Podcast Summary
Weather History & Current Conditions (December 18, 2025)
- Historic perspective: December 18, 1976 saw unseasonably warm temps reaching 64°F in Des Moines
- Recent pattern shift from active Alberta Clippers bringing light, fluffy snow to warmer, drier conditions
- Flash freeze warning for today as cold front passes through with potential snow squalls
White Christmas Outlook
- Historical probabilities: Rock Rapids (70%), Des Moines (39%), Fort Madison (30%)
- 2025 forecast: Unlikely for white Christmas anywhere in Iowa due to warming trend and dry forecast through month's end
- Reflects broader trend of warming winters and transition from snow to rain/mixed precipitation
Climate Forecast
- Next 7 days: Unseasonably warm (40s) and dry as polar vortex retreats north
- 6-14 day outlook: Strong signal for above-normal temps and dry conditions across western Iowa
- January-March: Equal chances on temperature, lean wet for eastern Iowa quarter
- Spring outlook: Potential transition to ENSO neutral conditions (70% probability), similar to pleasant spring 2025?
December Snow Recap
- Fourth snowiest November on record for some stations
- Keokuk Lock and Dam (records since 1894) and Toledo (records since 1884) saw snowiest November-December period
- Multiple Alberta Clippers dropped 2-3 inches each, totaling 5-7 inches statewide
- December 14th storm caused I-80 closures and treacherous driving conditions
Specialty Crop Updates
- Melcast System: Fungicide timing tool for melon growers will be available for Iowa locations (web-based platform from Indiana)
- Caterpillar Tunnels: Rolling Acres Produce Supply in Drakesville now manufacturing local tunnel kits with prefab end walls with doors
- Great Lakes Expo Recap: Major Midwest fruit/vegetable conference in Grand Rapids
- Annual Strawberry Production: New technique shared—rooting bare-root plants in plug trays for 6 weeks before July 15th planting optimizes yield and reduces runner management
Upcoming
- Last episode of 2025
- Live recording at Iowa Specialty Producers Conference, February 24th in Ankeny
- January episode will come, but unknown date right now.
Podcast summary generated using claude.ai
