Melting Ice

The past couple of days left parts of the state under a few tenths of an inch of ice, while other parts saw plenty of melting snow due to the rainfall that was occurring. This rapid melting and additional rainfall has prompted a few flood warnings over the southeast quarter of the state. Additional melting is likely to occur over the next few days as well as temperatures continue to be well above normal through Tuesday before our next storm system begins to work into the state. For the quick recap on the past few days weather, a map below shows the ice accumulations that have occurred on Dec. 26/27:



For the next few days it looks like we'll stay dry and warm with southerly winds and sunny skies. Through Tuesday you can expect highs to range from the lower 30s across northern Iowa to the lower 40s across the southern third of the state. The lows to go along with these warmer temperatures during the day will also be well above normal, with the teens to mid 20s expected Sunday night. Monday night will be even warmer with lows near 20 across the north and near 30 on the southern border of the state. Beyond these warmer temperatures we'll see another storm system move in and give us a chance of snow on Tuesday night for northern Iowa; expanding to cover more of the state for Wednesday and later. It looks like we'll end the year without another major storm system, time to prepare for 2009!