- Jul 31, 2019

THE MOST EXTREME WEATHER IN NORTH AMERICA...

One of the first things you learn about life in the Midwest is that the weather is fickle and not to be trusted. It's your friend one day and your foe the next. Few years can boast the extremes w'eve seen in 2019. Using the apparent temperature as a measure, climatologist Brian Brettschneider has shown that the biggest range in North American temperatures from the coldest wind chills to the hottest heat indices were centered right here in the heartland.

Here's a closer view of this years feels like range which was as great as 180 degrees in central Minnesota. That takes into account a wind chill of 65 below and a heat index of 115.

Precipitation is also no stranger to variance. In Iowa the period June 2018 through May 2019 was the wettest in Iowa history. The statewide average of 50.73" is the most since records began in 1895.

That's a remarkable change from last summer when drought conditions (severe in spots) impacted sections of every Midwestern state. See the comparison below.

Just in the past 3 months, Iowa City, Iowa has gone from it's 2nd wettest May (11.33") to it's 10th driest July (1.04"). It's a fact of life, our climate is becoming more extreme and the worst is yet to come. Just because you can't see it, it doesn't mean it isn't happening. After the all-time hottest July in Alaska, sea ice in the Chukchi Sea is at an all-time low, 41% below the previous deficit set in 2017.

Temperatures in Alaska have been above normal for for a remarkable 95 consecutive days!

July will easily be the warmest Alaskan month since records were started in 1925.

And while we're on the topic of extremes, Wednesday morning will be one for that around the state of Iowa. In the southwest showers will dot the state. This is what the 3k NAM shows for rain mid morning.

At the same time in the northeast half of the state, skies will be clear. See the simulated satellite below.

That makes the difference between lows that range from the 40s and 50s in the clear sky areas to the 60s where clouds and showers are found.

And with the pattern showing little change the next few days chances are what you're currently seeing is pretty much what you'll get going into the weekend. Here's the EURO rainfall forecast through Sunday.