As of today, 32% of the contiguous US (lower 48 states) is covered with snow. Here is the snow cover map.

Here is a list comparing the percentage of snow cover on this date back to 2005.

2012: 32%
2011: 12%
2010: 16%
2009: 5%
2008: 20%
2007: 4%
2006: 13%
2005: 7 %

What does this mean? Probably nothing but I wanted to show you the snow cover comparison.

Part of the reason for the higher snow percentage is because the weekend snow to our west and in the Rockies. You can see the recent snow on the visible satellite below from earlier today.

Posted under Winter Weather

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

UPDATED at 4:00 PM

Tonight: Mostly clear and cold. Low: 14-17. Wind: SW 5-10 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. High: 40-44. Wind: S 5-15 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly to mostly cloudy. Low: 27-30. Wind: S 5-10 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy. High: upper 40s.

Thursday: Partly cloudy. High: upper 40s.

Friday: Mostly sunny. High: mid 40s.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. High: upper 40s.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy. High: upper 40s.

Monday: Mostly cloudy. High: upper 40s.

It was a cold start this morning. The map below shows the low temperatures. Those numbers are a stark contrast to Saturday afternoon highs in the 70s.
A few flurries fell from the clouds we have this afternoon. The clouds will clear this evening and the wind will diminish as well. The low temperatures tonight will be cold. Mid teens are expected for most locations with the usual colder spots down near 10 degrees. The last time we had the temperatures this low was early March. By the way, that was the last time we had accumulating snow as well.

The weather will remain quiet for the next seven days. There will be varied amounts of cloud cover from day to day but no precipitation. After the cold start to Tuesday morning, the highs and lows will be close to normal for this time of year. 

Here is the 8-14 day outlook (Nov 20-26) from the Climate Prediction Center. Iowa is forecast to have above normal temperatures and near to below normal precipitation.

Posted under Forecast Discussion

6 AM Sunday to 6 AM Monday

Posted under Precipitation Totals

From NWS
2005: An unusually severe late season tornado outbreak struck central Iowa with at least eight tornadoes touching down in seven counties, producing the worst damage in portions of Dallas, Story, and Hamilton counties. One tornado produced substantial F3 damage in Stratford resulting in one fatality and three injuries, while another tornado produced significant F2 damage in Woodward. A third tornado produced F2 damage as it barely missed Ames to the northwest and was clearly visible from upper floors of buildings on the Iowa State University campus. Hail as large as baseballs was also reported near Grand Junction. On fewer than ten occasions have Iowa tornadoes ever been recorded at a later date of the year.

2002: No measurable precipitation fell for the first of 53 consecutive days at the Des Moines airport, which is the all-time record at that location. The streak finally ended on January 4, 2003.

1933: After a very hot and dry summer and several weeks in October and November with virtually no rain, an intense low pressure system moving across North Dakota and Minnesota produced very high winds throughout the region. These winds blew up a spectacular dust storm that moved across Iowa reducing visibility to less than 50 feet at many locations and causing electric lights to come on in the early afternoon. The fine particles of dust driven by the high winds penetrated virtually all buildings, automobiles, and enclosures and are even reported to have penetrated steel vaults. The high winds and associated flying debris also knocked down telephone and electric poles, fences, signs, small outbuildings, and chimneys. This was the first truly severe dust storm to strike Iowa during the Dust Bowl years.

12 November 1902 → The Great Dust-Up in Australia reached its climax. The dust storm caused visibility to be reduced to less than 70 feet and darkened the sky even during the daytime. In some towns, “balls of fire” were reported during the dust storm. A possible explanation is that fast-moving blowing dust particles generated static electricity, which ignited organic matter carried along with the dust. 12 November 1912 → The paddlewheel steamer Mayflower sank in Lake Kamaniskeg in Canada during a blinding snowstorm. Three survivors clung to a coffin that the ship had been transporting and floated in the icy waters to shore.

Posted under Weather History