9/11/25 - Summery Weather Ahead

Weather Forecast & Climate Updates

• Hot and dry conditions ahead with temperatures in low-mid 90s and heat index values in mid-upper 90s

• 8-14 day outlook shows continued warmth into late September with slight chance for above normal precipitation

• ENSO update: 71% chance of La Niña transition October-December, signaling potential warm and dry fall/winter

This Week's Weather Recap

• Chilly temperatures that felt great after a hot summer

• Mostly dry conditions with under 0.4 inches for most of the state

• First freeze of season recorded at Stanley, Iowa (32°F on September 7th)

Specialty Crop Impacts

• Pumpkins: Strong auction prices ($5-10 vs typical $2-3) but poor growing season with fruit set issues

• Cucumbers: Cold damage causing unmarketable scarring at Featherstone Farm

• Melons: Season ended 6+ weeks early, creating H-2A labor contract challenges for growers

• Watermelons: Poor year especially in low-lying areas due to fruit rot

• Flowers: Mixed reports - Rose Farm had great year, others experienced delays

• Honey production: Drastically reduced to 1/5 of expected yields, indicating widespread pollinator issues

Historical Weather Note

• September 11, 1917: Earliest freeze on record hit eastern Iowa with temperatures as low as 30°F, causing considerable damage to corn, potatoes, and other late crops

Coming Next Week

• Summer Glory Index results and fall foliage outlook

Podcast summary generated using Claude.ai