Iowa weather: Warm, humid winds bring severe storm threat Monday
Monday *could* be a volatile day, but uncertainty remains.
Monday *could* be a volatile day, but uncertainty remains.
Monday *could* be a volatile day, but uncertainty remains.
Skies were generally cloudy for most of central Iowa today, and that won't change tonight.
A warm front lifting north through the state overnight will keep temperatures up around 55-60°. A few scattered showers are also possible between midnight and daybreak Monday.
That brings us to Monday's potential severe weather day.
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An area of clouds looks to linger through midday across central Iowa, but southerly winds gusting near 40 mph will still deliver temperatures in the upper 70s/low 80s by afternoon. The air will also become noticeably muggy.
That, plus the arrival of a strong ribbon of wind 15,000 ft aloft will mean we're primed for severe storms. It remains to be seen just how widespread storms will be.
The first area to watch Monday is northern/northwest Iowa toward mid/late afternoon. A boundary will arrive here from Nebraska toward 3-5 p.m. and could be the trigger needed to fire storms that affect areas from Fort Dodge and Algona east towards Mason City and beyond. Tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail would all be threats.
To the south of Hwy. 20, storms are less likely due to slightly warmer air above the ground and less wind aloft. That being said, severe weather is very possible if storms can get going.
The previously mentioned boundary will steadily push east-southeast through the rest of Iowa Monday evening (7 p.m. to 12 a.m.). Places like Ames, Des Moines and southern Iowa could see a strong storm during this time.
By Tuesday, the breeze turns back to the northwest, and temperatures cool back to 60s.
A few more showers and non-severe storms come along Wednesday into early Thursday.
