Rain on Saturday, Spring Ahead on Sunday – Iowa Weather Network Archives

RAIN THIS WEEKEND: More sunshine and warm temperatures will be in store today across the state. Highs will be in the 60s for the most part with some areas in southwestern Iowa possibly getting into the lower 70s. Clouds will be on the increase as we head into tonight and early on Saturday as moisture comes in from the south. Rain will move in during the late morning and early afternoon hours for those south of Interstate 80 and late afternoon into the early evening north. This does look to hold temperatures down into the lower and middle 60s with the warmest readings possibly in our northern counties where they may get some peaks of sunshine early before clouds completely take over. Sunday looks to be rather cloudy as well with the best chances of continued rain over our eastern counties. The western counties may see some peaks of sunshine but they look to be few and far between. Highs on Sunday will be similar to Saturday with lower and middle 60s. Rainfall amounts through the weekend are expected to range between a third of an inch and three quarters. There could be some isolated heavier totals than that.

SPRING AHEAD: Also while staying inside all weekend due to the rain, it is time to move clocks AHEAD an hour for the beginning of Daylight Saving Time. The fun time of the year where you lose an hour of sleep only to get it back in November.

NEXT WEEK: Monday we’ll be between systems as the weekend storm will be off to our east while another one will be approaching from the west. Monday will see readings in the 60s across the state with partly to mostly sunny skies. Those skies turn cloudy as we head into late Monday night through the day on Tuesday with a chance of some rain. Highs in the 50s and lower 60s will be possible Tuesday with colder air coming in behind the system on Wednesday with 40s and lower 50s possible then. Rainfall amounts look to be around a quarter to half inch at this time (could change). The GFS has the low pressure center seemingly slow to move away as we look toward the end of next week with backwash precipitation possible in our northeastern counties into Thursday and Thursday night. Cloudiness will be around those areas as well which should keep temperatures down into the upper 30s and lower 40s while the rest of the state should see middle to upper 40s. We have seen some consensus with the Euro showing the same thinking on their 12z run yesterday. Another thing to keep in mind is that the precipitation in Wisconsin and Minnesota may be in the form of snow while NE Iowa could see mainly a cold rain or perhaps a bit of a mix (especially at night). We’ll monitor closely.

LOOKING AHEAD: As we take a quick glance at what the GFS is showing in the extended period, a storm is shown moving up the east coast next weekend (19th and 20th) with quite a bit of precipitation there. What looks to do for us is keep cooler air around for a bit longer. A disturbance is seen skirting our northeastern counties on the 20th with a slight chance of precipitation with that. Warmer air moves back in around the 22nd ahead of another system on the 23rd and 24th with a chance of precipitation (likely rain) at that time. The weather pattern continues to look active as we head through the end of the period with another system approaching from the west on the 26th. Temperatures through the period look to average close to seasonal levels with the cooler periods around the 19th and 20th and then again following the system on the 25th. Remember that this is just model data and not a “true” forecast as yet. We’ll watch it as always.