Iowans are in for an active few days of weather early this week, with heavy rain and hail possible Monday for the southern half of the state.Interactive Radar | Weather Alerts | Latest forecastHere's what to know:Updated Monday night forecastStorms are moving into southern Iowa and will continue to overspread the state as we head into the evening. With a warm front situated to our south, most of the storms will remain elevated, which limits any tornado threat. That's not to say a tornado or two won't be possible, especially in far southwestern Iowa. The main threats mainly for the southern half of the state will be hail, wind and very heavy rain.Widespread totals through early Wednesday will range from 1 to 3 inches with locally higher amounts possible.Severe thunderstorm watch for large portion of southern IowaEighteen southern Iowa counties are under a severe thunderstorm watch until 10 p.m. Monday. That includes the following counties: Adair, Adams, Appanoose, Cass, Clarke, Davis, Decatur, Lucas, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Ringgold, Taylor, Union, Wapello, Warren and Wayne.Hail up to 2 inches in size is likely, along with heavy rain and scattered wind gusts up to 70 mph.WATCH: Timelapse shows storms pass through downtown Des MoinesTornado watch in southwest IowaA tornado watch is in effect until 9 p.m. Monday for five southwest Iowa counties, including Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page and Pottawattamie.Severe thunderstorm warningThe latest severe thunderstorm warning issued in central Iowa is in effect until 5:45 p.m. for northeastern Story, northwestern Marshall and southeastern counties. "For your protection, move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building," the NWS advises people in the warned area, which includes Eldora and the Eldora Municipal Airport, Union, Steamboat Rock, Pine Lake State Park and more towns.Photos of hail that fell Monday afternoon south of Des Moines metroHow we describe hail sizeTraditionally, common objects like peas and golf balls and softballs have been used to describe the hail you may see. Here's a guide to help.Keep an eye on weather across Iowa with vlog's skycamsWeather watchers can keep an eye on conditions by checking our skycam page, which shows aerial views from 20 sites across the state.Soggy stretch for manyMuch of central Iowa has received just a few tenths of an inch of rain so far in May.That changes in the new week.Multiple rounds of showers and storms will bring quite a bit of moisture from Sunday night into Wednesday.Right now, the wettest time statewide looks to be overnight Monday into Tuesday morning.By Wednesday, much of Iowa is looking at 1-3 inches of rainfall, but amounts will vary depending where specific thunderstorms travel.Some stronger storms possibleMost of this week's rain will come without the risk of severe weather. Right now, the main time to watch for strong storms is Monday.Currently, the southwestern half of Iowa has a Level 2 of 5 "slight" risk for severe weather late Monday afternoon into the evening.During this time, a warm front will be positioned somewhere near the Iowa/Missouri border.Powerful storms are more likely south of this front in Missouri and Kansas, but a few strong cells could cross over the boundary into Iowa.If the warm front nudges northward into southwest and far southern Iowa, these parts of the state could be at risk for an isolated tornado during the late afternoon/evening.More likely, storms will cross north of the front and only pose a hail threat during the first half of Monday night.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowans are in for an active few days of weather early this week, with heavy rain and hail possible Monday for the southern half of the state.
Interactive Radar | Weather Alerts | Latest forecast
Here's what to know:
Updated Monday night forecast
Storms are moving into southern Iowa and will continue to overspread the state as we head into the evening. With a warm front situated to our south, most of the storms will remain elevated, which limits any tornado threat. That's not to say a tornado or two won't be possible, especially in far southwestern Iowa. The main threats mainly for the southern half of the state will be hail, wind and very heavy rain.
Widespread totals through early Wednesday will range from 1 to 3 inches with locally higher amounts possible.
Severe thunderstorm watch for large portion of southern Iowa
Eighteen southern Iowa counties are under a severe thunderstorm watch until 10 p.m. Monday. That includes the following counties: Adair, Adams, Appanoose, Cass, Clarke, Davis, Decatur, Lucas, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Ringgold, Taylor, Union, Wapello, Warren and Wayne.
Hail up to 2 inches in size is likely, along with heavy rain and scattered wind gusts up to 70 mph.
WATCH: Timelapse shows storms pass through downtown Des Moines
Tornado watch in southwest Iowa
A tornado watch is in effect until 9 p.m. Monday for five southwest Iowa counties, including Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page and Pottawattamie.
Severe thunderstorm warning
The latest severe thunderstorm warning issued in central Iowa is in effect until 5:45 p.m. for northeastern Story, northwestern Marshall and southeastern counties.
"For your protection, move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building," the NWS advises people in the warned area, which includes Eldora and the Eldora Municipal Airport, Union, Steamboat Rock, Pine Lake State Park and more towns.
Photos of hail that fell Monday afternoon south of Des Moines metro
Hearst OwnedChar Dantuono
Char Dantuono shared this photo of large hail that fell on the west side of New Virginia around 4:30 p.m. Monday.
Jan Rychnovsky
Jan Rychnovsky shared this photo of hail that fell Monday afternoon in Osceola.
Jessica Clark
Jessica Clark shared this photo of hail that fell Monday afternoon in Knoxville.
Joni Readout
Joni Readout shared this photo of two girls showing the hail they picked up Monday afternoon in New Virginia.
How we describe hail size
Traditionally, common objects like peas and golf balls and softballs have been used to describe the hail you may see. Here's a guide to help.
Hearst Owned
Traditionally, common objects like peas and golf balls and softballs have been used to describe the hail you may see. Here’s a guide to help.
Keep an eye on weather across Iowa with vlog's skycams
Weather watchers can keep an eye on conditions by checking our skycam page, which shows aerial views from 20 sites across the state.
Soggy stretch for many
Much of central Iowa has received just a few tenths of an inch of rain so far in May.
That changes in the new week.
Multiple rounds of showers and storms will bring quite a bit of moisture from Sunday night into Wednesday.
Right now, the wettest time statewide looks to be overnight Monday into Tuesday morning.
By Wednesday, much of Iowa is looking at 1-3 inches of rainfall, but amounts will vary depending where specific thunderstorms travel.
Some stronger storms possible
Most of this week's rain will come without the risk of severe weather. Right now, the main time to watch for strong storms is Monday.
Currently, the southwestern half of Iowa has a Level 2 of 5 "slight" risk for severe weather late Monday afternoon into the evening.
During this time, a warm front will be positioned somewhere near the Iowa/Missouri border.
Hearst Owned
Warm front’s possible location Monday afternoon. Any tornado threat would remain south of the front.
Powerful storms are more likely south of this front in Missouri and Kansas, but a few strong cells could cross over the boundary into Iowa.
If the warm front nudges northward into southwest and far southern Iowa, these parts of the state could be at risk for an isolated tornado during the late afternoon/evening.
More likely, storms will cross north of the front and only pose a hail threat during the first half of Monday night.
