kcrg says eastern Iowa faces a very active two days, with strong to severe storms expected Wednesday and Thursday. The first of two First Alert Days starts Wednesday, and the forecast keeps two separate storm windows in play.
Wednesday’s first window runs from about 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Scattered storms could develop then and organize within a few hours, bringing large hail and damaging winds if they strengthen quickly.
Wednesday Storm Windows
The second window opens later Wednesday afternoon and evening as a frontal boundary moves into the area. Storm development is likely near and after 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., and the storms should turn severe fairly quickly.
Damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes are possible Wednesday. The tornado risk is highest in individual storms, while the wind threat rises in lines of storms. Activity should begin pushing out by late evening, with quieter conditions likely for a good portion of Wednesday night.
Thursday Enhanced Risk
Thursday is also a First Alert Day, and most of eastern Iowa is in the Storm Prediction Center’s enhanced risk. A slight risk covers the area outside that zone. Another disturbance arrives after the Wednesday round, bringing more energy and wind shear into the forecast.
A cluster or line of storms is likely to move in Thursday morning after developing overnight in Nebraska and western Iowa. Damaging winds are the main threat then, though hail and an isolated tornado are also possible.
If the atmosphere recovers Thursday, more storm development is likely late morning into the evening. At that point, all severe storm hazards would be possible again.
Rainfall and Flooding
The forecast calls for 1 to 2 inches of rain over the next few days, with isolated higher totals possible. That leaves open the chance for isolated flash flooding, while river flooding looks unlikely because river levels are generally running low in the area.
