Sorry for the bad rhymes. We try to be funny..

 Ike made landfall Saturday morning as a Category 2 hurricane near Gavelston. The huge storm packed winds over 100 mph and generated storm surge 10-20 feet. It quickly weakened as it moved over land, but is now a heavy rain maker across the deep south, especially Texas and Arkansas. Randy posted a wealth of information yesterday on where to find/see stuff on Ike from the heart of where it’s happening.

Thanks to Ike, and strong southerly flow in the atmosphere, a plume of rich, tropical Gulf moisture has made its way all the way to the mid section of the country. You probably felt it today – just way too humid outside. This juicy, continuous feed of moisture is helping to feed heavy rains across the heart of the United States (see the radar image). Ike will quickly move northeast, but as a disturbance passing through our area, it will help to “kick” Ike to our south and east. Therefore, we’ll miss out on the chunk of rain that we need.

A cold front will sweep through our area this evening – the humidity has already dropped in Rochester, and the winds have switched to the northwest – and this will make for a fairly raw and breezy Sunday. Plenty of clouds will still be around, and we’ll see chances for sprinkles/drizzle/isolated thundershowers tomorrow. Highs will struggle to get to 60°, but warmer weather – and sun – is on tap for next week.

Posted under KTTC, Tropical weather, weather

Whatever your choice is of keeping dry from the rain, while simultaneously managing to keep you warm, grab that for Monday. We’ll be expecting a good dose of rain, especially in the afternoon. It’ll be a good soaker, especially across parts of north and central Iowa. We could be picking up over 0.50 – 0.75″ of rain in some places. But under cloud cover, it’ll be chilly and raw – only into the middle 50s for highs. Hang tight, because “warmer” conditions (60s, 70s) will be arriving by midweek. We’re looking to get back to normal, if not above by next weekend – but that is all up in the air yet, with the uncertainty of where Ike will end up.

Posted under KTTC, weather