Weather History & Current Conditions
- Historical note: In 1950, Des Moines saw a 14° temperature spike in 5 minutes during a thunderstorm, reaching 87° due to prefrontal warming
- Current forecast: Cold front Friday with showers/thunderstorms, then cooler temps - returning to seasonal averages (mid-60s highs, upper-40s lows)
Frost Watch
- Only 5 Iowa stations have hit freezing so far (Elkader, Sioux Center at 31°, Stanley, Spencer and Mason City at 32°)
- No widespread frost or freeze expected through end of October
- Growers advised to protect tender crops like basil during low-40s temperatures
Precipitation & Long-Range Outlook
- Southwestern Iowa received 3 inches of rain (nearly a month's worth)
- Winter outlook shows classic La Niña pattern: leaning cold in northwest Iowa, wet in eastern Iowa for December-February
- Warmth persisting through end of October with near-normal precipitation
Specialty Crop Updates
- Root crop harvest underway
- Spinach showing Cladosporium (fungal disease) in high tunnels—venting recommended
- Resources shared: eGRO water testing guide, corn earworm management in cut flowers
Upcoming Events
summary generted using claude.ai
