Articles Tagged: National Weather Service

Almost 84 percent of the county is experiencing extreme drought — the second-highest drought intensity, according to this week’s U.S. Drought Monitor update.

Iowa faces dangerous weather conditions, strained power grid and event cancellations. Ambient air temperature in Cedar Rapids is expected to reach 101 degrees Wednesday and Thursday. It would be the first time in 10 years that Cedar Rapids has hit 100 degrees.

More wildfire smoke from Canada is set to descend on Iowa on Friday, but it won’t be as dense as …

Homeless residents told The Gazette they need more to protect them from heat-related illnesses.

“Feels like” temperatures could reach 110 degrees from Cedar Rapids down to Burlington.

Eastern Iowa will likely start seeing temperatures surpassing 90 degrees by midweek, even as early as Tuesday. It will likely be the hottest days of the summer so far. Local officials are ready to respond, if needed, with cooling centers.

Air quality in Cedar Rapids deteriorated from “moderate” to “unhealthy” throughout Thursday morning, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Fire and Smoke Map.

Barge transport can resume on the waterway, and Iowa river communities can dry off.

Wildfires in Canada — as many as 31 of which were uncontrolled as of Thursday — have been to blame for the hazy skies in Iowa this week. And while a cold front moving across the state today will blow the haze away, experts said it’s likely to return in the coming weeks and months.

Outbuildings, trees, utility poles and a dock were among the damage.

Flooding infrastructure held up along Iowa’s stretch of the river

Barge traffic has stalled, establishments are submerged, operations are delayed — but businesses along the swollen Mississippi River still forge ahead.

Photos and accounts from Eastern Iowa show preparation, perseverance and community support amid rising water levels.

The river is expected to crest in many areas this weekend, but several areas are already experiencing flooding.

While historical trends are tough to analyze, severe weather of the future may shift to be more variable and severe.