Grain Bins of Lisbon, Iowa

Just north of Lisbon, Iowa is a farm with these grain bins on the property. Bins shelter harvested corn or soybeans for livestock feed or delivery to market. On this day, a cold front passed through and offered a more dramatic sky than normal.

Jesus of Haverhill, Iowa

Located in a small Catholic cemetery in Haverhill, Iowa is this life size crucifixion display rising out of the farmland. The rural area is dominated by corn and soybean fields, farms and grain elevators. A black and white treatment of the image brings out the contrast of the cross with the Jesus icon and clouds.

NE Iowa Beauty in the Valleys

This is not the image of Iowa that most people have of the Hawkeye state. NE Iowa was spared from the advancement of glaciers some 12,000 to 14,000 winters ago. Last Sunday following an early evening rain storm, the valleys west of Elkader filled with clouds. True to Iowa form, the 2018 corn crop can be seen in the foreground.

Springtime Cloud Building in the Neighborhood

Nothing like a cool front pressing through the region to build these cumulus beauties in the late afternoon. While the sun was setting to the west, these clouds developed ahead of the front. Storm clouds in the west moved in two different directions on Monday evening. These pillows of white were the best, most dramatic of the bunch.

In Between the Clouds

 

Its been a while since I've flown. Three years in fact. This time the journey was from Chicago (ORD) to Cedar Rapids (CID) on the last leg of a journey from Nashville (cats.) The pilot reported it would be a race between weather moving in to CID and his ability to land safely.

 

 

Wheels were down on final approach about a quarter mile from the runway when the captain pulled up and went around. A wall of water hit the plane with lightning all around. After a 10 minute arc around the airport the pilot said he would come in from the opposite direction. A few looks outside and it was easy to see what was happening. Developing rain systems were popping up along with the wind and light show. We did make it down just as the one of the waves hit. Our plane taxied near the ramp and shut down. For the next 90 minutes we sat on the tarmac as storm waves came through. Apparently there are actual FAA regulations about ramp crews servicing planes when lightning is around. Think about it - metal planes and jet fuel - not really safe if you are working the ramp and baggage collection in those conditions.

Partial Solar Eclipse Seen From Wickiup Hill

October 23, 2014 will be remembered for a spectacular late day solar eclipse around Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The first contact time (the time when the moon initially started its journey across the sun) of roughly 4:33 pm was completely obscured by a thick cloud deck. Later, about 5:15 pm the clouds began to part but did not totally disappear. Acting as a filter, the clouds allowed glimpses of the sun-moon-earth dance.

 

Look closely at the image of the sun. Those two dots near the solar disc center are actually solar sunspots, extremely large solar storms often larger than the earth. The cloud deck not only acted as a natural filter but also added a dramatic effect to these images.



Finally near 6:02 pm the sun neared the western horizon and shone through a thick atmosphere, turning visibly redder. These scenes were taken from the nature area called Wickiup Hill located north of Cedar Rapids, near the Cedar River.