Iowa Weather Report January 22nd 2015: Clipper Convoy

CLIPPERS ON ARRIVAL: The continued string of clippers looks to continue as we head into the weekend and early next week. Each clipper looks to bring some chance of precipitation to the state. The strongest looks to be the one on Sunday with other clipper systems coming through Friday and again on Tuesday. It’s too early to determine the amount of precipitation they may bring, but the one on Sunday could bring some accumulation of snow to the state especially the northeastern counties. Highs today will be in the 30 across the state with some 30s and 40s possible on Friday. Skies today will be partly to mostly sunny with a few more clouds possible on Friday.

NEXT WEEK: Even with the northwesterly flow, temperatures still look to remain above seasonal levels for most of next week. Highs in the 30s and even some 40s will be possible through the week. The GFS shows another system next Thursday that could bring rain or snow to the state at that time. Some cooler air may follow in the wake of that system as we head into the following weekend.

ARCTIC BLASTS: The GFS is now showing some significantly colder air moving in as the calendar changes to February. Two 1052mb Highs over Canada look to sweep southeastward across the Northern Plains and Western Great Lakes during this period. This would likely bring sub-zero temperatures back to the state at that time with readings possibly well below zero at night if conditions are right. We have seen this from time to time on the models so while confidence isn’t too high with this scenario, it would not be surprising. We’ll keep watching nonetheless.