, and poor early fruit set in tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant
• Worst-performing crops: onions (waterlogged soils), watermelons, and summer broccoli (heat and disease)
• Best-performing crop: tomatoes — scarce supply drove strong prices, with tunnel growers fetching ~$4/lb late in the season; late-planted fall carrots were a standout surprise

Pest & Disease Highlights

• Top insect pests: aphids (especially damaging on fall and winter greens) and onion thrips
• Top diseases: pepper anthracnose, Alternaria on brassicas, and southern rust in corn
• Management tips discussed include pre-transplant aphid dips with M-Pede or Suffoil-X, interplanting sweet alyssum to attract beneficials, and a conventional onion thrips spray rotation using Movento and Radiant per the 2026 Midwest Veg Guide

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Topics Covered:

• 00:00:29 - Iowa Weather History (January 27-28, 1977): The devastating 1977 blizzard that struck northern and eastern Iowa with winds up to 55 mph, 6-foot snow drifts, and wind chills dropping to negative 60 to negative 90

• 00:01:32 - Weekly Weather Forecast: Warming trend ahead with temperatures climbing from teens/20s to the 30s by Monday/Tuesday; quiet storm track with most action on southern and eastern coasts of the country

• 00:02:32 - Extended Climate Outlook (6-14 Days & Beyond): February 2-10 looking warm and dry for upper Midwest; discussion of Arctic Oscillation Index and its role in predicting cold air outbreaks 2-3 weeks in advance

• 00:06:35 - February Weather Predictions: Analysis of weak La Niña patterns, snowpack comparisons (Siberia vs. Europe), and potential for more cold outbreaks and snowfall in second-half of February due to meridional flow

• 00:09:02 - December 2025 & Year in Review: December was 65th coldest on record; November-December was 6th snowiest combined period in 130 years; 2025 was 25th warmest year on record with 2020s being warmest decade for Iowa

• 00:12:24 - Climate Change & Polar Vortex Connection: How warming Arctic (3x faster than mid-latitudes) leads to more extreme cold air outbreaks; Des Moines is 5 degrees warmer in winter than 30 years ago; explanation of jet stream meanders and persistent weather patterns

• 00:15:30 - Arctic Sea Ice & Feedback Loops: Discussion of albedo/reflectivity, salinity changes in Arctic Ocean, and how melting sea ice creates positive feedback warming cycle

• 00:16:54 - Future Temperature Projections (2050-2071): Models show 20-30 days of 95°+ temperatures in summer with heat indices reaching 125-140°F; cold outbreaks will be less frequent but more extreme

• 00:19:45 - Specialty Crop Impacts:

• 00:20:43 - Research Spotlight - Sumisansui Irrigation: Ben Phillips' (Michigan State) study on Japanese micro-perforation irrigation hoses; effectiveness for germination and cooling; limitations with wind susceptibility and vegetation blocking

• 00:24:07 - Broccoli Production Master Class: Thomas Bjorkman's comprehensive presentation covering hollow stem issues, variety selection, spacing strategies, and the unique challenge of cooling meristematic tissue that generates heat even after harvest

• 00:27:40 - Organic Veg Production Conference: Highlights from online conference including Flint Wiswall's (Cate Farm) innovative bench-moving systems for transplant production

• 00:29:21 - Looking Ahead: Preview of next episode - the annual "best and worst" superlatives show recording from Iowa Specialty Producers Conference in late February

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Weather History & Current Conditions (December 18, 2025)

• Historic perspective: December 18, 1976 saw unseasonably warm temps reaching 64°F in Des Moines
• Recent pattern shift from active Alberta Clippers bringing light, fluffy snow to warmer, drier conditions
• Flash freeze warning for today as cold front passes through with potential snow squalls

White Christmas Outlook

• Historical probabilities: Rock Rapids (70%), Des Moines (39%), Fort Madison (30%)
• 2025 forecast: Unlikely for white Christmas anywhere in Iowa due to warming trend and dry forecast through month's end
• Reflects broader trend of warming winters and transition from snow to rain/mixed precipitation

Climate Forecast

• Next 7 days: Unseasonably warm (40s) and dry as polar vortex retreats north
• 6-14 day outlook: Strong signal for above-normal temps and dry conditions across western Iowa
• January-March: Equal chances on temperature, lean wet for eastern Iowa quarter
• Spring outlook: Potential transition to ENSO neutral conditions (70% probability), similar to pleasant spring 2025?

December Snow Recap

• Fourth snowiest November on record for some stations
• Keokuk Lock and Dam (records since 1894) and Toledo (records since 1884) saw snowiest November-December period
• Multiple Alberta Clippers dropped 2-3 inches each, totaling 5-7 inches statewide
• December 14th storm caused I-80 closures and treacherous driving conditions

Specialty Crop Updates

• Melcast System: Fungicide timing tool for melon growers will be available for Iowa locations (web-based platform from Indiana)
• Caterpillar Tunnels: Rolling Acres Produce Supply in Drakesville now manufacturing local tunnel kits with prefab end walls with doors
• Great Lakes Expo Recap: Major Midwest fruit/vegetable conference in Grand Rapids
• Annual Strawberry Production: New technique shared—rooting bare-root plants in plug trays for 6 weeks before July 15th planting optimizes yield and reduces runner management

Upcoming

• Last episode of 2025
• Live recording at Iowa Specialty Producers Conference, February 24th in Ankeny
• January episode will come, but unknown date right now.

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Weather Forecast & Outlook:

• Alberta Clipper brings nose dive in temperatures with wind chills in negative teens to negative 20s
• Quiet storm track ahead with possible flurries Saturday night
• December outlook: below normal temperatures for entire state, slightly below normal precipitation for southern/western Iowa

Recent Weather Highlights:

• Recent snowstorm (8.5" statewide average) makes November rank as 5th snowiest on record
• Fort Dodge recorded up to 16.5 inches of snow
• November and fall 2025 both ran about 3-4°F above average
• 7th warmest fall in 153 years of record

Specialty Crop Impacts:

• Managing overwintered greens in high tunnels during frigid temperatures - use supplemental heat, and internal covers
  • When growing greens for overwintering in warm fall weather, aggressively vent tunnel warmth to slow crop growth.
• Strawberry mulching timing and techniques - wait for dormancy (several nights around 20°F) before applying straw or row cover

This Day in Weather History:

• December 2-3, 1990: Major snowstorm dropped 6-15" across Iowa with blizzard conditions
• Winds gusted to 69 mph at Cresco
• University of Iowa bubble dome collapsed under heavy snow, causing $2 million in damage

Other Topics:

• Iowa corn and soybean yields hit record highs (215 bu/acre corn, 65 bu/acre soybeans)
• Discussion of July cloudiness and potential impacts on melon yields in southeast Iowa

Weather Forecast:

• Big winter cooldown coming this weekend with lows in the teens and highs in the upper 20s-low 30s
• Potential snowfall of 1-5 inches across northern Iowa Saturday into Sunday
• Temperatures warming back to the 50s early next week
• Leaning warmer and slightly wetter pattern continues in 8-14 day outlook (Nov 13-19)

Historical Weather:

• Looking back at the November 6, 1990 snowstorm that brought up to 8.5 inches of snow and a record low of -1°F

Recent Conditions:

• Six consecutive weeks of above-average temperatures ended with near-normal conditions at the end of October
• Western Iowa received a quarter of its monthly precipitation in just two days
• Fall foliage peaked with recent windy conditions

Specialty Crop Impacts:

• Urgent: Harvest root crops (carrots, beets, radishes) before weekend freeze
• Protect lettuce with low tunnels; spinach and garlic can withstand cold
• Venting strategies for high and low tunnels to prevent moisture buildup and acclimate crops to cold
• Plant garlic now if you haven't already
• Tips on heating high tunnels for winter production

Looking Ahead: The podcast moves to a monthly schedule for the winter with the next episode on Wednesday, December 3rd.

• Historical Weather: On October 23, 1908, southwestern Iowa received significant early snowfall—up to 11 inches in Clarinda
• Current Frost Event: 57 of 160-200 weather stations recorded temperatures at or below 32°F this week, though not considered meteorologically "widespread"
• Weather Forecast: Stable pattern for next few days, then rain chances Sunday night through Tuesday (0.5-1+ inches expected across most of the state)
• Temperature Outlook: Warmer than normal for late October/early November; synoptic-scale flow patterns emerging
• Climate Prediction Center: Slight warm signal and near-normal precipitation for Oct 30-Nov 5; Iowa is in climatologically driest time of year
• Frost Timing Discussion: Average first 32°F freeze occurs early October in northern Iowa, mid-October in central Iowa, and late October in southern Iowa—this year's frost came slightly later than average
• Crop Updates: Time to harvest sweet potatoes after frost damage; garlic planting research shows August 30 plantings can yield better than traditional Halloween planting
• Winter Outlook: La Niña conditions suggest increased variability with potential for polar vortex outbreaks, especially in second half of January and February; Minnesota may see patterns similar to 2013-2014 winter
• Snowfall Predictions: Team made guesses for first 1-inch snowfall at Des Moines airport (average date: Nov 26-Dec 3)

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