[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGCnLPCdMzU&w=480&h=360]
ANOTHER WEEK ANOTHER STORM WITH HEAVY RAIN: Where was all this rain last summer when we needed it? After a week of heavy rains in parts of the state, we’re about to get drenched with another 1-3+” of rain again with this storm moving into the state today. A low pressure center will track northeast from the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle to NW Illinois by Thursday evening. Showers and thunderstorms will be prevalent across the state with the best chances of heavier rain occurring over the southeastern 2/3rds of the state. Severe weather is possible as a slight risk of severe weather encompasses a large portion of southeastern Iowa. All modes of severe weather are possible with damaging winds and large hail being the main threat, although an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. The main window for severe weather looks to be from this evening through at least the early morning hours, with the better chances for any isolated tornadoes occurring mainly during the evening hours. As cold air moves in Thursday and Friday some of the precipitation will switch over to a rain snow mix or perhaps all snow over the northwestern quarter of the state. Some accumulation is possible but given ground temperatures will likely melt on contact or compact very quickly. Accumulations totals of 1-3″ is possible in that part of the state but could be higher if the switch over to snow happens earlier or less if the rain snow mix continues for longer than expected. Travel could be hampered somewhat mainly on bridges and overpasses but shouldn’t be too much of an issue given the time of the year.
SUNDAY MORE LIKE RAINDAY: Saturday will see dry but cool conditions across the state with Sunday bringing yet another chance of some showers and perhaps a rumble of thunder or two. Readings aren’t likely to be near seasonal levels by this time either with readings in the 40s and 50s this weekend across the state. Monday into Tuesday another system moves through with more chances of showers and thunderstorms and again perhaps a wintry mix to finish it off in the northwestern half of the state. Will this winter ever end?!?
MOVIN INTO MAY: The rest of the month at this time looks a bit calmer with only a storm system around the 28th and 29th to worry about. Temperatures do look to take a trends upward toward seasonal levels, but there is still a threat of frost and freeze conditions as we’re still a few weeks away from the last frost date, so don’t get any ideas to plant anything quite yet.