[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5aiiSgSAsg&w=640&h=480]
INTO AGREEMENT: The GFS and EURO are finally coming together and what that means is we can with more confidence say that rain with some snow to start will be coming back into the state Thursday. Until then a bit cooler today in the wake of a weak system that moved through the state with a few flurries and freezing drizzle across the area. Highs today in the 20s to near 30 with mainly sunny skies. Temperatures will slowly warm into next week with some 30s Sunday perhaps touching or exceeding 40 in southern Iowa where there is a lack of snow cover on the ground. This will be the case again Monday and Tuesday as well with snow continuing to melt with readings at or above freezing in many areas of the state.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: The storm on Thursday will bring some cloudiness into the state as early as late Wednesday with some of the precipitation starting in southern Iowa as early as Thursday morning. Some of this precipitation may be in the form of snow or sleet before it switches over to all rain. Snow amounts are expected to be very light if at all. The rain will move through the state during the daylight hours of Thursday with some moderate rain possible. Amounts of a half inch are not out of the question at this time. Highs Thursday will be in the 30s to lower 40s (so some sleet mixed in isn’t out of the question). This moves off to the northeast Friday in time for the next part to move in late Friday night into early Saturday, this time with much colder air and likely some snow. The heaviest snow looks to fall north and west of the state as the GFS shows much of the state getting into the dry slot around the base of the low pressure center Saturday. This could change, but what isn’t likely to change is the much colder weather that follows these two storms. Highs perhaps back into the teens to near 20, lows around 0 once more. This looks to last at least a week or so, we’ll see.