Steve Gottschalk: Predicting the Weather Like Grandpa Use To

I notice in the winter when pressure goes up and temperature plunges, and vice versa. Why is that?

Hey Terry - seems like we’ve had quite a streak of brown Christmas’s here in Cedar Rapids. I’m thinking this year will be the sixth consecutive one. Do you have any history on the longest stretch of not having a white Christmas in Cedar Rapids? Btw, love the site and your content!

Snow is wrapping up around eastern Iowa but still falling in some sections of Wisconsin and Illinois. The snow band was relatively narrow but it did cut through the heart of my area. As much as 6 inches fell in the heaviest band which amazingly was centered on Cedar Rapids and Marion for the third time this season (that's where I live, that never happens)! The 5 inches from this storm with the 8 from the previous 2 brings my total for the winter to 13 inches. The average for the entire winter is just 32 inches. We are off to a great start here considering winter doesn't officially begin for more than 5 weeks! As of 10:00 am Monday morning this is what the Iowa Mesonet is showing for snow totals. Here's a regional perspective. Again these are preliminary reports and some places may have had more. As you can see the last of the snow is now crossing the Mississippi in my eastern counties where it will end early this afternoon. Skies are rapidly clearing to the west and I can now see blue skies and sunshine out my window here in Cedar Rapids. On the satellite you can view the clearing line from near Green Bay to Dubuque and back to Cedar Rapids. With the snow out of the way the focus turns to record cold. With winds diminishing tonight and fresh snow on the ground for many, lows could approach or even go a bit below zero in spots. At this hour readings are only in the single digits in parts of North Dakota and Minnesota. Wind chills are sub-zero and locally as cold as 15 below in the Dakota's By tomorrow morning lows are projected to look like this on the 3k NAM. Good enough for records in my area. The wind chills could reach 10 below. Tuesday's highs may not reach 20 which would again challenge record cold highs. Here are a list of some attainable records for cities in my local area that I have data for. Record Lows for November 11... Lows for the calendar day will likely occur just before midnight tonight and will be close to these readings. Moline.........12 in 1950 Cedar Rapids...4 in 1986 Dubuque........6 in 1986 Burlington.....12 in 1986 Record Cold Highs for November 11... Moline.........27 in 1986 Cedar Rapids...23 in 1986 Dubuque........22 in 1986 Burlington.....27 in 1995 Record Lows for November 12... Moline......... 8 in 1986 Cedar Rapids....5 in 1986 Dubuque.........6 in 1986 Burlington......9 in 1986 Record Cold Highs for November 12... Moline.........20 in 1911 Cedar Rapids...19 in 1940 Dubuque........18 in 1940 Burlington.....25 in 1940 That's where we stand late on a wintry Monday morning. Smile and roll weather...TS PLEASE, ALL IT TAKES IS 3 PENNIES A DAY... That's all it takes from you to help make TSwails one of the best, most unique, and reliable weather sites in the Midwest. We hope that you will consider a voluntary subscription of $12 dollars a year (3 cents per day). That allows me to stay free of the corporate world and pour my energy into doing what I do best, forecasting the weather! We hope you see the value and hard work that goes into the site everyday. You support in any way is sincerely appreciated. Thanks and roll weather. To donate click on the secure green box below.