[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2qNAyJtKHM&hl=en&fs=1]

ALMOST DRY WEEKEND: Dry easterly winds will keep a lot of precipitation out of the state this weekend, with only the far southern and southwestern counties (similiar to last night) getting any snow showers or flurries today.

BIG SNOW TUESDAY?: Models are showing a possibility of a large amount of snow possible across the state Tuesday into early Wednesday. The 5 days snowfall forecast from the GFS model run shows upwards of 10-12″ across southeastern Iowa. The model has tended to overdo some of the amounts (although it was spot on during the February Blizzard), the heaviest totals if this comes to pass may be in the 5-9″ range, but it’s too early to determine as yet, where the heaviest snow will fall, whether it will be in the form of snow or if the storm misses the state altogether. The QPF chart as yet doesn’t show the storm on its 5 day precipitation charts. We’ll have to wait until later this morning to see if it’ll pop up. If this does come to pass, expect Winter Storm Watches possibly as early as Sunday across parts of the state.

APRIL STORMS: Out past the 7 day period, looks to have several storm systems including possibly the next severe weather episode for the state on April 8th. Regardless, temperatures will rebound back to and above the seasonal average by early April.

FLOODING: River flooding continues across the state and will for several weeks. The Mississippi River will head above flood stage in northeast Iowa next week and will continue rising into April further south. This will be a prolonged event that may last through the middle of April if not longer depending on precipitation patterns.