After a brief lull severe weather wise, things are looking to heat back up across Iowa today as the Storm Prediction Center has marked an elevated risk of severe weather for much of the state.

Early this morning, scattered showers and thunderstorms were noted across central and southern Minnesota. Unlike the 70 MPH damaging wind squall line to the north, these are non-severe. This activity is expected to continue on to the east through the morning hours with the severe weather risk diminishing. There is a chance this could re-fire as warm air advection picks back up across the area, however, this seems like an unlikely scenario at this time. The bigger story would be development along the boundary in the Central Plains in the mid-to-late afternoon. As temperatures rise into the 100-110° range with a very moist air mass, the environment will be ripe for any showers and thunderstorms that develop. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will likely begin forming across Nebraska and Kansas in the mid-to-late afternoon and trek eastward into the state. Large hail, damaging winds, and an isolated tornado will be possible with these storms.

An similar system is expected Saturday with cells developing along a cold front across the Plains in the evening. With another ripe air mass in place with decent shear in place, supercells can be expected with all modes possible including large hail, damaging winds, and an isolated tornado. The tornado threat will be highest when the cells are in their non-linear state. As the evening evolves, things may transition into one or more Mesoscale Convective Systems with an enhanced risk for damaging winds later in the night.

Stay tuned to the Iowa Weather Network for the latest information!