Iowa: Heavy Rain & Severe Thunderstorms Possible This Aft-Tonight

If we've learned anything in the last year, it's that you should pay attention to the possibility of severe weather. With a Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued this hour, it's time to do just that.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for a large part of Iowa until 10 p.m. tonight. It's in effect for 62 of Iowa's 99 counties, including nearly our entire listening area. That means that conditions are ripe for the development of severe weather in our area.

NOAA

A cold front is sweeping its way across Iowa today, with moisture coming along with it. Temperatures at 2 p.m. in Iowa ranged from 88 degrees in Oskaloosa to 61 degrees in Storm Lake. Dewpoints are also quite high ahead of the front, giving the storms extra fuel as they form. A line of storms in central Iowa is moving northeast. As of this writing, there are no severe weather warnings in effect in Iowa. However, the storms are intensifying.

You can keep an eye on the radar HERE.

As the cold front comes through, there's a risk of everything from hail to damaging winds, flash flooding, and even tornadoes. The National Weather Service in the Quad Cities says between 1 and 2 inches of rain is possible in the Cedar Rapids area through tonight.

CBS 2 meteorologist Rebecca Kopelman says the primary threat for severe weather comes in the form of strong winds as thunderstorms roll through along with the cold front.

Please stay alert on the weather the rest of today and this evening. Relief from the unseasonably warm and humid conditions comes tomorrow, when highs may not make it to 70.

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Categories: Local News