Feels like May!

After yesterday's high temperatures across the state in the 50s and 60s, along with cloudy and rainy skies, today is much of a relief for those wishing it would actually feel like May. Morning lows were on the chilly side in the mid 40s in the northwest, to the mid 50s across much of the southern tiers of the state. With clear skies overhead today, and only light northerly winds the temperatures will soar into the lower 80s across the western portions of the state and near 70 along the Mississippi River. Temperatures will only get warmer as we continue into the weekend, and the return of southerly flow will allow increased moisture as well. We'll see only partly cloudy skies through the rest of the week, leading to a wonderful start of the weekend.

Low temperatures tonight in the lower to mid 50s across the state, setting us up for highs on Friday from the mid 70s across the northeast quarter to the mid 80s across the southwest. Friday night lows from the lower 50s to upper 50s from north to south are expected as light southerly winds begin to pull in moisture from the south. Highs for the start of the weekend on Saturday will range from the upper 70s to upper 80s from east to west across the state. Lows overnight from the lower 50s to lower 60s from northeast to southwest... Previous forecasts had indicated the potential for thunderstorms on Saturday evening across parts of southern Iowa, however, current model trends continue to push the forecasted low pressure system and associated fronts further south into Missouri. If this model trend holds true then only a slight chance of a thunderstorm or two would see possible across southern Iowa.

Sunday should hold a different story, with a cold front beginning to work down from the northwest and warm/moist temperatures finally in place ahead of the front would lead to strong and potentially severe thunderstorm development during the afternoon/evening hours. Sunday's highs from near 80 to near 90 appears likely from east to west, with dew points approaching 60 across much of the state.

Thunderstorms would be likely along the cold front as it sweeps into northwest Iowa by the evening hours, and continued development would be likely across the state as the front continues to move southeast through the overnight hours. Moderate instability would appear to be present given warm temperatures and modest dew point values, however dew points would still appear to be too low to support strong surface-based development. For this reason it would appear that damaging winds be the main threat with storms along the cold front, with large hail being a secondary threat with any of the stronger storms. More updates on the potential for severe weather for this weekend and next week in later updates!