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What in the Weather?Author: Dan Fillius; Justin Glisan
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, Iowas 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." Language: en-us Genres: Natural Sciences, Nature, Science Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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7/11/25 - More rain to come, cooling a bit next week
Episode 15
Friday, 11 July, 2025
Recent Iowa Weather Highlights Heavy Rainfall: Rain gauges in the Des Moines area report 1–2.2 inches; some areas in western/central Iowa received up to 6 inches in the past week. Southeast Iowa remains much drier, with some locations getting less than 0.1 inch. Historical Context: July 11, 1993: Major flooding in Des Moines, with 250,000 residents losing water after levee breaches. 1993 marked 20 out of 37 consecutive days of measurable rain somewhere in Iowa. Current Wet Stretch: Statewide rainfall is 137% of normal for July so far. Several stations have received half a month’s rainfall in just the last 10 days. Dew points remain high (60s–70s), signaling ongoing Gulf moisture. Weather Outlook Short-Term Forecast: Active weather continues for the next two days, with a chance of severe storms (supercells transitioning to linear systems). Flood warnings and flash flood watches remain in effect. After the weekend, temperatures return to the 90s, then cool down. Medium & Long-Term Outlook: July 16–20: Likely below-normal temperatures, leaning wet. July 18–24: Continued cool and wet trend. End of July: Warmer temperatures expected, with equal chances for precipitation. Southeast Iowa may remain drier than other regions. Regional Details: The "blue bullseye" for cooler weather covers eastern Nebraska, most of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Weather Patterns & Impacts Storm Dynamics: Stationary fronts and ample Gulf moisture are causing repeated thunderstorms. Linear wind profiles have led to more squall lines and fewer tornadoes. "Training" thunderstorms have produced localized heavy rain. Precipitation Trends: 40% of Iowa’s annual precipitation typically falls on just 10 days. High-intensity, short-duration rain events are becoming more common, often leading to localized flooding and drought in different parts of the state. National Weather Note: Texas Flooding Recent Event: Two Texas locations received 11 inches of rain in just over 24 hours. Catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe River, with water rising 20–30 feet in under an hour. Factors: Gulf and monsoonal moisture, remnants of Tropical Storm Barry, and stalled weather systems. Similar patterns have caused flash flooding in Iowa (e.g., Clive in 2018, Des Moines metro in 2019). Specialty Crop & Pest Updates Disease Risks: Continued wetness raises concerns about foliar diseases (e.g., black rot in brassicas and cabbage). Wet conditions and heavy dews may increase disease pressure as the season progresses. Pest Observations & Management: Japanese Beetles: Active on crops like zinnias, basil, and sweet corn (can affect pollination if silk is heavily clipped). Control options: Conventional sprays (e.g., Mustang Maxx), manual removal, and using trap crops. Colorado Potato Beetle: Reports of spinosad resistance. Alternative controls: Physical removal (bucket method), azadirachtin, or biological products (though some, like certain BT strains, are hard to find). Potatoes can tolerate 33% defoliation before yield loss. Onion Thrips: High populations observed in some fields, causing silvery-white damage. Economic thresholds vary (1–3 thrips/leaf per Cornell/UMass; up to 30 per UC). Control: Multiple modes of action, increased spray volume, horticultural oils, azadirachtin, and soil treatments with fungi or nematodes. Other Notes & Events Field Days & Workshops: August 2: Field day at Grow Johnson County’s Poor Farm, covering no-till vegetable research and a short food safety workshop (counts as an annual update for PSA-trained growers). Agrivoltaic field days in Ames: Ongoing research on crops grown under solar panels, with field days every other week through September. Podcast summary generated using perplexity.ai
