national weather service: Improved Severe Weather Warning System in Iowa! - 04/13/07 04:47 AM
               
According to a Quad-City Times story, the National Weather Service has improved it's severe weather warning system by "fine-tuning" the warning area.  Previously, the entire county has been put on warning when it really wasn't necessary for everyone in the county to head to the basement in the case of a tornado or severe storm that may be miles and miles from where they are.
                                 
Hopefully, as we enter the severe storm season, this narrowing focus will help remove some of the complacency involving frequent and inaccurate warnings. 
One thing's for sure, when one of these big boys comes roaring your … (12 comments)

national weather service: Iowa gets hit again...this time it's snow and ICE! - 02/26/07 10:38 AM

Round One of Phase Twelve (snow storms) started Saturday morning with spitting rain, turning to freezing rain, turning to sleet, turning to ice pellets by mid afternoon, turning to thunder snow (that's when it's thundering and lightning and snowing all at the same time) Saturday night.  The crews at our villa were out early Sunday with heavy equipment trying to clear it all.  They first plowed the snow which uncovered the ice.  Then they salted the heck out of everything.  Then they came in with this back hoe (top picture) and literally scraped all the ice off.  The ice was probably over … (7 comments)