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 weather-related fatalities in the United States.

00:01:51 — Near-term forecast: an active "ring of fire" pattern brings widespread thunderstorm chances for the next four to five days, followed by a quieter, seasonable start to next week.

00:02:29 — Rainfall outlook and forecasting explained: model ensembles suggest broad totals of at least 1.5 inches, with isolated 3–4 inch amounts possible from central to eastern Iowa; local thunderstorm totals will remain highly variable.

00:05:18 — Extended outlook: Aug. 19–25 is favored to be warmer than normal in Iowa, with near-normal precipitation; the late-August/early-September outlook leans slightly drier.

00:06:44 — The team explains how Pacific monsoon moisture, the jet stream, and emerging El Niño conditions may contribute to Iowa's humidity and heavy-rain potential.

00:09:08 — El Niño update: European model projections show a potential very strong event later this year, though the hosts emphasize uncertainty and promise a fuller winter-focused discussion.

00:13:37 — Derecho and severe-weather recap: a damaging line of storms crossed eastern Iowa and continued through the Ohio Valley, with wind gusts up to 75 mph near Independence and two reported tornadoes in Delaware County.

00:15:19 — Past-week Iowa conditions: eastern Iowa saw tornado, hail, wind, crop, tree, and building damage; Nashua recorded 3.04 inches of rain, while Rock Rapids had only a trace.

00:16:52 — Recent temperature and humidity context: highs reached 94°F, Spencer fell to 47°F overnight, and the hosts compare this summer's heat and dew points with 2025.

00:18:46 — Specialty-crop update: growers seeking heat-tolerant broccoli varieties are directed to Cornell's Eastern Broccoli Project research.

00:20:14 — Corn rootworm beetles are replacing Japanese beetles as a concern for flowers, pumpkins, and sweet corn; exclusion netting or bags are the most pollinator-safe control options for cut-flower growers.