What in the Weather?

Author: Dan Fillius; Justin Glisan; Madelynn Wuestenberg

This one's for you if you want to understand weather better! Join Dan Fillius, Iowa State University Extension Horticulture Field Specialist, and Dr. Justin Glisan, Iowa's State Climatologist, as they discuss what is happening in the world of Iowa weather. Every week during the main growing season we'll discuss recent weather, its impacts on fruits and vegetables, and provide a climate outlook for the coming week in Iowa. Let us know what you think, though as Mark Twain once said, "If you don't like the weather, wait a few minutes."
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Language: en-us

Genres: Natural Sciences, Nature, Science

Contact email: Get it

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4/23/26 - Wet weather returns, and so have many pests!
Episode 7
Thursday, 23 April, 2026

00:00:33 Madelynn returns from maternity leave—baby Lucille (Lucy) born Jan 21 (9 days late), quick hospital stay, family support, travel to 4 states; transitioning to part-time (30 hrs/wk, 3 office days, reachable Thu/Fri). 00:02:48 On this day in Iowa history: 1870 Estherville Vindicator first used "blizzard" for weather (earliest known); etymology from 19th-century US (violent blow/gunshot to storm, Midwest 1870s-80s). 00:04:33 7-day forecast: Severe today (tornado/squall risk west IA, slight risk); storms Sun-Mon; 1.5+ inches rain (frontal north, convective SE/SW); cooler than recent warm spell. 00:06:18 6-10/8-14 day outlook: Below-normal temps (highs upper 50s-low 60s N-S, lows mid/upper 30s N to 40s S); mixed precip, slight above-normal south in 6-10 days. 00:08:00 Past week: Apr 17 severe (4 IA tornadoes NE/E, high winds E, large hail central/south-central); weekend cold front/freeze; recent warm-up (89°F Mapleton/Sioux City); field work 2.7 days avg statewide. 00:15:08 Specialty crops—field work: Seize windows for tillage/plastic mulch/cultivation (weeds up); plant potatoes/broccoli/cauliflower/cabbage/lettuce/snapdragons/salads; delay tomatoes/peppers/basil; propagate late transplants. 00:17:30 Pests: Seed corn/cabbage/onion maggots advancing (row cover onions); CO potato beetle in south IA; imported cabbageworm peaking (cover/spray brassicas); thrips rising (onions, apples, flowers, peonies). 00:20:17 Field reports: Sweet corn cold damage uneven/recoverable; strawberry blooms covered, stagger via mulch/varieties (Purdue article); onion thrips strategies (cover then spray?); apple thrips (Grandevo/Delegate/Radiant options). podcast summary generated using perplexity.ai