Iowa Weather Report September 22nd 2015: Split Forecast

SUNNY IN THE EAST, STORMY IN THE WEST: There will be a variable weather pattern over the next several days across the state with different forecasts for different parts of the state. Today will be mainly sunny across the entire state with highs reaching the 70s to lower 80s. The differences begin late tonight and last through Thursday as a cold front tries to move in from the northwest and the remnants of Tropical Depression 16E come in from the southwest. This will produce showers and thunderstorms across the western counties of the state off and on from late tonight through Thursday. The eastern counties however will see virtually no chance of precipitation with mainly sunny skies around through the end of the week. Highs in western Iowa will be held down into the 70s through Thursday due to the amount of clouds around with some lower 80s in the eastern counties.

WEEKEND TIME: As we head into the weekend, the weather calms down for the western counties while the eastern counties continue with the dry weather and sunshine. Temperatures will still remain above seasonal levels in the 70s to lower 80s across the state. It will be a bit breezy as well with southerly winds around 10-15mph.

NEW WORK WEEK: Heading into the beginning of the new work week, a storm system will begin to approach from the west. We should see a noticeable increase in the clouds by late on Monday and perhaps a chance of a few showers or thunderstorms in our northwestern counties by late on Tuesday, however most of the state looks to remain dry at least through then. Readings will still remain in the 70s and lower 80s through Tuesday.

OCTOBER BOUND: As we head into the extended period which takes us into the month of October, the GFS shows the system mentioned in the previous paragraph moving through next Wednesday with a chance of some precipitation at that time, although the model indicates it may not be a whole lot for the southeastern half of the state. We’ll have a better idea on this in a couple of days. It does show the temperatures dropping off to seasonal levels as we head into the 1st of October. Looking at the first week of the month, the pattern looks to become more zonal with quick moving systems bringing chances of precipitation with readings averaging out near seasonal levels. Don’t see any signs of frosty weather around as yet as we’re nearing the first frost date across the state.