[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2kW2pW9gcU?hl=en&fs=1&w=425&h=349]

SEVERE THREAT: There is a slight risk of severe weather for the eastern counties of the state for today and tonight. The main threats will be from large hail and damaging winds. This is conditional as there is a chance that storms may not develop. Up to that point, it will remain hot and humid ahead of the storm chances statewide with highs in the mid 80s NW to mid 90s south and SE. Heat Indices will likely exceed 100° again today and possibly 110° in some areas.

RAIN CONTINUES: Rain chances return after a day break on Thursday with several chances through the upcoming weekend. Rainfall could be heavy with 1-3″ possible with the storms today and the rain chances through the weekend. For some this will be welcome rain, for others it won’t be so welcome. It will dry out early next week with seasonal conditions.

MID MONTH: A significant trough will be moving into the northern Rockies by the end of the forecast period. With a more flattened ridge in place by that time, the chances of seeing anymore heat waves this year is being drastically reduced, however we can still get a lot of hot weather around Labor Day Weekend as well.

EMILY: Tropical Storm Emily has formed near the leeward islands. The storm is forecast to move WNW across Hispanola and into the Bahamas by Friday into Saturday and become a minimal hurricane by the weekend. It will not be a threat to the Gulf of Mexico and thus is likely not going to effect the weather in Iowa.

NEW SERIES: The Iowa Weather Blog is likely going to begin a series of interviews with the meteorologists of the past and present across the state. Stay Tuned for more on this exciting new feature.