Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Iowa experienced summerlike conditions over several days of the reporting period as positive temperature departures from 8 to 16 degrees were observed; the statewide average temperature was 58.6 degrees, 11.1 degrees above normal. Coupled with these anomalously warm temperatures, was a very dry airmass until a late-week pattern shift brought widespread rainfall and some snow statewide. Southwestern Iowa measured above-normal totals with deficits of over 0.50 inch at many eastern stations.

Gusty southerly winds continued through Sunday (April 9) afternoon under clear skies with daytime temperatures in the upper 60s and low 70s. A disturbance pushed across western Iowa during the evening hours and persisted through Monday (April 10) morning. Several southwestern and south-central stations measured at least 0.20 inch with Hastings (Mills County) reporting 0.47 inch. Temperatures rose into the low to mid-70s as clouds cleared off through the day under a light and variable wind. Starry skies remained overnight as morning lows reported on Tuesday (April 11) held in the 40s with patchy fog in southwestern Iowa. A strong southerly wind built in over the daylight hours under sunny skies with high temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s as a dry airmass overtook the Upper Midwest. Morning lows on Wednesday (April 12) were unseasonably warm with a statewide average low of 51 degrees, 16 degrees above normal. Afternoon conditions were exceedingly dry with dewpoint temperatures in the upper 40s in the presence of strong southwesterly winds and air temperatures in the low 80s south to low 90s north; the statewide average high was 83 degrees, 24 degrees above normal. Winds died down overnight as temperatures dropped into the 50s. Southerly winds began to increase through Thursday (April 13) with daytime temperatures generally 10 to 12 degrees cooler than the prior day.

Isolated showers popped up in northwestern Iowa a few hours after sunrise on Friday (April 14). Another line of showers and a few thunderstorms developed in western Iowa after noon with temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s across much of Iowa. Behind the cold front, conditions cooled into the upper 60s where clouds and rain were present. In advance of a low-pressure system, strong to severe storms formed after sunset over southwestern Iowa, expanding in coverage while losing strength as the cluster pushed into central Iowa. There were several reports of severe straight-line wind events causing structural damage with a 68 mph wind gust clocked near Essex (Page County). The low slowly moved through Iowa on Saturday (April 15) as showers and thunderstorms brought widespread rainfall. Iowa’s eastern quarter remained mostly clear with highs reaching into the mid-70s while upper 30s to mid-40s were observed in western Iowa. Light snow filtered on the backside of the low pressure as rainfall moved into eastern Iowa overnight into Sunday (April 16). All Iowa stations reported measurable precipitation with over 50 measuring at least 0.50 inch; the highest totals were observed in southwest Iowa where eight stations recorded from 1.00 inch to 1.74 inches. Snow totals were isolated with 0.1 inch in Davenport (Scott County) to 3.5 inches in Swea City (Kossuth County).

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.01 inch at multiple stations to 2.21 inches in Hastings. The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.44 inch while the normal is 0.81 inch. Airports in Sioux City (Woodbury County) and Spencer (Clay County) reported the week’s high temperature of 92 degrees on April 14, on average 33 degrees above normal. Beaconsfield (Ringgold County) reported the week’s low temperature of 27 degrees on April 10, eight degrees below normal. Four-inch soil temperatures were in the low to mid-40s east to upper 40s and low 50s west as of Sunday.

On the afternoon of Sunday, April 9, at approximately 1:42 p.m., officers of the Fairfield Police Department responded to the 23rd Street crossing of the local East/West railroad track in response to a call of a person lying near the tracks. Upon arrival at the area in question, officers located the body of 30-year-old Cortney Heather Haynes of Fairfield. Haynes was declared dead at the scene. The injuries observed on Haynes’ remains appeared consistent with having been struck by a moving train.

Shortly after the discovery Haynes’ remains, the Fairfield Police Department contacted the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, requesting assistance in investigating the circumstances leading to Haynes’ death.

Also assisting with the investigation into the death of Haynes is the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office as well as the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office.

For those who feel they may have information to provide relative to the death of Haynes, please contact the Fairfield Police Department – (641) 472-4146.

The two Fairfield teens accused of murdering Fairfield teacher Nohema Graber have pleaded guilty to First Degree Murder in a Jefferson Willard Miller and Jeremy Goodale appeared Tuesday morning in Jefferson County Court. Apparently, there was a plea agreement and the neither teen will go to trial. Sentencing will be announced at a later date. During the hearing Goodale said he and Miller went to Chautauqua Park in Fairfield intending to kill the High School Spanish teacher. He also went on to describe their actions saying after Miller struck the teacher, they moved her body off the trail where she was attacked and then he also struck Graber ensuring she was dead. The two then attempted to remove evidence from the scene.

Iowa Wesleyan University is pleased to announce “Wesleyan, We Love Thee: A Celebration of Music,” to be performed on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at 3:00 pm in the University Chapel. This will be the final performance by the highly acclaimed IW Choir & Primae Voces and will feature our Alumni and Friends’ Choral & Instrumental Ensembles. This family-friendly reunion and celebration concert is free and open to the public.

“It is very hard to say goodbye to something that has been so embedded into our lives and our community,” noted Blair Buffington, Director of Choral Activities. “This concert– the reunion of alumni and friends– and our collective music will allow us all to celebrate IW’s legacy and help us bring closure to this chapter of our lives and find some healing.”

“When the Board announced the closure of the University, Blair asked me what he could do to help. I asked him to bring us music and singing. I can’t think of a more fitting way to say goodbye to this beautiful academic community than by filling our Chapel with music,” said President Chris Plunkett. “Music is a universal language with which we can all celebrate the remarkable 181-year legacy of Iowa Wesleyan University and the thousands of students who have passed through our hallways.”

IW alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and students, regardless of degree or major, are invited to participate in this celebration of music and community. A reunion gathering and rehearsal will occur on Saturday, May 6, at 7:00 pm in Old Main, room 300. A final choral rehearsal will be held on Sunday, May 7, at Noon in Old Main, and an instrumental rehearsal in the University Chapel at 1:00 pm. Musicians interested in participating may register at https://www.iw.edu/wesleyan-concert/. Participants must provide their own instruments; music will be provided.

We hope the community will come out to celebrate this final concert.