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. 3d ago

    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

    18 min

  2. 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

    23 min

  3. 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

    12 min

  4. 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

    33 min

  5. May 13

    5/13/26 - Warm Season 2026 appears to be here

    [00:00:38] This day in Iowa weather history — a rare late-season snowfall in Des Moines on May 13th, 1918 [00:01:24] Short-term forecast — warm and active week ahead, with storm chances building through days 4–6 and 1.5–2" of rainfall possible for much of the state [00:02:58] Temperature outlook — 60s early in the week rising to the upper 80s by Friday through Sunday [00:04:06] Long-term temperature outlook (6–14 days) — continued warmer than normal signal through May 26th [00:05:06] Long-term precipitation outlook — slight elevated chance May 18–22, tapering to near-normal (approximately 1"/week) through May 26th [00:06:06] Past week in review — dry, cool, and quiet; statewide average precipitation just 0.03"; Sioux City the week's high (87°F) and low (22°F) [00:08:20] Specialty crop spotlight — why now is the right time to plant tomatoes [00:08:50] Pest watch — Colorado potato beetle management strategies, including organic and physical removal methods [00:11:27] Pest watch continued — aphids and thrips in high tunnels [00:11:56] Farm observation — herbicide drift damage (2,4-D/Dicamba) identified in a high tunnel; what to look for [00:13:39] Farm observation continued — potyvirus identified in a tunnel tomato plant; management and spread risk via aphids [00:14:35] Pre-rain field tasks — cultivating, planting, irrigating, and uncovering warm-season crops [00:15:06] Upcoming event — University of Minnesota weed control cultivation field day at Featherstone Farm, Rushford, MN, May 27th, 9am–3:30pm (free, registration required) [00:15:58] Pivot Points podcast — new Season 2 episodes on farmers and civic engagement Podcast Summary generated using claude.ai

    18 min

  6. May 7

    5/7/26 - One Last Frost? Thrips Galore

    [00:00:26] On this day in Iowa weather history: 7 tornadoes touched down in Iowa on May 7, 1964, causing significant damage and injuries in northeastern Iowa [00:00:59] 7-day forecast: Quiet, seasonal stretch ahead with temps in the 60s–70s; minimal rainfall statewide (up to 1/4" in southeast Iowa Saturday night) [00:01:39] Field work update: Central Iowa behind due to wet spring; northwest Iowa drier and further along, but dealing with drought conditions and freeze damage to early-planted soybeans [00:02:51] Frost outlook: No significant frost expected; coldest nights are Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday with lows in the mid-30s in northern Iowa [00:04:21] Extended outlook (8–14 days): Warmer-than-average temperatures expected May 12–16; near-normal rainfall [00:05:12] Monthly May outlook: Leaning warm for the second half of the month; overall lean dry for May following the 6th wettest April on record in 154 years [00:07:20] Past week's weather notables: Lake Park recorded 3.79" of rain; statewide temps ran 3.2°F below average; high of 86°F in Davenport, low of 23°F at Spencer Municipal Airport; 70 stations hit 32°F or below [00:09:01] Specialty crop impacts: Wilson's Orchard (near Des Moines) running frost protection on strawberries and apples; king blossoms blackened by a drop to 24°F; lower-than-expected apple fruit set possibly due to poor pollination conditions [00:11:51] Grape damage: Randall Vos reports significantly worse frost damage to grapes in eastern Iowa vs. western Iowa; topography played a major role [00:12:32] Thrips update: Western flower thrips confirmed in apple blossoms in western Iowa; high onion thrips numbers also reported; possible link to warm, dry winter under investigation [00:16:07] Planting recommendations: Good window opening for melon transplants, winter squash, zucchini, cucurbits, and possibly basil; wait another 1–2 weeks for peppers [00:17:43] Low tunnel flower report ahead of Mother's Day: Iceland poppies and dianthus blooming reliably [00:19:23] Pest alert: Flea beetles already present in Iowa — earlier than the VDIFN forecasting tool indicated; Dan plans to follow up with UW Extension on proper tool usage summary generated using claude.ai

    21 min

  7. Apr 29

    4/29/26 - Cool and Dry for the next week

    [00:00:41] This day in Iowa weather history: The cold and snowy spring of 1907, linked to the eruption of the Ksudach volcano in eastern Russia [00:01:45] This week's forecast: A welcome break from active weather with temperatures reaching the 60s and 70s, mostly sunny skies, and high pressure taking hold [00:02:33] Frost advisory alert: Chances of frost Thursday and Friday nights, with lows near 32°F in northern Iowa [00:04:27] 8 to 14 day outlook (May 6–12): Below-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation expected statewide [00:05:29] 3 to 4 week outlook (May 9–22): Continued below-normal temperatures; slight lean toward above-normal precipitation [00:06:09] Hazard watch: Slight risk of below-normal temperatures May 8–10, coinciding with the Mother's Day planting window [00:07:38] Last week's weather recap: Rainfall verified across Iowa, with some areas receiving over 2.5 inches [00:08:48] Severe weather recap: 10 tornado reports on April 23rd, primarily in western, south-central, and central Iowa, plus hail and high wind reports [00:10:21] Specialty crop planting recommendations for this week: Greens, carrots, beets, potatoes, brassicas, Swiss chard, fennel, and lettuce successions [00:11:08] Greenhouse starting tips: Lettuce and sweet corn successions; start melons now for post-May 10th transplanting [00:11:59] Pest updates: Imported cabbage worm confirmed; flea beetles still weeks away but currently emerged in central Missouri [00:12:40] Field management: Get cultivation done as soon as field surfaces dry out; begin tillage for future beds when further drying happens [00:12:53] Grower report — Garlic: Crop failure in unmulched beds linked to root rot (Fusarium?); mulched garlic faring well [00:14:26] Grower report — Onion thrips: Thrips found on black plastic mulch before transplanting, possibly harbored in nearby garlic plantings [00:15:41] Call for speakers: Seeking growers and researchers for the Organic Vegetable Production Conference and High Tunnel Short Course

    17 min

  8. Apr 23

    4/23/26 - Wet weather returns, and so have many pests!

    p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 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). p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 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). p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 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. p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 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. p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 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. p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 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. p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 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). p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 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

    26 min
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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
    111
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023
  • Show Website
    What in the Weather?

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