Thunderstorms

Our next cold front is beginning to influence the state this morning with thunderstorms slowly progressing eastward across the state. Currently the thunderstorms only cover the extreme western portions of the state, a good cluster of thunderstorms is also located over in the Pocahontas/Humboldt area. These thunderstorms should make there way to the northeast individually, while the line pushed by the cold front should progress eastward through the afternoon. Making it into central Iowa by Noon, into eastern Iowa by late afternoon or the early evening hours. There is a possibility that we could see some isolated severe weather during the afternoon hours over central and eastern Iowa. Currently only southeastern portions of the state are under a slight risk for severe weather, a storms or two may have the capabilities for large hail and damaging winds, could see a tornado warning or two along the cold front as well. None of these severe risks are very likely however, but you are encouraged to take notice if the storms are heading into your area that you are sure they pose no severe threat. The cold front should continue moving into the nighttime hours and clear all of the rain out by Midnight or a little after tonight for the extreme eastern portions of the state. You can follow the progress of the rain online as well as view any warnings that are issued in near-real time at Iowa Chaser, viewing the 'Latest Radar' image.

With the rain moving through and clouds dominating the skies today, high temperatures are likely to only reach into the lower 70s for western Iowa, mid 70s for central Iowa and the upper 70s for eastern Iowa, with the possibility for a few 80 marks in the southeast. Lows tonight behind the front should range from the mid 40s in the west to the lower 50s in the east. Even with this cold frontal passage, it won't hamper the highs too much by Wednesday with highs expected into the 70s across the state; lower 70s to upper 70s from east to west. Nighttime lows on Wednesday should only dip down into the near 50 range for a majority of the state, a few mid 50s in the southern third.

Those warm temperatures look to continue beyond the mid-week point until our next cold front takes aim at the state by the weekend. More details on that threat in later updates this week...