Iowa Weather Report August 18th 2015: What the Heck on Wednesday???

RIDING THE TEMPERATURE WAVE: Showers and thunderstorms will be in the forecast today, some of the storms could become severe with large hail and damaging winds being the main threats. Highs today will range from the middle and upper 60s in the northwestern counties to the lower 80s in the southeast. The system will move through tonight into the first half of Wednesday. Most of the day Wednesday will be cloudy with only some peeks of sunshine in the western counties of the state by the afternoon hours. It will be much cooler across the state as well with most areas not getting out of the 60s with only some lower and middle 70s elsewhere. The sun will return as we move into Thursday and Friday and with that temperatures will also return to seasonal levels with readings well into the 70s and 80s at that time with southerly winds.

WEEKEND STORM: Another frontal system looks to move through the state this weekend. According to the current model run, the front looks to move through the state late Saturday night through the first half of Sunday. This would bring showers and thunderstorms to the area at that time. Given the time of day that this would be moving through, severe weather is not anticipated at this point, however if the system were to slow or speed up, that could change things. Readings ahead of the front will be in the 80s with mostly dry conditions on Saturday (outside an slight chance of a shower or storm), with Sunday seeing clearing skies by late in the afternoon with readings in the 70s to around 80.

ENDING THE MONTH: Looking through the rest of August, a ridge looks to develop south of the state moving the main storm track north of the area. This would keep the state mainly dry and warm with readings well into the 80s to around 90 if this were to verify. The ridge looks to hold through the end of the month before it shifts to the Desert southwest. At that time, the weather pattern looks to turn more active as we head into the first days of September. Have little confidence at this time past the first seven days but we’ll keep watching for any trends as we move forward.