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Ed’s Weather Journal: 3rd Earliest 80 in Des Moines

Ed Wilson — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 23:51:06 +0000

This afternoon we hit 80 degrees! Our old record high was 77 set in 1975.Our average high right now is 48. Average temperatures for the first of June are 79 and 57.

This is the 3rd earliest 80 degree day in Des Moines. The last time we made to 80 or above was 81 on March 3, 1983. Before that was March 11, 1972. That time we hit 82.

Those are impressive numbers. But just in case you think we are completely out of the winter woods…. ISU Climatologist Elwynn Taylor said there was only one spring… 1946…escaped a hard freeze after March 15th.

More records are going to fall tomorrow. Even the overnight lows will be the warmest on record.

Ed’s Weather Journal: Flood Safety

Ed Wilson — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:53:21 +0000

This is Flood Safety Awareness Week in Iowa. Governor Terry Branstad has designated this week to remind all of us how important it is to stay aware of severe weather that can lead to flooding. www.beready.iowa.gov

Our state is not unfamiliar with the dangers of flooding. During summer of 1993 over 200 thousand people in Des Moines were without power and water as the worst flood of the last century brought world-wide attention to Iowa.

Since then many floods have left portions of Iowa under water and without basic services for weeks and months at a time. Ceder Rapids and Iowa City were left stranded as the Cedar River raced out if it’s banks in June 2008.

Make sure you have a plan for yourself and your family. Plan to be aware of severe weather by watching Channel 13. 1 and Iowa’s Weather Plus on 13.2. Our Weather Plus is the only 24/7 broadcast channel that is dedicated to our weather. You will find updated forecasts all day…not just at the top of the hour. Weather crawls with severe weather information is always on the bottom of the screen on 13.2.

Have a meeting place for your family. You should have your home and a separate location to meet in case your home is not safe after severe weather.

Purchase a severe weather radio that is programmed to your location. The weather radio should alarm you when there is severe weather for your county. It should be loud enough to wake you during overnight severe weather. Remember the sirens in our neighborhoods are for those who are outside. They are not designed to be loud enough to be heard indoors.

You can be safe. Be prepared. We will help.

Always follow along on Twitter @EdWilsonWX13HD

Weather Journal: Solar Storm Balancing Act…A Myth

Ed Wilson — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 03:08:00 +0000

Here is a great shot of Stephanie Sullivan’s kids from Whittmore today. The kids are doing the thumbs-up as brooms are balanced in front of them.

Many believe that brooms and eggs will balance on end during solar storms or during the vernal and autumnal equinox. I hate to burst anyone’s bubble…but this is a myth.

A broom or egg can be made to balance on any day of the year. Face Book was full of people posting their pictures of the balancing acts today.

We always have this same story from viewers at the start of spring and fall. There are rumors this same effect can be found when the planets in our solar system align.

Here are a few sites that have the science behind the myth.

Astronomy Picture of the Day
Snopes: Infernal Egguinox
Wired: Balancing Brooms

Have a great night.

WEATHER JOURNAL: Northern Lights/Sunny Friday/Warmer Saturday

Ed Wilson — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 22:10:10 +0000

The sky will be clear over Des Moines tonight, but the northern lights are going to be more visible in Minnesota than Iowa. It will still be worth a little time to get away from the city lights and look northward. Best time will be later…after 10:30.

More sunshine is on the way tomorrow. It will be a nice end to the workweek. Highs will be in the middle to upper 50s. There will be a light north wind in the morning. By the afternoon you will feel the wind turn to the south.

Warmer highs on Saturday will come with mostly skies and that south breeze. I think the highs will be around 60.

Enjoy.

Second Warmest Winter

Ed Wilson — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 22:44:32 +0000

Meteorological winter starts December 1 and goes through March 1. The meteorological winter of 2011-2012 will go down as the second warmest on record.

The warmest average temperature for any winter was 32.3 degrees during the winter months of 1881-1882.

Our average temperature this year was 32.0. We tied with 1991-1992.

Windy and Warm!

Ed Wilson — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:40:51 +0000

What a great warm-up for the state today!

Highs were in the upper 60s and lower 70s by 2PM. The gusty south wind was clocking in around 25 to 30 mph. Lots of folks out walking, jogging, biking and getting spring fever.

We have a tie for the record high. At 3:14 we hit 74…that ties the 74 that was the record high on this date in 2005.

Wednesday will be cloudy and a bit cooler. Highs will be in the lower 60s. The clouds will increase with a chance for showers by the afternoon.

Warm Winter

This winter will go down as one of the warmest in Des Moines. The lowest low temperature was +1. That is the warmest low for any winter in Des Moines.