[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmQi0eKZAnY&w=640&h=480]
SEVERE WEATHER?: A few answers are starting to come to light with regards to the severe weather event on Saturday across the state. As for today, skies will be mainly sunny after a few morning clouds with temperatures in the 50s and 60s for highs. Clouds will be on the increase once again toward the afternoon in the southwestern counties with the approaching storm system from the southwest.
There could be some isolated severe thunderstorms later tonight into Saturday morning with the warm front. This would mainly be in the western part of the state and the main threat would likely be from large hail. On Saturday the low pressure center will move across Nebraska into Minnesota, however the latest GFS and NAM runs have shown more of the energy moving through KS into MO instead of with the low center. This would bring a better chance of severe weather to these areas instead of Iowa. Although there is still a slight risk of severe weather for the state for Saturday, the enhanced risk area has been shifted south from I-80 corridor through MO, KS into OK and NC TX. This could also limit the amount of rain we get if storms fire there and take all the available moisture. This would need to be monitored for possible rainfall amount reductions from the QPF seen on the video. In any case, all modes of severe weather will be possible including large hail, damaging winds and a few tornadoes. This will coalesce into a squall line by late evening into the overnight hours with damaging winds becoming the main threat along the line as it races east/northeastward. Some lingering rain is possible early Sunday as the low departs mainly in the eastern counties with skies clearing by late in the day.
60S FOR THE WEEK: Temperatures don’t really fall off behind this storm system as we continue with readings in the 60s for highs through the week with sunshine abounding.
ANOTHER STORM!: The GFS continues to show a large storm that may bring much more cold air from Canada in about ten days time. If this materializes, there could be showers and thunderstorms around here and a possible blizzard in the high plains into MT. This can change but we’ll continue to monitor over the next few runs.
NOTE: There is no Regional Weather Forecast on the blog due to the amount of graphics it would entail and that I was visiting the NWS office in the Quad Cities this evening. These will return on Next Friday’s video in its usual spot.