Polk County Weather and Climate Synopsis



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36 Hr. Forecast Map
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Satellite images from NOAA

Weather Summary

Hourly Observations

Nowcast

Precision Ag., Lawn & Garden Guidance

7 Day Forecast

Medium & Long Range Outlook

Almanac

Historical Facts


US Weekly Rainfall Departure		US Weekly Temperature Departure

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A joint service of the UK Ag Weather Center and the National Weather Service.


Weather Summary for Iowa
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
346 AM CST Tue Dec 31 2024

Today: 

Low pressure moving from Missouri into Central Illinois overnight
produced a broad area of light rain and snow across central and
southern Iowa early this morning. There were spotty areas of snow
accumulations with a few areas receiving around an inch or so.
Most primary roads and highways remained wet although less traveled
roads did become slushy in areas. Otherwise, northwest winds increased
and were common from 10 to 20 mph with gusts to almost 30 mph at 
times. 

The light precipitation is expected to come to an end this morning as
the system pulls away from the state. Some minor snow accumulations,
generally less than an inch remain possible in far south central to
southeast Iowa through mid morning, otherwise the north winds persist
for much of the day as cooler air arrives. Additional flurries are
expected late this afternoon into the evening as another weak system
passes through the state. 

Tonight and beyond: 

Any flurries are forecast to end tonight with clearing expected toward
daybreak on New Years Day. Mostly sunny skies will greet the New Year
with near normal temperatures in the mid 20s to lower 30s. However,
a clipper system approaches the state on Thursday with light snow
overspreading much of central into southern Iowa. Minor accumulations
are forecast by Thursday evening along with the arrival of cooler air.
Highs by Friday are forecast to remain in the teens to lower 20s over
much of the state as cold polar air overspread the Midwest.

National Ag. Weather Outlook, International Ag. Weather Summary
Current Surface Map, [2nd Source TWC]

Precision Agriculture Weather Forecast For POLK County

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Regional Hourly Observations For POLK County
Issued at 500 PM CST FRI JAN 24 2025

...KANSAS...SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA AND IOWA... CITY SKY/WX TMP DP RH WIND PRES REMARKS TOPEKA PTCLDY 42 22 44 CALM 30.02R MANHATTAN CLEAR 37 26 64 SW7 30.03R WCI 32 EMPORIA CLEAR 42 23 46 SW10 30.01S OTTAWA CLEAR 43 23 45 S14 30.02S CHANUTE CLEAR 47 20 34 S13 30.08F SALINA PTCLDY 39 28 64 S9 30.00S WCI 33 WICHITA PTCLDY 45 24 43 S10 30.03F OMAHA MOCLDY 43 23 45 NW10 29.95R LINCOLN CLEAR 46 24 42 N14 29.97R FALLS CITY CLEAR 37 22 54 SW14 30.01R WCI 28 LAMONI CLEAR 34 18 52 SW13G25 29.97R WCI 25 DES MOINES MOCLDY 36 16 44 SW18G26 29.94R WCI 26

Current Temperatures, Dewpoint, RH, Wind, Regional Obs, Surface 4-Panel
Current Agricultural Weather Conditions in Iowa
Based on observations at 500pm CST, Friday January 24, 2025

Across Iowa...temperatures are near 38 degrees west, near 36 degrees central, and near 23 degrees east. Current sky conditions are cloudy west, mostly cloudy central, and cloudy east. In the west, relative humidity is near 59%, and the dew point is near 25 degrees. In the central part of the state, relative humidity is near 44%, and the dew point is near 16 degrees. In the east, relative humidity is near 57%, and the dew point is near 10 degrees. Winds are from the northwest at 13 mph with gusts at 22 mph west, where conditions are not favorable for spraying due to strong winds. The wind chill is near 30 degrees west. Winds are from the southwest at 18 mph with gusts at 26 mph central, where conditions are not favorable for spraying due to strong winds. The wind chill is near 26 degrees central. Winds are from the south at 18 mph with gusts at 31 mph east, where conditions are not favorable for spraying due to strong winds. The wind chill is near 9 degrees east. The livestock cold stress index is in the no stress category west, no stress category central, and no stress category east. Based on current available observations, the highest temperature is 39 degrees at Harlan. The lowest temperature is 20 degrees at Dubuque.

Current NOWCAST not available:
Nowcasts are not issued routinely during fair weather. Only when
precipitation or other significant weather is occuring in this county will these
forecasts be issued. Currently, there is no short term forecast in effect.

US Radar, All NWS Radars (In near-real time), Current Livestock Heat Stress Index (LSI), Current Wind Chill Map
Hazardous Weather Outlook For POLK County,IA

301 PM CST Fri Jan 24 2025 DAY ONE This afternoon and tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN Saturday through Thursday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT Spotter activation will not be needed.
NWS Severe Weather Map , Convective Outlook

7-Day Forecast For POLK County, IA
515 PM CST Fri Jan 24 2025 TONIGHT
Mostly cloudy. Not as cool with lows around 20. West winds 5 to 10 mph.
SATURDAY
Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 30s. West winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Partly cloudy. Lows around 11. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
SUNDAY
Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 30s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.
SUNDAY NIGHT
Mostly clear. Near steady temperature in the lower 20s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
MONDAY
Sunny. Highs in the mid 40s.
MONDAY NIGHT
Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 20s.
TUESDAY
Sunny. Highs in the mid 40s.
TUESDAY NIGHT
Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 20s.
WEDNESDAY
Sunny. Highs in the upper 30s.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Mostly clear. Lows around 20.
THURSDAY
Sunny. Highs in the upper 30s.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Partly cloudy. Lows around 20.
FRIDAY
Mostly sunny. A chance of snow and rain in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 30s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.
12-48 Hr Surface Forecast Maps, TWC 4-Panel Surface Forecast, Fire Danger, Day 1 Precip, Day 2 Precip, Days 1-5 Precip, Severe Weather Pot.-Day 1, Day 2
Medium & Long Range Outlook For Iowa IOWA --------------------------------------------- 6 TO 10 DAY 8 TO 14 DAY 30 DAY 90 DAY JAN 30-FEB 3 FEB 1-FEB 7 JUN JUN-AUG ----------- ----------- -------- --------- Temperature: Above Normal Precipitation: Above Above .... Medium and long range outlooks provided by NCEP/K. Thomas Priddy
5 Day Rainfall Forecast, 6 to 10 Day , 8 to 14 Day , Text, 30-Day Outook, 90-Day Outook, 120-Day Outlook
Almanac Information

Historical Weather And Climate Facts For Today

JANUARY 24TH HISTORICAL WEATHER FACTS ...1916... The temperature at Browning MT plunged 100 degrees in just 24 hours, from 44 degrees above zero to 56 degrees below zero. It was a record 24 hour temperature drop for the U.S. (Weather Channel) (National Severe Storms Forecast Center) ...1935... Snowstorms hit the northeastern U.S. and the Pacific Northwest producing record 24 hour snowfall totals of 23 inches at Portland ME and 52 inches at Winthrop MA. (David Ludlum)

Ag Weather Center, Department of Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky