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What in the Weather?


Jun 17, 2026

Episode Summary

00:00:32 – Iowa weather history: a severe 1978 thunderstorm with softball-sized hail and damaging winds from Sioux City to Webster City

00:01:09 – Follow-up on the latest recorded frost in Iowa history (June 22, 1902, in Columbus Junction) and the cooler global climate trends of that era

00:02:21 – Weekly forecast: continued active weather, more rain Saturday night into Sunday, near-normal temperatures trending slightly cooler next week, and comfortable dew points

00:03:34 – Breakdown of the storm system moving through Iowa, including a 94 mph wind gust in Marshalltown and discussion of squall lines, the low-level jet, and derecho criteria

00:07:37 – Whether last week's 8-to-14-day hazard outlook predicted this week's severe weather event

00:09:14 – New 8-to-14-day outlook (June 24–30): slightly cooler and wetter than normal, no hazards expected

00:10:06 – Three-to-four-week outlook (June 27–July 10): equal chances for above/below/near normal temperature and precipitation

00:10:35 – Discussion of June running about 4°F above the 30-year average so far

00:11:51 – Past week's weather recap: the June 10 derecho, a tornado in Washington County, and severe wind/hail damage on June 11 in southwest Iowa

00:14:37 – Verification of last week's rainfall forecast (heavy in the southeast, minimal in the northwest) and impacts on weed cultivation

00:15:34 – Weekly weather data: highs, lows, and rainfall totals across the state

00:16:14 – Recap of a windier-than-normal meteorological spring (March–May)

00:17:38 – Outlook for a wetter Gulf/southern US and its connection to a possible cooler July-August-September signal for Iowa

00:20:46 – Drought risk specifically for northwest Iowa given drier conditions there

00:21:32 – Specialty crop pest and disease update: cucumber beetles, squash vine borer, aster leafhopper/aster yellows, Japanese beetles, and halo blight on green beans

00:25:40 – Cool temperatures expected to delay heat-loving crops like tomatoes, peppers, and sweet corn

00:26:29 – Weed control strategy: understanding the "critical weed-free period" for different crops

00:27:39 – Reminder to report suspected herbicide spray drift (2,4-D/dicamba) to IDALS

00:28:52 – Upcoming Controlled Environment Ag Short Course in Ames

summary generated using claude.ai