Storm Team 4 Weather Blog

Annular Solar Eclipse Visible Sunday May 20th

roconnor — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:33:38 +0000

Get your telescopes ready with the solar filters this Sunday, May 20th to view an annular solar eclipse. The eclipse will begin over southeast China and will pass over Japan on May 21st. As the eclipse crosses the International Date Line, the local date will be the 20th here in the United States. The best view of the eclipse will be on the west coast and in the southwestern areas of the United States, however Siouxland, we are not out of the woods of seeing this. South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa will view a 66% obscuration of the Sun (two-thirds of the Sun will be covered by the moon). This is the last annular solar eclipse visible from Iowa until 2014, when 44% of the Sun will be obscured. The one downfall we will be facing is cloud cover, as we have the threat for showers on Sunday. I am hoping that our skies start to clear early enough by the early evening so we can all view this awesome phenomenon. The solar eclipse begins around 7:20 p.m. and will last until about 8:30 p.m. The last annular eclipse visible in Iowa was in 1994.

For more information visit this site: http://eclipse-maps.com/Eclipse-Maps/Gallery/Pages/Annular_solar_eclipse_of_2012_May_20.html

Enjoy everyone.

Riley

Area River Levels

rdemers — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:37:05 +0000

Area river levels are doing a few interesting things. First off, we have the Big Sioux River flooding in some locations because of heavy rain up north from last week’s storms. Both Hawarden and Akron are seeing their crest take place then the levels will be heading down through the weekend. Here’s are the river level forecasts for both Hawarden and Akron.

Here in Sioux City, it’s quite a different story on the Missouri River. On Wednesday, the U-S Army Corps of Engineers shut down Gavins Point Dam for a few hours to investigate some minor damage done by last summer’s floods. As a result, river levels were quickly going down today but will start to go back up to higher levels than what we’ve been seeing after that. Here’s the Missouri River river level forecast.

There are no big rains in the forecast for the coming days, so the levels that you see predicted above should be pretty accurate.

Ron Demers

Much needed rain fell over the weekend…

roconnor — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:47:55 +0000

An anticipated major severe weather outbreak occured over the weekend. Although, the coverage of severe storms was minimal in the Siouxland area, other areas in the Midwest were hit very hard. One good thing that did come over the weekend was the rain. Sioux City (as well as many other Siouxland areas) have been dealing with drought conditions, but just over 3.00″ fell over the weekend helping our monthly and yearly totals to climb above average. Here are the current stats for Sioux City.

Today we will be dealing with that stong area of low pressure exiting the region, and it won’t leave quietly. Stong winds will dominate with this morning into the afternoon. By this evening high pressure will move in and winds will lighten. Here are some of the highest gusts so far from last night and today.

LOCATION                COUNTY         STATE   SPEED   TIME   DATE
YANKTON                 YANKTON          SD    53 MPH 955 PM APR 15
3 NW SIOUX CITY         UNION            SD    44 MPH 1155 PM APR 15
4 E FORESTBURG          SANBORN          SD    45 MPH 907 PM APR 15
SIOUX FALLS /AIRPORT/   MINNEHAHA        SD    53 MPH 1050 PM APR 15
5 W DELL RAPIDS         MINNEHAHA        SD    49 MPH 1039 PM APR 15
BRANDON                 MINNEHAHA        SD    46 MPH 1256 AM APR 16
3 SE MONTROSE           MCCOOK           SD    45 MPH 918 PM APR 15
2 ENE TEA               LINCOLN          SD    43 MPH 435 PM APR 15
1 ENE MADISON           LAKE             SD    52 MPH 830 PM APR 15
3 NNW DE SMET           KINGSBURY        SD    56 MPH 435 PM APR 15
2 SE WESSINGTON SPRINGS JERAULD          SD    66 MPH 655 PM APR 15
1 SE PARKSTON           HUTCHINSON       SD    55 MPH 835 PM APR 15
2 WNW TRIPP             HUTCHINSON       SD    46 MPH 817 PM APR 15
1 ESE GREGORY           GREGORY          SD    58 MPH 635 PM APR 15
MITCHELL /AIRPORT/      DAVISON          SD    61 MPH 846 PM APR 15
1 SSW VERMILLION        CLAY             SD    46 MPH 355 AM APR 16
1 NE PLATTE             CHARLES MIX      SD    56 MPH 655 PM APR 15
1 SSE WAGNER            CHARLES MIX      SD    46 MPH 755 PM APR 15
CHAMBERLAIN /AIRPORT/   BRULE            SD    63 MPH 500 PM APR 15
BROOKINGS /AIRPORT/     BROOKINGS        SD    48 MPH 935 PM APR 15
HURON /AIRPORT/         BEADLE           SD    56 MPH 821 PM APR 15

4 W HOMER DAKOTA NE 53 MPH 120 AM APR 16

1 WSW BEAVER CREEK      ROCK             MN    52 MPH 1100 PM APR 15
LUVERNE                 ROCK             MN    46 MPH 357 AM APR 16
PIPESTONE               PIPESTONE        MN    45 MPH 121 AM APR 16
WORTHINGTON             NOBLES           MN    48 MPH 255 AM APR 16
2 ENE RUSHMORE          NOBLES           MN    48 MPH 1150 PM APR 15
3 W DOVRAY              MURRAY           MN    51 MPH 1224 AM APR 16
SLAYTON /AIRPORT/       MURRAY           MN    47 MPH 1155 PM APR 15
MARSHALL /AIRPORT/      LYON             MN    48 MPH 415 AM APR 16
TRACY                   LYON             MN    46 MPH 533 AM APR 16
3 S HENDRICKS           LINCOLN          MN    60 MPH 1209 AM APR 16
TYLER                   LINCOLN          MN    49 MPH 1143 PM APR 15
3 W ARCO                LINCOLN          MN    43 MPH 145 AM APR 16
JACKSON                 JACKSON          MN    52 MPH 153 AM APR 16
4 ENE JEFFERS           COTTONWOOD       MN    52 MPH 425 AM APR 16
WINDOM /AIRPORT/        COTTONWOOD       MN    48 MPH 232 AM APR 16

SIOUX CITY /AIRPORT/    WOODBURY         IA    53 MPH 251 PM APR 15
1 WSW ORANGE CITY       SIOUX            IA    45 MPH 120 AM APR 16
1 NE SIOUX CENTER       SIOUX            IA    44 MPH 103 AM APR 16
3 NNW LE MARS           PLYMOUTH         IA    41 MPH 501 AM APR 16
3 NE SIBLEY             OSCEOLA          IA    46 MPH 1244 AM APR 16
SHELDON                 OBRIEN           IA    47 MPH 155 AM APR 16
1 NW IDA GROVE          IDA              IA    46 MPH 530 PM APR 15
4 NW WAHPETON           DICKINSON        IA    48 MPH 135 AM APR 16
SPENCER /AIRPORT/      CLAY             IA    48 MPH 206 AM APR 16
3 W DICKENS             CLAY             IA    43 MPH 1231 PM APR 15
CHEROKEE                CHEROKEE         IA    40 MPH 355 AM APR 16
STORM LAKE              BUENA VISTA      IA    47 MPH 435 PM APR 15
2 ENE TRUESDALE         BUENA VISTA      IA    47 MPH 334 AM APR 16

Riley

Thursday Snow Totals

rdemers — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 01:27:55 +0000

Snow and wind combined to give us winter reality check today. As of 10:30 pm, Sioux City has seen .55″ of moisture which is a record for this date. The airport has 2.7″ of snow at last measurement and I’ve measured 3.5 inches here at KTIV. Here’s a look at the snow totals that have come into us at KTIV through 10:30 pm:

Aurelia – 9.0″

Hinton – 6.5″

Kingsley – 6.5″

Ireton – 6.5″

Storm Lake – 6.0″

Alcester – 6.0″

Holstein – 5.1″

6 NNE Elk Point – 5.1″

Spencer – 5.0″

Cherokee – 5.0″

Sibley – 5.0″

1 WNW Canton – 4.5″

Le Mars – 4.0″

Danbury – 4.0″

Pocahontas – 4.0″

Marcus – 3.8″

1 SSE Vermillion – 3.5″

Sheldon – 3.0″

Sioux Center – 3.0″

KTIV – 3.0″

Sioux Gateway Airport – 2.7″

Creighton – 2.5″

Spirit Lake – 2.5″

Lake Park – 2.5″

Manson – 2.0″

Ponca – 2.0″

Mildford – 1.0″

Estherville – .5″

Chief Meteorologist Ron Demers

Updated Advisories and Warnings for Siouxland

roconnor — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:12:56 +0000

Here are the current advisories and warnings for Siouxland. A powerful winter storm is approaching the tri-state area. Stay tuned to KTIV for the latest updates and snow accumulations.

Riley

Winter Weather Coming

rdemers — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:38:50 +0000

It’s hard to believe after such a beautiful Wednesday, but it’s not going to be very nice by Thursday. It starts with some light rain or snow Wednesday night. Then Thursday morning could start be a tricky go with a mix of precipitation possible. That mix includes some freezing rain depending upon temperatures, so be careful as you head out. Sioux City should continue to see a rain and snow mix into the afternoon holding our accumulations to around an inch, just depending on much moisture stays rain instead of snow. But farther north, it’s mainly going to be snow falling and that’s where the accumulations are going to be the heaviest.

With the heaviest snow expected to the north, that’s where the watches and warning have been issued.

And for the areas farther south not in the winter watches and warnings, it’s a Wind Advisory that will take over on Thursday because of gusts over 40 miles per hour possible.

With all the wind that will be blowing, any snow coming down will certainly reduce visibilities and blowing and drifting of snow is going to be a problem for those who get enough snow. This is still an evolving situation so stay up to date with the latest on Thursday and be carefull if you’re going to be out in the elements.

Chief Meteorologist Ron Demers

Biggest Snow of Season for Sioux City

rdemers — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:58:09 +0000

It’s taken a while, but it was truly feeling like winter Monday in Sioux City. We saw our biggest snow of the season so far as 6″ fell in Sioux City.

Sioux City was among the hardest hit areas in Siouxland with only Alcester reporting the same 6-inch amount.

We’ll be melting some of this snow in the coming days with highs above 32 degrees expected into early next week. We’ll just have to watch Wednesday when we have a chance of a little light mix moving through Siouxland.

Ron Demers

Changes Coming in our Weather

rdemers — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:43:03 +0000

We’ve had quite the streak again of mild, quiet weather. Now that’s about to change. A good sized storm system is going to be moving into the Midwest over the next couple of days and some locations could get in on some heavy snow. So let’s look at the time line.

Thursday will bring us our last really mild day. In fact, clouds will be on the increase as the day goes along. By Friday that could give us a chance of a light rain and snow combination.

The low pressure that you see in Future Track above will move to the east and continue to give Siouxland chances of snow Friday night and Saturday. The accumulations could start adding up, especailly in southern Siouxland where over 6 inches of snow could be possible. Look at the bullseye of moisture on the map below expected for Friday night and Saturday.

There’s still plenty of time for this to play out so we’ll keep you updated. Just start making plans for some possible travel troubles come Saturday.

Ron Demers

Snow and Cold Coming

rdemers — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:33:41 +0000

Get ready for wintry changes arriving once again. An Arctic cold front has been working through Siouxland late Wednesday and this is going to drive temperatures down to around 0° tonight with wind chills bottoming out anywhere from -10° to -30° with the coldest temps in northeastern Siouxland where they’ll be under a Wind Chill Advisory through noon Thursday.

The winds will calm down during the day on Thursday, but even though our wind chills will improve as Thursday goes along, our highs will top out only in the single digits so it’s going to be cold all the way around.

Then our focus turns to snow. We’ll have one chance tonight with under an inch of accumulation. Then a better chance comes our way Thursday night into Friday morning when northeastern Siouxland could see from 3 to 5 inches of snow. That’s where a Winter Weather Advisory has been issued from Thursday night into Friday.

At this point, we could be looking at 1 to 3 inches of snow in Sioux City but the path of this snow could still change so we’ll keep an eye on it. A little warming will occur from Saturday into Sunday, but for the next three days, a real chill will be felt by all of us. Bundle up!

Ron Demers

Snow Potential

rdemers — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:23:57 +0000

In a winter that hasn’t given us a lot of snow, it’s easier to get excited about lighter events that move in. That will be the case tonight as some light snow is going to develop and give most of us a chance at some minor accumulations. The snow will first start in western Siouxland, probably after 9 pm. It won’t arrive in Sioux City until well after midnight. The best chances for all of us then occur while we’re sleeping with maybe some light snow still leftover early in the morning.

That snow will quickly move off to the east with decreasing clouds for the rest of our Tuesday. Most of us will end up with around an inch with maybe a little more in western Siouxland.

We will be left with a very cold day on Tuesday with highs only in the teens. Wednesday warms up a bit before Thursday gets cold again.

While it won’t be much snow, be careful Tuesday morning as we haven’t been tested as much this winter as usual and it could be a bit slick.

Ron Demers