CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Warm and windy weather means the risk for fires to spread out of control on Friday afternoon.
Your First Alert: Gusty afternoon and evening
Skies remain mostly clear into the night, though a few patches of thin clouds pass by at times. This will have a limited effect on our weather, though, and we’re still expecting a decent temperature drop into the low 30s by around Midnight or so.
Tonight’s First Alert Forecast.(KCRG)
With southerly winds picking up in speed later in the night, temperatures will begin to slowly rise. Expect readings to be in the upper 30s to mid 40s by around daybreak on Friday, though wind chills will lag behind about 5 to 10 degrees with the increased breeziness. Sunshine and an influx of a warmer air mass will send temperatures climbing quickly, though. Highs will be in the mid 50s to low 60s for most of us, with only our far northern communities falling short of that range.
Winds will be especially strong during the afternoon and evening, near and after the passage of a cold front. After a start with a southwesterly direction, they will become more west-northwesterly during the day and northwesterly by evening and beyond. Gusts in the 20 to 30 mph range early become 30 to 45 mph by the afternoon.
Forecast wind gusts from late Thursday evening, Feb. 27, through late Friday evening, Feb. 28, 2025.(KCRG)
The combination of strong winds, higher-than-normal temperatures, somewhat low relative humidity values, and dry late-winter vegetation will lead to an overall elevated risk for wildfires to spread out of control. A Red Flag Warning is posted for much of the TV9 viewing area on Friday to account for this danger.
A Red Flag Warning is in effect on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, for the shaded counties.(KCRG)
When a Red Flag Warning is in place, the most important thing is to avoid being careless with sources of flame that could spread out of your control. That includes outdoor burning for disposal or campfires and discarding cigarette butts outdoors. Use extra caution if using outdoor machinery which could spark and start a fire.
Steps you can take to avoid spreading fires when fire danger is high.(KCRG)
Dropping temperatures into the weekend
With the passage of the cold front, an increase in cloud cover will be seen. A few sprinkles may try to fall out of these clouds during the late afternoon and evening, though any activity should remain light. Into the night, partly cloudy skies stick around and even a flurry or two. Temperatures will fall into the low 20s by Saturday morning, with wind chills in the single-digits to low 10s above zero.
Despite a good amount of sunshine, temperatures will only be able to recover into the 30s by the afternoon. Winds will continue to decrease later in the day, but wind chills will likely be stuck in the 20s during the day.
The outlook for this weekend involves colder temperatures.(KCRG)
Sunday starts out pretty chilly in the 10s for temperatures, but bounces back nicely into the 40s. Plenty of sunshine will be around again, and winds should generally be on the lower end to wrap up the weekend.
Your First Alert: Multiple chances for rain, storms, and snow
After a tranquil first couple of days to the month, the start of the next work and school week represents the variety that March can bring to eastern Iowa.
Initially, we’ll be seeing a renewed push toward warmer conditions early on Monday. At the leading edge of this warmer and somewhat more moist air mass, a chance for some showers or a wintry mix is there. This would be most likely near or just after daybreak on Monday, potentially complicating the morning commute.
Mixed precipitation could occur early on Monday.(KCRG)
While the trend has been slightly toward more plain rain during this time frame, we’re still close enough to that freezing line to make the potential for a slippery mix still exist. Stay tuned for updates, especially toward the end of the weekend before the week gets underway.
Most of Monday will be spent dry after that morning round of precipitation, with clouds sticking around for much of it. Temperatures will still warm, though, reaching the 40s to low 50s area-wide.
Shower chances increase again later on Monday night as the next in a one-two progression of storm systems arrives. Lows will only fall into the upper 30s to low 40s, meaning that anything that develops should be safely in the form of rain.
Additional rounds of showers and even some storms will be likely throughout Tuesday as this low pressure system tracks near and south of the area. Due to its placement and the atmospheric ingredients we’re expecting to be in place, severe weather looks unlikely. Temperatures get into the 50s for most, though the far north may end up a little cooler as is often the case.
As colder air wraps behind this low on Tuesday night into Wednesday, a mix with or transition to snow appears increasingly likely in parts of eastern Iowa. This would be especially true on Wednesday as the precipitation is leaving the area. If things come together right, this could lead to some snow accumulation and slick travel. With several days and plenty of uncertainty to sort out, we encourage you to stay with us for updates as we get closer.
Rain could mix with or change to snow by Wednesday.(KCRG)
Behind this storm system, a cooler air mass arrives to finish out the rest of the 9-day forecast. Temperatures even in this regime will be slightly above normal for early March, with lows in the mid 20s and highs in the mid to upper 40s.
Warm and windy weather on Friday contributes to a wildfire risk.
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