Past IEM Features tagged: 2008
An extra foot
06 Jan 2011 05:51 AMYesterday's feature presented the last four years as being wetter than average statewide. The featured map compares these four years (2007-2010) against the 30 years previous to that. Please note that the units of this chart are inches per year, so a good portion of the state is shown with values in the 10-15 inches range. This means that the past four years have averaged 10-15 inches more per year than the average of the previous 30 years. Some portions of the state have not been as relatively wet and even a deficit appears in far northwestern Iowa.
Voting:
Good: 25
Bad: 2
Tags: precip 2007 2008 2009 2010
Warnings per month
05 Nov 2009 06:29 AMThe featured chart displays the monthly number of severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings issued by the National Weather Service for this year and last. In general, the number of warnings is down this year compared with 2008. The most significant difference is the number of tornado warnings in May being half of the total for 2008.
Voting:
Good: 18
Bad: 9
Tags: 2008 2009
Staying above the trend line
03 Nov 2009 06:10 AMThe featured chart is a comparison of the accumulated rainfall for this year and last along with the climatological accumulation. In general, the running total for this year has remained above the climatology with the heavy rainfall in October pushing us well north of average again. We are still a ways from repeating 2008, which is a good thing.
Voting:
Good: 14
Bad: 6
Tags: 2008 2009
A warm feature
30 Jan 2009 06:15 AMMaybe a feature about summer would help us to think warm thoughts and hopefully look forward to summer! The featured chart displays the number of days between the first and last occurance of 90+ degree temperature in Iowa. 2008 comes in as the second shortest season with only 100 days. Again, 1993 shows up prominently with 2008 in a chart. Of course, 90 degree temperatures are not in the immediate forecast, but let us hope for any number above freezing!
Voting:
Good: 32
Bad: 17
Tags: 2008 summer
Never caught up
23 Oct 2008 06:51 AMThe featured graph is of growing degree day accumulations between May 1rst and October 1rst this year for Ames. The departure for the year was about down 200 units. The climatological accumulation is not a requirement for crops like corn to reach maturity, but rather gives a baseline of what we may expect to see. you can generate more plots like these here
Voting:
Good: 54
Bad: 28
Tags: 2008
Less severe month
21 Oct 2008 06:48 AMThe featured chart is of total severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings issued in the CONUS by the National Weather Service by month. October has seen far fewer warnings than any other month this year. Severe weather chances are in the forecast to our south and west the next two days.
Voting:
Good: 18
Bad: 5
Tags: 2008
Will the streak continue?
30 Sep 2008 06:22 AMWhile it will be close, the average temperature for September for Ames appears to be slightly below normal which makes for the 11th straight month. Other locations in Iowa may come in slightly above normal for the month, such as Des Moines. The forecast looks to be great for the beginning of October with highs creeping back toward 70.
Voting:
Good: 21
Bad: 6
Tags: 2008
Running short
26 Sep 2008 06:47 AMGrowing degree days this growing season have been running a bit short. The featured chart shows how May, August, and September are contributing to the approximate 200 unit deficit. Our recent warm stretch has helped to make up some of this deficit, but the question remains how useful this heat is to crops that are nearly mature.
Voting:
Good: 29
Bad: 12
Tags: 2008
Streak without a record high
18 Sep 2008 06:29 AMThe last day that a record high temperature was set anywhere in Iowa was 29 January 2008, which makes for a streak of around 232 days. The featured chart looks at the longest period in the Iowa climate data without a record high set anywhere in the state. As with other charts we have featured this year, 1993 shows up promiently. The forecast does not fortell any immediate chances of record warmth, so our streak will continue.
Voting:
Good: 28
Bad: 5
Tags: 2008
August breaks the trend
02 Sep 2008 06:14 AMBack on 9 May, this same plot was presented showing how wet our weather had been for the past 12 months. Little did we know at the time that May, June, and July would be very wet months as shown in today's featured plot. August turned out to be very dry with rainfall totals some 8 to 9 inches below what was received back in August 2007.
Voting:
Good: 21
Bad: 41
Tags: 2008
30 inches
30 Jul 2008 06:44 AMA quick calculation of rainfall estimates for this year places 2008 number two on the all time heaviest rainfall list for the period between 1 Jan and 30 Jul. Everyone (old enough!) remembers 1993 for the flooding and we will probably remember 2008 for similiar reasons.
Voting:
Good: 35
Bad: 14
Tags: 2008
Missing those warm days
15 May 2008 07:18 AMThe featured table is an attempt to illustrate how we have not seen many warm days so far this year. The left hand side is a simple count of the number of days with a high temperature 10+ degrees above normal. The right hand side is the maximum difference of the actual high temperature against the normal for the day. The forecast calls for warmer weather, but only in the mid 70s, which is about normal.
Voting:
Good: 14
Bad: 10
Tags: 2008
Too much rain again
28 Apr 2008 06:55 AMThe featured map is of IEM rainfall estimates for the past week showing portions of Northeast Iowa picking up 4-6 inches. Significant flooding continues in the area. The first part of this week looks mostly dry before our next rain chances on Thursday.
Voting:
Good: 23
Bad: 7
Tags: 2008
Snowy winter
22 Feb 2008 07:25 AMThe featured map is an estimate of total snowfall for this winter based on NWS COOP reports collected by the IEM. This winter has seen a number of storms dump their heaviest snow in a line from Ottumwa to Dubuque to Milwaukee. Keep in mind that some locations on this map saw totals even higher than depicted. Our next chance of major snowfall is set to arrive early next week.
Voting:
Good: 34
Bad: 13
Tags: 2008