Into the Weather Wrestling Ring – Iowa Weather Network Archives

BATTLE ROYALE: In one corner you have cool stable air from the Great Lakes and Canada. In another corner you have warm unstable air coming from the south. The battleground will be the state of Iowa beginning late tonight and lasting through Thursday. The big story today will be the main severe weather episode over the Plains from Nebraska down into north Texas. All modes of severe weather will be possible with some significant severe weather possible as well including very large hail, destructive winds and possibly strong to violent tornadoes. Luckily the threat is just outside the state, but there is a severe weather risk today that encompasses the southwestern corner of the state. A lot of the severe weather looks to move into the state sometime this evening and into the overnight. The chances of seeing the significant severe weather in Iowa are lower but can’t be completely ruled out as yet. Rainfall amounts by Thursday when the system moves off to the east will range between one and two inches with isolated heavier totals especially in our southern and southwestern counties. Highs today will in the 60s and 70s, but will drop into the 50s and 60s on Wednesday with the amount of cool stable weather keeping the severe weather chances south of the state at that time. Similar temperatures will be seen on Thursday as well.

WRECKED WEEKEND: If you thought you were going to get a dry weekend to do stuff outside, think again, another system is on the way into the state late Friday night and through the weekend and into Monday with more chances of showers and thunderstorms. Severe weather doesn’t look likely with this event as it seems similar to Wednesday with most of the state in the cool stable air. This may change in future runs and will need to be monitored. As of right now, Saturday and Sunday look to be cool and rainy with readings in the 50s and lower 60s. Rainfall amounts between a half and one inch are possible (and these may change as well, stay tuned)

AROUND THE MAY POLE: As we look further into the GFS Model run, a disturbance is shown dropping into the state from the northwest next Wednesday (May 4th) with a chance of some showers and perhaps a rumble of thunder. The pattern is shown to stay out of the north and northwest for nearly the rest of the model run with storms seemingly bypassing the state to the south toward the end of the period. This would tend to keep our readings below seasonal levels with some moderation toward average at the end of the period (around the middle of May). Still plenty of time to watch this and for things to change as well.