What in the Weather?

Dan Fillius; Justin Glisan; Madelynn Wuestenberg
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Nature

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."

  1. Jul 8

    7/8/26 - Staying Hot, Drying Out

    It's Swass season, y'all. 00:00:49 – This Day in Iowa Weather History: the 1984 temperature swing from 35°F frost at Elkader to 100°F at Shenandoah in 24 hours 01:19 – Weekly trivia question introduced: what's Iowa's record 24-hour precipitation total? 03:15 – Weather forecast headline: slight severe storm risk overnight, hot and mostly dry week ahead with highs in the low-to-mid 90s 04:12 – Extended climate outlook: hot and dry pattern dominates 6-10 day, and 8-14 day outlooks, with a Level 3 heat risk for northwest/western Iowa July 10-14 08:41 – Past week's weather recap: multiple tornado reports, wind/hail damage, and significant flash flooding over the July 4th weekend 11:09 – Breakdown of extreme rainfall totals from the holiday weekend, including a 12+ inch radar-estimated total near Elkhart and a 10.99" official CoCoRaHS reading in Polk City 11:16 – Guidance on food safety for flooded fields, including National Organic Program waiting periods (90/120 days) and FSMA considerations 15:16 – Why CoCoRaHS gauge density matters, plus a call for listeners to join the network 18:49 – Discussion of why the storm's rainfall was under-forecasted, tied to an upper-level disturbance disrupting the priorheat dome 22:04 – Revisiting "100-year" and "1,000-year" flood terminology and annual exceedance probability 24:23 – Specialty crop impacts: Phytophthora risk in wet cucurbit/pepper fields, growth-regulator herbicide drift symptoms in tomatoes/peppers, and distinguishing drift damage from broad mite infestation 27:03 – Tip on sanitizing surfaces efficiently using a hose-end sprayer episode summary generated using claude.ai

  2. Jul 1

    Bonus Episode: Predicting Pest Arrival using VDIFN, with Ari Abbrescia, UW Madison Extension

    Resources: VDIFN Tool Ari's tutorial on YouTube for visual aids VDIFN User's Manual Crop Risk Tool [00:00:08] Dan introduces the episode, recorded in advance while he's away, featuring guest Ari Abbrescia, Organic and Sustainable Agricultural Outreach Specialist with UW-Madison Extension. [00:00:48] Ari provides an overview of the VDIFN (Vegetable Disease and Insect Forecasting Network), including its creators — Dr. Amanda Gevens, Dr. Russ Groves, and Ben Bradford — and its role in supporting integrated pest management across the upper Midwest.  [00:02:06] Dan and Ari dig into a real-world example: why VDIFN appears to show flea beetles absent in Iowa when growers in southern Minnesota are already seeing them. [00:03:36] Explaining the difference between Fahrenheit degree days (FDD) and growing degree days (GDD), and what those values mean within the flea beetle model. [00:04:50] Ari clarifies that the VDIFN flea beetle model tracks the first hatched generation — not overwintering adults — which explains the apparent gap between model output and field observations. [00:07:08] Key takeaway: VDIFN measures risk for damage, not pest presence — an especially important distinction when interpreting disease models like late blight. [00:07:28] Dan shares how he wants to use VDIFN as a scouting lead-time tool for growers, and discusses Spinosad as a management option against adult flea beetles. [00:08:42] Ari walks through the seed corn maggot model as a strong example of how VDIFN can directly inform planting timing decisions based on Fahrenheit degree day thresholds. [00:10:18] Discussion of the early blight model for tomato, including how to use the biofix date and P-day accumulation to time preventative fungicide applications. [00:11:14] Ari explains what P-days (physiological days) are and how they relate to degree days and disease severity tracking. [00:14:31] Introduction of the Crop Risk Tool — a newer, still-developing tool built by Ben Bradford that allows users to save named locations, upload CSV field lists, and view risk across multiple models for specific sites. [00:15:59] A key advantage of the Crop Risk Tool: it includes a 14-day NOAA-based forecast, allowing growers to look ahead and plan management decisions proactively. [00:17:37] Comparing the two tools — VDIFN excels at visualizing spatial patterns and the movement of pest risk across the landscape; the Crop Risk Tool excels at site-specific, forward-looking risk assessment. [00:19:23] Dan and Ari share a common wish-list feature: the ability for growers to select and view only their key pests and diseases for a saved location, rather than toggling through categories. Ari adds that text alerts are also a dream feature in early development. [00:20:10] Dan notes that squash bugs and cucumber beetles are absent from VDIFN, sparking a discussion about overwintering adult pests and the diseases they vector, including bacterial wilt and squash mosaic virus. [00:21:05] Conversation turns to Western flower thrips and onion thrips — including uncertainty about whether VDIFN's thrips model covers one, the other, or both — and whether the distinction matters for tomato spotted wilt virus management. Episode summary generated using claude.ai

  3. Jun 23

    6/23/26 - NW is still dry, SE is still wet

    Welcome & Iowa Weather History: The 1952 F4 Tornado and the Train that raced to outrun it [00:00:07] 7-Day Weather Forecast: Quieter Pattern, QPF Totals, and Warming Trend [00:01:15] Ring of Fire & Ridge Riders: How the Setup Affects Iowa Rain Chances [00:02:13] 8–14 Day & Monthly Climate Outlooks: Warm Signal, Near-Normal Precip, and El Niño Influence [00:02:39] 8–14 Day Hazards: Slight Risk for High Temps and Heavy Precip in Southern Iowa [00:04:45] Northwest Iowa Dryness vs. Southeast Wetness: Farmer Reports and Crop Conditions [00:06:56] Past Week Weather Notables: EF2 Tornado, Tornado Climatology, and Illinois' Record Year [00:07:38] Temperature Trends: Cooler-than-Normal Stretch Easing Stress from Low Rain [00:11:01] Weekly Superlatives: Warmest, Coolest, and Wettest/Driest Gauges [00:11:51] Specialty Crop Impacts: Cabbage Black Rot, Kale Leaf Spots, and Squash Vine Borer Alerts [00:12:48] Overwintered Onion Success and Weed Management Benefits [00:15:23] Upcoming Events: Controlled Environment Ag Short Course, ISCGA Field Day, Choose Iowa Farm Crawl [00:16:17] Special Forecast for Farm Crawl and Next Week's Episode Preview: Pest Forecasting with Degree-Day Models [00:17:57] Episode summary generated using perplexity.ai

  4. Jun 17

    6/17/26 - Recap of Heavy Rain, Large Hail, and High Winds From the Past Week

    Episode Summary 00:00:32 – Iowa weather history: a severe 1978 thunderstorm with softball-sized hail and damaging winds from Sioux City to Webster City 00:01:09 – Follow-up on the latest recorded frost in Iowa history (June 22, 1902, in Columbus Junction) and the cooler global climate trends of that era 00:02:21 – Weekly forecast: continued active weather, more rain Saturday night into Sunday, near-normal temperatures trending slightly cooler next week, and comfortable dew points 00:03:34 – Breakdown of the storm system moving through Iowa, including a 94 mph wind gust in Marshalltown and discussion of squall lines, the low-level jet, and derecho criteria 00:07:37 – Whether last week's 8-to-14-day hazard outlook predicted this week's severe weather event 00:09:14 – New 8-to-14-day outlook (June 24–30): slightly cooler and wetter than normal, no hazards expected 00:10:06 – Three-to-four-week outlook (June 27–July 10): equal chances for above/below/near normal temperature and precipitation 00:10:35 – Discussion of June running about 4°F above the 30-year average so far 00:11:51 – Past week's weather recap: the June 10 derecho, a tornado in Washington County, and severe wind/hail damage on June 11 in southwest Iowa 00:14:37 – Verification of last week's rainfall forecast (heavy in the southeast, minimal in the northwest) and impacts on weed cultivation 00:15:34 – Weekly weather data: highs, lows, and rainfall totals across the state 00:16:14 – Recap of a windier-than-normal meteorological spring (March–May) 00:17:38 – Outlook for a wetter Gulf/southern US and its connection to a possible cooler July-August-September signal for Iowa 00:20:46 – Drought risk specifically for northwest Iowa given drier conditions there 00:21:32 – Specialty crop pest and disease update: cucumber beetles, squash vine borer, aster leafhopper/aster yellows, Japanese beetles, and halo blight on green beans 00:25:40 – Cool temperatures expected to delay heat-loving crops like tomatoes, peppers, and sweet corn 00:26:29 – Weed control strategy: understanding the "critical weed-free period" for different crops 00:27:39 – Reminder to report suspected herbicide spray drift (2,4-D/dicamba) to IDALS 00:28:52 – Upcoming Controlled Environment Ag Short Course in Ames summary generated using claude.ai

  5. Jun 10

    6/10/26 - 2026 Meteorological Spring Recap

    [00:00:42] This day in Iowa weather history: a late freeze in 1928 brought 32°F lows to Decorah and frost across the state [00:01:22] Weekend forecast: a break from the heat is coming, but severe weather is likely — enhanced risk (3 of 5) for much of Iowa, with 3–5 inches of rain possible in the southern third of the state [00:03:15] Climate outlook 6–10 days (June 15–19): 60–70% chance of below-normal temperatures for northern Iowa [00:04:24] Climate outlook 8–14 days (June 17–23): continued slight chance of below-normal temps; slightly wetter conditions expected; slight risk of heavy precipitation for eastern Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri [00:06:22] Past week recap: eastern Iowa saw 3½ inches above-normal rainfall; statewide temperatures ran 4–10 degrees above normal [00:07:49] Extreme data points of the week: high of 95°F at Sioux City; 5.9 inches of rain in Russell (Lucas County); dew points hitting 79°F at Osceola [00:09:57] Weather explainer: what is the boundary layer, and why doesn't the overnight low always drop to the dew point? [00:11:00] Specialty crop update: tomato trellising, weed control, and irrigation underway; poor strawberry yields reported statewide [00:12:31] Pest and disease alerts: growth regulator spray drift reports continue (report to IDALS if you see it); bacterial canker detected in a Kalona greenhouse tomato high tunnel; spider mites active in high tunnels [00:14:28] Meteorological spring recap: 7th warmest spring on record at 52°F average; near-normal precipitation; 51 tornadoes reported vs. a climatological average of 38 Summary generated by Claude.ai

  6. Jun 3

    6/3/26 - Pesticide Rotation Strategies and Even More Thrips!

    [00:00:30] This day in Iowa weather history: the devastating 1860 tornado outbreak across central and eastern Iowa that killed at least 134 people and left 2,500 homeless [00:02:44] Weekly weather forecast: rain chances Thursday and Friday, ¾"–1.5" possible; highs in the 80s, lows in the 60s [00:03:35] 8–14 day outlook (June 10–16): above-normal temperatures, slightly wetter conditions; slight risk of hazardous temperatures June 10–11 [00:04:08] One-month outlook for June: leaning slightly above-normal temps; equal chances for precipitation [00:05:57] Last week's weather recap: generally dry across Iowa with spotty pop-up showers; a downburst near Jefferson caused local damage; Missouri Valley led the state with 4.1" of rain [00:08:53] Rapid onset drought risk warning for parts of eastern and northeastern Iowa [00:09:37] Last week's temperature extremes: high of 95°F at Sioux City; lows of 47°F at multiple stations [00:09:56] Data quality spotlight: investigating a suspicious 25°F low temperature reading [00:11:15] Specialty crop update: leafhopper and hopper burn emerging in potatoes; Colorado potato beetle populations ramping up [00:13:11] Managing thrips in flowers and onions; overview of organic and conventional control options including Captiva Prime as a novel tank mix [00:15:48] Pesticide rotation strategies to prevent resistance in thrips and Colorado potato beetles [00:17:59] Aster leafhopper and aster yellows: MSU infectivity alert now at 4%; crops to watch include garlic, flowers, and lettuce [00:18:50] Strawberry pests: thrips damage and tarnished plant bug as the primary cause of cat-faced fruit [00:19:22] Garlic scape management: timing of removal, yield impacts, and research exploring mowing as an option for large scale removal [00:22:01] Upcoming event: Controlled Environments Short Course in Ames, Iowa in three weeks summary generated using Claude.ai

  7. May 26

    5/26/26 - Drier and warmer ahead, FSMA Inspection Testimonial

    [00:00:52] On this day in Iowa weather history: 6.5 inches of rain fell in 2½ hours in Wesley, Kossuth County on May 25–26, 1991, damaging 80% of homes [00:01:22] Week-ahead forecast: Sunny skies, temperatures in the 80s, quiet storm track — little to no precipitation expected [00:02:01] 8-to-14-day outlook (valid June 2–8): Below-normal precipitation and above-normal temperatures likely across Iowa [00:02:59] Climate normals reminder: Average highs low-to-mid 70s, overnight lows in the 50s, ~1¼–1½ inches of rain per week [00:03:24] No weather hazards identified for the Midwest in the 8-to-14-day period [00:03:31] Past week recap: Northwest Iowa received up to 3 inches of rain; eastern and northeastern Iowa remained dry [00:03:59] Observed extremes since last episode: High of 95°F at Sioux City; low of 25°F at Northwood (pending verification); wettest station was Sanborn (2.49"); zero rainfall reported across much of eastern Iowa [00:05:07] Specialty crop update: Iowa Valley RC&D dealing with a mower PTO breakdown ahead of cover crop termination [00:05:58] Heated tomato greenhouse success: John Schrock (Bloomfield) reports 4 weeks of harvest, selling 1,000 lbs at $3/lb at the Southern Iowa Produce Auction [00:06:37] Seed germination alert: Candy Bell grape tomato variety reporting widespread germination failures — contact your seed supplier for a possible refund [00:07:20] FSMA update: FDA inspectors are visiting farms in person (not just calling) to verify qualified exempt status — growers report the process is straightforward and educational Summary generated by claude.ai

  8. May 20

    "A less stressful growing season" with El Nino this year

    00:00:35 Iowa weather history: May 1892 flooding and rare late-season snow/sleet event 00:01:17 Weekly forecast: Cooler with rain chances Thu–Fri, warming into Memorial Day weekend 00:01:40 Rainfall outlook: Light to moderate precipitation, heaviest in southwest Iowa 00:02:03 Frost update: No widespread frost, but isolated 32°F readings reported 00:02:20 8–14 day outlook: Strong signal for above-normal temperatures; slightly drier east, near-normal west 00:03:37 3–4 week outlook: Continued warm trend; mostly equal precipitation chances, slightly wetter southwest 00:04:27 El Niño discussion: Likely developing soon (82% chance), high confidence by late summer–winter 00:05:20 El Niño impacts: Weak summer correlation; possible cooler, slightly wetter Upper Midwest summers 00:08:37 Shift from ONI to RONI: New index accounts for broader ocean trends and climate change effects 00:12:22 Historical reclassification: Past El Niño events adjusted under new RONI metric 00:14:16 Recent weather recap: Active severe weather week with storms, hail, wind, and tornadoes 00:15:47 Storm impacts: 23 EF1 tornadoes, widespread wind events, heaviest activity in northwest and southwest Iowa 00:17:32 Weekly extremes: High 95°F (Sioux City), low 32°F (Emmetsburg, Sac City), heavy rainfall in Mount Ayr 00:18:00 Record rainfall: Mount Ayr logs wettest May on record with over 12 inches 00:19:34 CoCoRaHS discussion: Importance of dense rain gauge networks for accurate data and decision-making 00:22:43 Peak wind gust: 88 mph recorded in Correctionville 00:23:48 Crop planting tips: Peppers, eggplant, cucurbits, marigolds, and strawberry plug timing 00:25:31 Pest update: Low flea beetles in some areas; cucumber beetles and onion thrips active 00:26:07 Field conditions: Wet soils aiding crops but increasing weeds; cultivation timing important 00:26:19 Cover crop management: Winter rye termination strategies and timing considerations 00:27:17 Herbicide drift case: Damage to asparagus; guidance on reporting incidents to IDALS 00:28:44 Greenhouse issue: Edema in tomatillos from high humidity, not disease 00:29:12 Watermelon pollination: Grafted pollenizers improve survival and pollination success 00:30:16 SWD update: Parasitoid wasps potentially established in Minnesota 00:30:54 Disease note: Bacterial soft rot observed in lettuce after heavy rains 00:31:32 Events: Weed Control Field Day (MN) and TekFlex (MI) highlighted 00:32:11 Additional content: "Pivot Points" episode on farmer civic engagement released Podcast Summary generated using perplexity.ai

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

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."

Information

  • Creator
    Dan Fillius; Justin Glisan; Madelynn Wuestenberg
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    115
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023
  • Show Website
    What in the Weather?

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