Warm Air & Thunderstorms

A brief and yet strong cold shot hit the state late last week, allowing for record setting low temperatures early Saturday morning before the big interstate rivalry between Iowa and Iowa State in college football. Needless to say, I have to get the score in there as Iowa State defeated the heavily favored Iowa Hawkeyes by a final of 15-13. All of the points were scored by the ISU kicker Culbertson; 5 for 6 on the day.

With the new week comes new weather, warmer air has made its' way in already providing for a very nice Sunday afternoon with sunny skies. Low temperatures tonight will not be nearly as cold as previous, dropping only into the lower 60s for a majority of the state. Northeast Iowa is the outlier tonight with lows in the upper 50s. High temperatures tomorrow will rise into the 80s throughout the state with southerly winds and clear skies. By the late afternoon hours however some clouds and thunderstorms will begin to move into northwest Iowa. These thunderstorms will likely spread over the remainder of western and north-central Iowa during the overnight hours. Lows on Monday night in the lower to mid 60s with the moisture really making a comeback into the state.

Back to the thunderstorm chances, the SPC has issued a slight risk for portions of northwest Iowa as the thunderstorms over the area will have potential to become severe. Current indications are that development over southwest MN, southeast SD and into NE will occur in the afternoon hours. Moving into Iowa over the evening and overnight with the potential for wind damage and a few isolated severe hail stones. The thunderstorm threat only moves slightly south and east for Tuesday, encompassing much of the western & central thirds of the state. Exact threats with Tuesdays' storms will be explained in tomorrows' updates.

Tuesday highs will range from mid 70s in northwest Iowa to mid 80s over southeast Iowa. Lows from the mid 60s ahead of the front, down to the mid 50s in extreme northwest Iowa where the front may have likely passed by nightfall. Once again expect those thunderstorms chances over much of the state by Tuesday night as a cool front continues to move through. Wednesday highs still seasonable, ranging from upper 70s to lower 80s from northwest to southeast. Lows in the upper 50s in the northern two-thirds; low 60s in the southern third.