hawkeye_wx

Thank god we're about to get out of this garbage weather pattern. Each of the last four days has gotten worse. Today is pretty lousy with wind-driven very light rain and chilly temp.

The big warmup has been pushed back to Wednesday. Clouds and sprinkles/showers held us in the low to mid 60s Saturday and Sunday, and today is no different. It's breezy today as well, so it's rather chilly. Tuesday could be a washout, which will hold us down again.

I also had not received any vaccinations for many years, but I was not concerned at all getting the COVID shot. I figured, at worst, I would get a brief headache or feel tired. Ultimately, I could not even feel being stuck by such a tiny needle (I used to donate plasma and they use a much larger needle) and I experienced no side effects other than a slighly sore upper arm for a day or two after each shot. Getting the two shots was a nothingburger experience. Now I am likely protected against any severe COVID symptoms if not completely immune. Getting the shots was an easy choice for me.

Terrified of what? Side effects?

Some decent rain fell across eastern Iowa overnight. I received 0.39".

A few days ago I posted qpf maps through next week for the GFS and Euro. Unfortunately, the dry GFS is looking more correct. The Euro surged moisture and storms up into the lakes, but that is looking unlikely. This weekend's rain has mostly vanished and now it may be at least mid next week before anything can lift up into our region. The latest Euro now has nothing until Thursday. Ugh.

Here's the link to the page where you can change the NWS office and other details. https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/plotting/auto/?q=44

Got down to about 36º here, had some frost on the grass.

Here's a graphic of Des Moines area severe warnings through early May, going back to 1986. The last three years are all at the bottom, with 2021 being the worst with only three warnings. The last three years, combined, would be the eighth lowest on this list. That's how bad it has been recently.

The op Euro and GFS are quite different in the extended. The GFS keeps the blocking going, which suppresses everything. The Euro gets the blocking outa here and surges the warmth and storms into the lakes. 10-day qpf

Yeah, the GFS is awful if you're looking for active weather in the great lakes region in May.

It's interesting that the 65-74 group has a higher vaccinated % than the 75+ group.

No snowflakes here, just 1.11" of rain.

A spotter is currently reporting big snow flakes up near Mason City.

A family friend, in her 70s, got the virus last November and I think she still has a taste issue.

The 00z NAM, like the HRRR, is a bit hotter with snow Sunday morning. However, the 3k NAM has no snow at all.

The thinnest part of the rain area moved through Cedar Rapids, but a decent rate was able to produce 0.25". I'll take it.

87/85 here the last two days... frankly, a bit warm. I'd prefer about 10º less than that this time of year.

Spencer, IA (nw) is currently 96º. Waterloo is 92º. I just turned the AC on for the first time this year.

The temp has soared today, now up to 87 here and low 90s across northern Iowa. The wind is ridiculous, gusting to 50 mph.

I drank a lot of water yesterday.

The Euro is trending toward keeping next week's rain south of most of Iowa. Ugh. The story of this spring has been south, south, south. Even when 80s surge into Iowa, the storms miss south because that's where all the energy is tracking.

It has been almost 24 hours since my second Pfizer shot. At most, I felt a tiny bit achy and cold late last night... really nothing. Both shots gave me some soreness in my upper arm. It is pretty much walk-in appointments around here now as well.

We aren't even going to get a sprinkle out of this system/front. We are about to go past the three-week mark since our last rain. I sure hope the system early next week can produce something decent.

I get my second Pfizer shot this morning. Hopefully, the side-effects will be minimal.