Slow Warming to Bring Thunderstorms

You'll see us slowly warming throughout the next several days as southerly winds pick up and bring more moisture to the area. This moisture will aid in the development of thunderstorms ahead of the next system that is likely to come onto the plains states by this weekend. Although models have been struggling with consistency, it does seem that some location on the plains will be under a severe risk for this weekend. Current forecasts put this risk just to the west of the state on Saturday, with Sunday's possibilities still undetermined. More information in the forecast below...

A few showers have been working across the state this evening in response to energy moving just north of the state. Expect very sporadic areas to receive any precipitation from these showers, lows overnight should range in the mid to upper 40s. Tomorrow will have another day full of sun and temperatures warming a few degrees compared to today. Highs in the lower 70s for the northern third of the state, mid 70s for a majority of the remainder, a few upper 70s marks may be seen as well over southeast Iowa. Lows won't show much in the way of returning moisture on Thursday night, dropping down into the 40s across the state.

Friday will show the affects of the system moving into the plains as winds pick up and the moisture is on the rise. Highs during the day will continue to heat up, lower 80s over western Iowa to the lower 70s still over eastern Iowa where they will remain out of the return flow. Lows during the overnight will be highly variable as some clouds and possible a few showers/thunderstorms may work into western Iowa. Where clouds move in, lows may only drop into the lower 60s while the areas of the state who don't see the cloud cover will likely drop further into the mid 50s range.

With the weekend comes the rain, showers & thunderstorms possible over the western half of the state Saturday and Saturday night. The precip is likely to overtake the remainder of the state by midday Sunday, but hopefully also making a quick exit by the beginning of the work week. Temperatures over the weekend will be highly variable, depending upon the location of rain & clouds as well as the position of the front over the state. Highs on Saturday should range from the upper 70s to lower 80s; Sundays' highs in the lower to mid 70s for the most part. Although if the front has pushed through some areas, the highs may only reach into the mid to upper 60s. Lows on Saturday in the 50s, lowest in the northwest and highest in the southeast. Sunday night lows will be cooler behind the front, mid 40s to near 50 once again ranging from northwest to southeast.

More details on the thunderstorm possibilities may be available if severe weather chances do pan out over the state sometime during the weekend...