Iowa Weather Report August 21st 2015: Storms Saturday, Not Much Else

THE WEEKEND SYSTEM: As we head into the weekend, the weather will feature more sunshine today and for part of Saturday before a storm system moves across the state late Saturday into the morning hours on Sunday. Some of the storms on Saturday night could be strong to severe especially in the northwestern counties of the state but they weaken as they head to the east during the night. Rainfall amounts around a half inch are possible with heavier totals possible in the western counties of the state. Today however will feature mostly sunny skies with highs in the middle 70s northeast to the middle 80s southwest.

A DRY WEEK: Looking into next week, the weather pattern will be fairly dry with temperatures Monday through Thursday topping out in the 70s to lower 80s across the state with readings warming a degree or two each day. Skies will be partly to mostly sunny for the most part. Another system looks to make its way into the state late Thursday night into Friday with a chance of showers and thunderstorms mainly for the western and southwestern counties of the state. The rest of the state looks dry with only a few more clouds around.

OVER TOWARD SEPTEMBER: Going forward into the extended period, the GFS continues to show a ridge centered south of the state pushing the main storm track well north of the area through the end of the month and into the beginning of September. This would bring dry and warm temperatures to the area with readings well into the 80s if not some 90s. We can’t rule out a stray shower with any system that skirts the area to our north but they chances will be slim to none. Toward the end of the period which is Labor Day Weekend, a storm system is shown approaching from the northwest that could bring some precipitation to the area at that time, however confidence in this is slim. What we are more confident on is the dry and warm weather through the end of the month and possibly into September, at least for the time being.