What in the Weather?

Bonus Episode: Dr. Ajay Nair - The Future of Iowa Horticulture

I caught up with Dr. Ajay Nair at the 2026 Farm Progress Show in Boone, IA. He shared with me his vision for Horticulture at Iowa State University and in the state of Iow

9/2/26 - Fruit Farm Progress Show

00:00:08 — Welcome to What in the Weather?, recorded from the Farm Progress Show. 00:00:33 — Iowa weather history: the damaging, unusually early statewide frost of Sept

8/27/26 - When is Black Rot not Black Rot?

Find full show notes at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/commercialhort/82726-notes-what-weather 00:00:32 Iowa weather history: Heavy thunderstorms in 1903 produced ex

8/19/26 - A bit more rain today, then maybe it'll dry out?

[00:00:51] Iowa weather history for August 19: A destructive 1898 severe-weather event brought straight-line winds, hail, heavy rain, property damage, and fatalities acro

8/12/26 - Ridge Riders: Mount Up

00:00:25 — Iowa weather history: two violent 1974 tornadoes caused F4 damage in eastern Iowa. 00:01:31 — Weather trivia asks listeners to identify the leading cause of

8/5/26 - Wet areas staying wet, Dry areas staying dry

[00:00:08] August 5 Iowa weather history segment, including a severe 1989 thunderstorm complex and derecho discussion. [00:01:35] Madelynn shares the weather trivia que

7/29/26 - Hot and muggy, then rain, then normal temps and drier

00:00:08–00:02:00: Dan and Justin discuss the first recorded tornado damage in Iowa history from 1804. 00:02:00–00:04:05: The team previews the coming week's forecast,

7/23/26 - Temps will ramp up. Fun facts about Purslane.

00:00:31 Iowa weather history: July 23, 2010 flooding and Delhi dam failure 00:02:03 Trivia question on severe weather warnings in Iowa 00:02:39 Weekly forecast: hot,

7/8/26 - Staying Hot, Drying Out

It's Swass season, y'all. 00:00:49 – This Day in Iowa Weather History: the 1984 temperature swing from 35°F frost at Elkader to 100°F at Shenandoah in 24 hours 01:19

Bonus Episode: Predicting Pest Arrival using VDIFN, with Ari Abbrescia, UW Madison Extension

Resources: VDIFN Tool Ari's tutorial on YouTube for visual aids VDIFN User's Manual Crop Risk Tool [00:00:08] Dan introduces the episode, recorded in advance while he's

6/23/26 - NW is still dry, SE is still wet

Welcome & Iowa Weather History: The 1952 F4 Tornado and the Train that raced to outrun it [00:00:07] 7-Day Weather Forecast: Quieter Pattern, QPF Totals, and Warming Tr

6/17/26 - Recap of Heavy Rain, Large Hail, and High Winds From the Past Week

Episode Summary 00:00:32 – Iowa weather history: a severe 1978 thunderstorm with softball-sized hail and damaging winds from Sioux City to Webster City 00:01:09 – Fol

6/10/26 - 2026 Meteorological Spring Recap

[00:00:42] This day in Iowa weather history: a late freeze in 1928 brought 32°F lows to Decorah and frost across the state [00:01:22] Weekend forecast: a break from the h

6/3/26 - Pesticide Rotation Strategies and Even More Thrips!

[00:00:30] This day in Iowa weather history: the devastating 1860 tornado outbreak across central and eastern Iowa that killed at least 134 people and left 2,500 homeless

5/26/26 - Drier and warmer ahead, FSMA Inspection Testimonial

[00:00:52] On this day in Iowa weather history: 6.5 inches of rain fell in 2½ hours in Wesley, Kossuth County on May 25–26, 1991, damaging 80% of homes [00:01:22] Week-ah

"A less stressful growing season" with El Nino this year

00:00:35 Iowa weather history: May 1892 flooding and rare late-season snow/sleet event 00:01:17 Weekly forecast: Cooler with rain chances Thu–Fri, warming into Memorial

5/13/26 - Warm Season 2026 appears to be here

[00:00:38] This day in Iowa weather history — a rare late-season snowfall in Des Moines on May 13th, 1918 [00:01:24] Short-term forecast — warm and active week ahead, w

5/7/26 - One Last Frost? Thrips Galore

[00:00:26] On this day in Iowa weather history: 7 tornadoes touched down in Iowa on May 7, 1964, causing significant damage and injuries in northeastern Iowa [00:00:59] 7

4/29/26 - Cool and Dry for the next week

[00:00:41] This day in Iowa weather history: The cold and snowy spring of 1907, linked to the eruption of the Ksudach volcano in eastern Russia [00:01:45] This week's for

4/23/26 - Wet weather returns, and so have many pests!

00:00:33 Madelynn returns from maternity leave—baby Lucille (Lucy) born Jan 21 (9 days late), quick hospital stay, family support, travel to 4 states; transitioning to pa