In this episode, we dive into the unusual winter weather patterns that have been observed this year in the Quad Cities region. National Weather Service hydrologist, Matt Wilson, joins us to provide context on the highly variable winter, which saw very cold temperatures and large snowfalls in January followed by a major thaw. Wilson explains that this pattern is typical during an El Niño cycle. However, the models are predicting above average temperatures and below average precipitation for the next few months.
As we look ahead to spring, Wilson discusses the potential for flooding on the Mississippi River. He notes that the lack of snow cover currently in the headwaters regions of rivers like the Mississippi and Rock can have both benefits and risks. On the positive side, there is less water on the ground now to come downriver. However, if these areas experience another deep freeze before snowfall, it could result in a rapid snowmelt runoff from frozen ground.
Moving on, Wilson also highlights the ongoing drought conditions in eastern Iowa. While the recent snowmelt provided some much-needed moisture, more rain is needed over the next few months to fully alleviate the drought. Unfortunately, the weather outlooks are not favorable in this regard.
In the latter part of the podcast, we shift our focus to the Putnam Museum's upcoming Mysteries of the Museum fundraiser. Excitingly, the museum staff recently discovered a rare Asian artifact in their collection, adding an unexpected surprise to the event. We provide additional details on the educational programming and general attendance recovery at the museum post-pandemic.
Tune in to this episode to gain insights into the unusual winter weather patterns, potential flooding risks, and exciting developments at the Putnam Museum.