•Historical weather note:

• Unusually cool weather and frost reported in parts of Iowa on June 21-22, 1902.

• Recent weather highlights:

• Southeast Iowa has been experiencing dryness, reflected in the drought monitor.
• Northern Iowa has received about 2 inches of rain in the last two weeks.
• High wind events caused damage to greenhouses and tunnels in northeastern Iowa.

• Weather forecast:

• Unsettled pattern with chances of showers and thunderstorms.
• Temperatures in the 90s expected early next week.
• Northern Iowa may see 3-5 inches of rain in the next 36 hours.
• At least an inch of rain expected statewide.

• Recent weather events:

• Dryness in southeastern Iowa
• High wind events in northeastern Iowa damaging farm structures
• Large hail in western Iowa

• Climate outlook:

• Warmer than average temperatures predicted for the next 6-14 days and through September.
• Mixed precipitation signals: wetter in short-term
• July may end up being downgraded to "equal chances"

• Crop and pest updates:

• Japanese beetles are starting to appear.
• Powdery mildew affecting peas.
• Black raspberries are highly productive this year.
• Strawberry season is ending; time for field renovation.
• Downy mildew affecting some sunflowers
• Leaf hoppers causing damage to various crops
• Sweet corn expected around second week of July for many growers
• Garlic scapes affected by anthracnose
• Imported cabbage worm moths and damage observed on brassicas.
• Sap beetles seen in peonies and Napa cabbage.

• Irrigation systems are being set up due to drier conditions and warmer forecasts.

Summary created using Claude.ai and Perplexity.ai

• Iowa experienced one of the wettest meteorological springs on record for most of Iowa (March-May 2024), ending a long drought that had persisted since 2020.
  • It was the first time since June 2020 that there was no drought anywhere in Iowa, with only abnormally dry conditions remaining in some areas.
• Precipitation levels were in the top 10 wettest on record for 7 out of 9 climate divisions in Iowa.
• The wet spring helped replenish soil moisture, stream flows, and shallow aquifers, though deeper aquifers will take years to fully recover.
• Growing degree days were above average while stress degree days (temperatures above 86°F) were slightly below average, providing favorable conditions for plant growth.
• The last frost occurred around late April in central Iowa, allowing an extended spring growing season.
• Vegetable growers reported good germination and growth without needing to irrigate due to the ample rainfall.
• However, some growers fell behind on transplanting starts and succession plantings due to the wet fields.
• Succession planting of crops like cucumbers, zucchini, and radishes was impacted by the delays.
• Overall, it was described as an archetypal, pleasant spring after coming out of a multi-year drought.

Summarized using claude.ai and perplexity.ai

We discussed the rare occurrence of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) being visible in central parts of the United States, including Iowa and Missouri on May 10-11, 2024.

• The Northern Lights were visible much farther south than usual, including central Missouri, due to a powerful G5 class geomagnetic storm caused by coronal mass ejections and solar flares from the Sun
• Justin, vividly recalls seeing the Aurora in Columbia, Missouri, around 20 years ago during another strong geomagnetic storm, describing it as brighter than the ones he witnessed in Fairbanks, Alaska
• The hosts explain how the different colors (green from nitrogen, pink from oxygen) are produced by the interaction of charged particles with gases in the Earth's atmosphere
• They discuss the potential impacts of such space weather events on GPS, telecommunications, and electrical grids, necessitating precautionary measures like shutting down satellites and power grids
• There were some agricultural impacts reported, like disrupted GPS on farm equipment during the planting season.
• The conversation also touches upon the hosts' humorous anecdotes and pop culture references related to the Northern Lights phenomenon.

Podcast summary generated using claude.ai and perplexity.ai

• The hosts discussed the weather history of Iowa in 1951, which saw unusually heavy precipitation after a dry start to the year, echoing the current wet conditions in the state.
• They provided a forecast for the coming week, predicting 1-2 inches of rainfall from thunderstorms across Iowa, with temperatures in the low 80s during the day and low 60s overnight.
• The long-range outlooks showed a warm signal for the next 6-10 days, followed by a cooler period in the 8-14 day range, with near-normal precipitation expected.

• They discussed a derecho (widespread, long-lived wind storm) that impacted Iowa on the previous Thursday night/Friday morning, causing damage from high winds and tornadoes.
• The hosts provided detailed explanations of derechos, including their definition, types (progressive vs. serial), and the atmospheric conditions that lead to such events.
• The recent derecho in Iowa had tornadoes and high winds concentrated in the central and eastern parts of the state, causing damage to structures, trees, and outbuildings.
• The hosts provided a comprehensive explanation of derechos, which are widespread, long-lived wind storms. Key points:

• • A derecho must travel at least 400 miles, be at least 60 miles wide, and have a majority of wind gusts 58 mph or greater within that swath.
  • There are two types: progressive derechos (like August 2020) and serial/cold front-driven derechos (like December 2021 and the recent event).
  • The December 2021 derecho had 63 tornadoes and exceptionally strong non-thunderstorm gradient winds due to a steep pressure gradient between a low and high pressure system.

• They also discussed the impact of the recent heavy rains on field tiles, ponding, and the potential for replenishing irrigation ponds.
• Impacts on specialty crops like high insect pressure from overwintered pests, strawberry peak, tomato spotted wilt virus found in greenhouse marigolds.
• Some vegetable growers are facing challenges getting liability insurance coverage for leafy greens production due to recent foodborne illness outbreaks.

Summary generated using claude.ai and perplexity.ai

• Justin Glisan, the state climatologist, provides updates on the current and upcoming weather forecasts, including precipitation totals, severe weather risks, and temperature outlooks for the next week.
• Madelynn Wuestenberg shares the Climate Prediction Center's forecasts for temperature and precipitation over different time periods, indicating near-normal conditions for Iowa in the short term.
• The drought situation in Iowa has significantly improved, with 66% of the state now out of drought conditions and only 20% experiencing moderate drought (D1)
• Dan Fillius discusses the impacts of the wet weather on weed control, highlighting the effectiveness of pre-emergent herbicides for some growers and the challenges of cultivation due to frequent rains.
• The conversation also touches on pest management, with Dan providing advice on identifying and controlling thrips and spider mites.
• Focused on the May 21st, 2024 tornado outbreak in Iowa that caused significant damage, especially in Greenfield where an EF3 or potentially EF4/EF5 tornado struck
• Justin and Dan commend the National Weather Service for their efforts in communicating severe weather warnings and express gratitude for Justin's timely email updates during the recent tornado event.
• Justin Glisan provided details on:
  • The setup that led to the outbreak
  • Number of tornado reports
  • Widespread impacts of hail, straight-line winds, heavy rainfall
  • the advanced forecasting capabilities that allowed warnings of the severe weather risk

Key points:

• Madelynn found a cicada in her driveway after returning from Missouri and sent a photo to an entomologist, who was excited as it could be a periodical cicada.
• On May 16, 1997, Sioux City broke both its record high (91°F) and record low (33°F) temperatures for that date, which is highly unusual.
• The upcoming week's forecast shows potential for wet weather, especially days 4-6, with around 1 inch of rain expected across most of Iowa. Next week should be warmer than average
• The 8-14 day climate outlook indicates slightly cooler than normal temperatures but nothing extremely cold. Normal temps for this time of year are highs of 72 and lows of 52.
• Recent rains have helped improve drought conditions in Iowa, with no more extreme drought (D3) remaining as of the latest update.
• Planting progress for crops is behind last year's pace but on track with 2015-2018 and ahead of 2022.
• They discussed reasons why a rain system dissipated around I-35 in central Iowa the previous night, likely due to dry air
• Justin explained how meteorologists use models like the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) to analyze small-scale weather features.
• Dan mentioned some phenological observations like winter rye heading out 1-2 weeks early this year.
• They discussed the difference between "equal chances" and "near normal" forecast terminology used by the Climate Prediction Center.

Summary generated using combination of Claude.ai and Perplexity.ai

Podcast summary generated using Claude.ai and Perplexity.ai

The conversation today covers weather forecasting challenges, severe weather impacts on crops, insect pest management for specialty crops like onions, and the unique biology and emergence patterns of the periodical cicadas in 2024.

1. A discussion of Iowa's weather history, including a deadly tornado outbreak in 1918 that caused significant damage and casualties in eastern and northeastern parts of the state.
2. A forecast for cooler temperatures and less active weather over the next few days, followed by warmer temperatures and increased rainfall chances in mid-May, which is typical for Iowa's wet season. The chances of a late frost after the next couple of nights are considered very low based on climate outlooks and soil moisture conditions.
3. Impacts of recent severe weather like high winds, hail, and heavy rainfall on specialty crops like cover crops, onions, and weed pressure.
4. An interview with Zach Schumm from the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic at Iowa State University, who shares insights about the periodical cicadas, how to identify them, and the rarity of both broods emerging together this year across a few counties in Illinois.
5. Details on the upcoming emergence of periodical cicadas in Iowa (Brood XIII and Brood XIX), expected in late May or early June. The 13-year brood will appear in southeastern Iowa, while the 17-year brood will be seen in eastern Iowa along rivers and forests. Details are provided on their life cycle, synchronization, and minimal impact on plants as adults with functional mouthparts.
6. Information on submitting plant and insect samples to the Iowa State University Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic (PIDC) for identification and diagnosis, including the option to send insect photos for free identification.

Summary provided by Claude.ai

- There was some light late-season snow in northeastern Iowa on May 1, 1997, though only trace amounts for most areas.

- The upcoming week's forecast called for an active storm track with 1.5-3 inches of rain expected across the state, especially in eastern Iowa. Strong thunderstorms and hail were also concerns.

- The previous week saw heavy rainfall of 2-4 inches statewide, with higher amounts in southeast Iowa, along with some severe weather and strong tornadoes in western Iowa that caused damage.

- Looking ahead, warmer than average temperatures were expected for the summer as an El Niño pattern transitions to a potential La Niña. Soil moisture levels would influence whether the warmth feels more extreme or mitigated.

- They discussed how growers can interpret the U.S. Drought Monitor maps and drought conditions at different scales, from statewide down to an individual farm. Local input from growers on impacts helps refine the maps.

- Tiling and other agricultural practices may influence how quickly drought develops in soils, though more research is needed on the relationship.