It is getting to that time of year  where the days are getting shorter.  Take a look how fast the sunset times change during the next few months. The data is for Waterloo.

8:02 PM August 20
7:09 PM September 20
6:19 PM October 20
4:43 PM November 20
4:39 PM December 20

The two maps below show the direction the Sun rises and sets on the horizon. The green line is the sunrise and the red line is sunset. The map on the left is August 20 and the map on the right is December 20. The change

The image below shows what the path of the sun looks like as it travels from horizon to horizon from June to December.

Posted under Astronomy, Educational

Submit your weather Hot Shot by clicking here.
One photo is shown on the 5 pm newscast and one on the 10 pm newscast.

Posted under Hot Shots, Photo

Tonight: Clear and cool with patchy fog possible late. Low: 46-51. Wind: Calm.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. High: 77-83. Wind: S 5-10 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Low: 54-57.  Wind: S 5 mph.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High: mid 80s.

Thursday: Partly cloudy with a 20% chance of showers/storms. High: upper 80s.

Friday: Partly cloudy with a 20% chance of showers/storms. High: mid 80s.

Saturday: Partly cloudy with a 20% chance of showers/storms. High: mid 80s.

Sunday: Partly cloudy with a 20% chance of showers/storms. High: low-mid 80s.

Monday: Partly cloudy with a 20% chance of showers/storms. High: low-mid 80s.

A few afternoon clouds developed during the heating of the day (see map below). As the sun sets this evening the clouds will fall apart and leave a clear sky for the rest of the night.

We can see the International Space Station this evening. Here is the viewing information.

Time: 9:31 PM
Duration: 3 min
Path: NNW to ENE

In the last week the rain has been beneficial to dropping many burn bans across eastern Iowa. Today Hardin and Cedar Counties lifted their burn bans. The Delaware County burn ban will be lifted Tuesday morning. Just a few more counties in eastern Iowa left with a burn ban (see map below).

Click here to get more details on each county.

High pressure will keep our weather dry through Wednesday night and probably Thursday morning. As we get into the afternoon Thursday through early next week there are small chances of showers/storms each day.

Here is the rain forecast from Monday evening to Thursday evening.

The 8-14 day outlook (Aug 28-Sep 23) shows temperatures (left) and precipitation (right) close to normal.

Heading to school tomorrow morning looks chilly but it will warm quickly.

Posted under Astronomy, Fire, Forecast Discussion

7 AM Sunday to 7 AM Monday

Posted under Precipitation Totals

From NWS
2003: A complex of severe thunderstorms produced widespread straight line wind damage across central, eastern, and southeastern Iowa during the afternoon and evening hours. The most severe winds struck areas around Davenport, where the National Weather Service forecast office experienced wind gusts estimated in excess of 90 mph which peeled back about a third of the roof of the building. There were also numerous reports of power lines and trees down along with some damage to homes and other structures.

1950: Unseasonably cool weather sent the temperature plummeting down to 30 F at Britt and Sibley tying the all-time Iowa August record which in previous years had been set a full ten days later on the 30th. At Des Moines the temperature reached 40 F tying the August record at that location. Other low temperatures around the state included 31 F at Decorah, 32 F at Clarion and Saratoga, and 33 F at Atlantic, Inwood, Sheldon, and Waterloo.

20 August 1886 → A hurricane completely destroyed the town of Indianola, TX. After being wiped out, the town was not rebuilt. 20 August 1971 → Heavy rains caused severe flooding in North Vietnam, killing 100,000.

Posted under Weather History