Weather History & Current Conditions

• Historical note: In 1950, Des Moines saw a 14° temperature spike in 5 minutes during a thunderstorm, reaching 87° due to prefrontal warming
• Current forecast: Cold front Friday with showers/thunderstorms, then cooler temps - returning to seasonal averages (mid-60s highs, upper-40s lows)

Frost Watch

• Only 5 Iowa stations have hit freezing so far (Elkader, Sioux Center at 31°, Stanley, Spencer and Mason City at 32°)
• No widespread frost or freeze expected through end of October
• Growers advised to protect tender crops like basil during low-40s temperatures

Precipitation & Long-Range Outlook

• Southwestern Iowa received 3 inches of rain (nearly a month's worth)
• Winter outlook shows classic La Niña pattern: leaning cold in northwest Iowa, wet in eastern Iowa for December-February
• Warmth persisting through end of October with near-normal precipitation

Specialty Crop Updates

• Root crop harvest underway
• Spinach showing Cladosporium (fungal disease) in high tunnels—venting recommended
• Resources shared: eGRO water testing guide, corn earworm management in cut flowers

Upcoming Events

• Albert Lea Seed cover crop show next Friday in Ames
• High tunnel short course November 12th at Iowa Arboretum featuring Becca Rudebusch

summary generted using claude.ai

This Day in Iowa Weather History:

• 1970 early season snowstorm brought 5.1 inches to Sioux City - their earliest 1+ inch accumulation on record

Current Weather Forecast:

• Slight warm-up through the weekend with above-average temperatures
• Isolated chance of showers/thunderstorms overnight and late Saturday into Sunday
• No widespread frost expected through at least October 24th

Climate Outlook:

• 8-14 day outlook: leaning warmer and slightly wetter
• October outlook: warmer with equal chances for precipitation
• La Niña Advisory issued - conditions present and expected to persist through December 2025-February 2026
  • La Niña typically means drier/warmer falls and potential for more winter cold air outbreaks

Recent Weather Notes:

• Past week saw summer-like temperatures 12-16°F above normal
• Statewide average of 72°F (14.7°F above normal)
• Cold front October 5th brought localized heavy rain (1.5-2.5 inches in diagonal band from southwest to northeast Iowa)

Specialty Crop Impacts:

• Fall warmth accelerating fall crop growth (lettuce, etc.)
• Extended season benefiting delayed summer plantings
• Discussion of rice growing in Minnesota and overwintering onion planting strategies
• Tips on managing fall-planted flowers to avoid early flowering

Upcoming Events:

• High Tunnel Short Course - November 12th at Iowa Arboretum, Madrid, IA (registration now open)
  • Topics: high tunnel peach production, transplant watering strategies, high tunnel soil health management
• Impact Squared Virtual Visioning Activity - November 6th, 6-7:30 PM
  • Help inform climate tool development for small-scale and specialty crop farmers
  • $100 Amazon gift card for participants

Bonus Weather Fact:

• First EF5 tornado in over 12 years confirmed in North Dakota (June 2025) - last one was Moore, Oklahoma in May 2013

podcast summary generated using Claude.ai

Weather History & Forecast:

• 1942: Early snowfall hit Iowa on this date, with up to 4 inches accumulating in some areas
• Coming week: Unseasonably warm and dry with sunny days, temperatures above normal
• Extended outlook: Strong warm signal through early October, particularly in upper Midwest

Recent Weather:

• Past week: 8-12 degrees above average statewide
• First above-average rainfall period in weeks (with the highest, 4.54", in Fort Dodge!)
• Eastern Iowa remained drier than western areas

Specialty Crop Updates:

• Peppers: Good yields continuing due to warm weather; some cyclamen/broad mite issues observed in Newton area
• Carmen peppers: Unusual spiciness reported - growers advised to check
• Melons: Reduced solar radiation from cloudy, wet summer conditions may have contributed to poor season (theory posited by Jordan Lyon, Buser's Produce)
• Tomatoes: Splitting issues due to uneven rainfall patterns

Frost Outlook:

• No widespread frost expected through October 11th based on dew point forecasts
• Warm, dry conditions may still allow nighttime cooling near normal levels

Upcoming Events:

• October 4: Nut Growers of Iowa field day (Centerville/Ottumwa)
• October 7: Shimek Forestry field day (southeast Iowa)
• October 9: Yellow River Forestry field day (northeast Iowa)

Greenhouse/High Tunnel Tip:

• Control weeds now to prevent pest and disease carryover through winter

Podcast Summary generated using claude.ai