Weather

El Nino may throw long-term weather projections for a loop.

The Gazette will be answering reader inquiries about the smoky conditions and what they mean for Iowa.

Chris Gloninger is departing KCCI and his career in TV news in July, he announced Wednesday, citing family health issues and post-traumatic stress he suffered after receiving the threats.

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

The abrupt dryness from flash droughts, like the one that has been occurring in Iowa, come on quickly and can wilt crops and waterways faster than long-term droughts. New research finds the dangerous dry spells will become more common in the future.

Drought conditions spread so quickly in May that state experienced a “flash drought.”

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.

The rising river, caused by a surge of water from melting snowfall to the north, likely will rank in the top 10 of all time in many places, but the National Weather Service still said the river levels generally will remain well below past records.

After 16 years of covering nearly every type of disaster in Eastern Iowa, meteorologist Kaj O’Mara is leaving KCRG to pursue forensic meteorology.

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

River communities could enter flood action stages as soon as this weekend, cresting toward the end of April and beginning of May.