The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect until 3am Wednesday morning for the following counties, Chickasaw, Fayette, Floyd, Howard, Mitchell, Winneshiek, Audubon, Black Hawk, Boone, Bremer, Butler, Calhoun, Carroll, Cerro Gordo, Crawford, Dallas, Emmet, Franklin, Greene, Grundy, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Humboldt, Jasper, Kossuth, Marshall, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Polk, Poweshiek, Sac, Story, Tama, Webster, Winnebago, Worth and Wright.

Thunderstorms are currently developing over northwest Iowa and extreme southern Minnesota along the cold front. Some large hail and damaging winds have already occurred with these storms in the Spirit Lake area. Large Hail and damaging winds up to 70mph will be possible with these storms as they move E-SE across the northern half of the state this evening and overnight.