- Season 4 kicks off with Dan Fillius and Justin Glisan; Madelynn Wuestenberg is on maternity leave
- On this day in Iowa weather history: the record-breaking snowstorm of March 4–6, 1959, which stranded an estimated 20,000 vehicles in Des Moines
- Active weather week ahead: strong to severe thunderstorm potential, especially southern Iowa, with 1.5–2.5 inches of rain possible in the southeast over the next 7 days
- Climate outlook: leaning warm and wet through mid-March, with conditions trending back toward near-normal by the 8–14 day window
- 2026 humidity outlook: drought in the Southern Plains may mean lower dew points and overnight lows than the notably muggy summer of 2025
- Meteorological winter recap: warmer than average, significant snow drought, and the 22nd driest winter on record
- Deep dive into the MRCC's Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index (AWSSI), including historical highlights back to 1953
- Specialty crop update: Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus confirmed in a heated greenhouse; field testing and variety resistance (Big Beef Plus vs. Red Deuce) discussed
- Cotyledon salt damage in tomato transplants revisited; grower conducting potting media trial
- Resources mentioned: Randall Vos's article on grape vine dormancy and chilling hours; Cornell asparagus webinar (March 17, $20); open position for ISU vegetable production specialist
Episode summary generated using Claude.ai
