Iowa Weather Report May 3rd 2015: Rain Chances Abound

HERE COMES THE RAIN: Chances of showers and thunderstorms will be going up over the next several days across the state. There will be some dry time as well with some sunshine peeking through from time to time. Today for example, we should see some sunshine for part of the day before a frontal system moves in from the north and west. This will trigger some showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon into the evening and overnight hours. Some of these storms could become strong. High temperatures today will be in the lower and middle 80s across the state. Heading into Monday, the shower and thunderstorm chances continue, however there will be much less sunshine around so readings will be held down in the upper 60s to middle 70s across the state. Tuesday could also be similar to Monday as well, unless we see more sunshine in which it could be similar to what we see today. Temperatures will be dependent on any sunshine we may get from day to day.

MORE RAIN: The rain keeps on coming as we head through the middle of the week and even into next weekend as well. A storm system will be moving in from the west slowly. This will bring enhanced chances of showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday and Thursday. It will be quite breezy as well with gusty southerly winds that may boost readings well into the 70s to near 80 even without much sunshine. However if we see a lot of rain both days this could hold temperatures closer to 70. The chances are a bit less for precipitation on Friday and Saturday, but there nonetheless, as another storm system begins to take shape out in the Plains. Rainfall over the next week could easily be 1-2 inches or more which could lead to some minor flooding in some areas. We’ll monitor that in the coming days.

LOOKING FOR DRY GROUND: As we look into the extended period, the GFS shows rain continuing next Sunday and Monday (11th) before we finally get some drier air moving in that should begin to dry us out. Temperatures look to be fairly close to typical mid-May levels at that time. Moving through the middle of the month, a few more quick moving systems may bring some more precipitation to the state at that time, but timing and strength of said systems are still up in the air being so far out.