Weather

Despite having a wetter-than-average July due to more rainfall, Iowa’s dry autumn conditions have let drought conditions creep back into parts of the state.

While the winter months that year were warmer than normal, the year was bookended by significant winter weather events.

The first winter storm of the season, which arrived in Eastern Iowa Friday night, is dumping heavy accumulating snow across the state Saturday, and will continue into Sunday morning with strong winds and snowfall totals of 8 to 12 inches.

“This is likely to be one of the biggest snow producing storms in a long time for many areas, as well as being a huge event to start the winter season.”

More fog in forecast in Eastern Iowa

Over the past few days, the sun has burped out several bursts of energy called coronal mass ejections. Two have reached Earth, but at least one more is still on the way and could arrive sometime on Wednesday.

Nearly 200 professors and researchers endorsed this year’s climate statement highlighting how a warming climate may lead to increased insurance costs in Iowa.

The expected cold spell won't last, though, as warmer temperatures are forecast for much of the central U.S. starting Wednesday.

208-year-old publication’s 2026 edition will be its last, due to the growing financial challenges of producing and distributing the book.

The Iowa State Patrol, National Weather Service and the Iowa Department of Transportation said in a webinar on Monday that Iowans should start preparing for winter weather and poor driving conditions even before snow hits the ground.

Temperatures across the state of Iowa were near the climatological normal, though precipitation was below average as parts of the state slid into dry conditions for the close of harvest season, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

Iowans should get their shovels ready and prepare to bundle up this winter as experts are predicting that parts of the state will see a wetter winter season than normal.