***Official 2024 Weather Thread***

[clone4life82]

There are some nasty storms expected mid-afternoon in central IA.

Handy site to view future radar model: https://www.ventusky.com/?p=41.54;-96.05;6&l=radar

You can see the line form mid-afternoon, about the time kids would be coming home from school.

This site is awesome! I just downloaded the app and am using this from now on. What model is the best to use for this?

 

[iahawkhunter]

Another site that may be useful this afternoon: https://mrms.nssl.noaa.gov/qvs/product_viewer/

The "Hail/Lightning" product type includes layers for estimated max size, as well as probability of hail in the next 30/60 minutes.

 

[iahawkhunter]

This site is awesome! I just downloaded the app and am using this from now on. What model is the best to use for this?

When given a choice, ECMWF (European model) is usually a good choice, particularly for larger-area things.

When you get to near-term (what's happening this afternoon?) or thunderstorms, looking at the NAM and HRRR can be good. Those update more rapidly and include convection (e.g., thunderstorms).

 

[isufbcurt]

Good news - my upper pond is full again

Bad news - the lower pond is overflowing and almost over the driveway and we lost another big tree.

 

[cmjh10]

Heard Algona got 5-6 inches just overnight.

 

[cmjh10]

For those that have kids with storm anxiety. I used to have anxiety about storms as a kid, but then KCRG came to my school one year and taught us about the weather. I was hooked and learned what I could. Maybe understanding storms will help with the anxiety some?

 

[Cyclonepride]

This is pretty crazy, still trying to decide if some of that bottom layer is snow?

 

[Jer]

This is pretty crazy, still trying to decide if some of that bottom layer is snow?

Oh my ******* gawd.

 

[Gunnerclone]

 

[Pope]

Since it sounds like the main event is supposed to hit central Iowa around 3pm today, I wonder if schools will still dismiss at normal time. If they do, it will be a total mess.

Welp, just got the answer to my own question. Ankeny schools are dismissing 2 hours early today.

 

[CoachHines3]

schools would of never closed for storms like this back in my day

we practice tornado drills! get ur book and goto the hall and cover your head!

 

[awd4cy]

Heard Algona got 5-6 inches just overnight.

So did Melbourne and Rhodes

 

[BoxsterCy]

For all the rain we had just 90 minutes ago in WDM, our business' parking lot has many, large completely dry spots.

Probably where the Romulans have parked their cloaked cars.

 

[aeroclone]

schools would of never closed for storms like this back in my day

we practice tornado drills! get ur book and goto the hall and cover your head!

Yeah, this is certainly something new since I have been out of school. Not sure exactly when the change happened though.

 

[mynameisjonas]

Yeah, this is certainly something new since I have been out of school. Not sure exactly when the change happened though.

I think around 2009.

 

[snowcraig2.0]

schools would of never closed for storms like this back in my day

we practice tornado drills! get ur book and goto the hall and cover your head!

I practiced drilling ur mom.

 

[wxman1]

 

[Saul_T]

Yeah, this is certainly something new since I have been out of school. Not sure exactly when the change happened though.

It's because of the timing. It's scheduled to hit during bus drop off. Your options are:

• Keep students and staff in all buildings stay after school until the weather event is clear
• Dismiss at normal time and hope things go well at drop off
• Dismiss early and avoid all chances of weather, clearing the district of any potential wrongdoing stemming from a kid getting dropped off in lightning.

I also never had this happen "back in my day", but I also never had the potential of a tornado causing system hitting right when I was supposed to be getting off the bus.

 

[clone52]

It's because of the timing. It's scheduled to hit during bus drop off. Your options are:

• Keep students and staff in all buildings stay after school until the weather event is clear
• Dismiss at normal time and hope things go well at drop off
• Dismiss early and avoid all chances of weather, clearing the district of any potential wrongdoing stemming from a kid getting dropped off in lightning.

I also never had this happen "back in my day", but I also never had the potential of a tornado causing system hitting right when I was supposed to be getting off the bus.

Forecast models weren't as accurate either, vot with the intensity and the timing.

 

[tman24]

It's because of the timing. It's scheduled to hit during bus drop off. Your options are:

• Keep students and staff in all buildings stay after school until the weather event is clear
• Dismiss at normal time and hope things go well at drop off
• Dismiss early and avoid all chances of weather, clearing the district of any potential wrongdoing stemming from a kid getting dropped off in lightning.

I also never had this happen "back in my day", but I also never had the potential of a tornado causing system hitting right when I was supposed to be getting off the bus.

We are way better at predicting the storms and their timing then 20+ years ago.