Nocturnal Storms in the Offing – Iowa Weather Network Archives

MIDSUMMER NIGHTS STORMS: Another period of active weather will be moving into the state as we head into the weekend but first we have another stunning day across the state with partly to mostly sunny skies around. Highs today will be in the upper 70s to the lower and middle 80s with only modest amounts of humidity. As we head into tonight, there is a chance of some widely scattered showers and storms mainly over the far western counties of the state. This will last through Monday with some quiet period intermixed with chances of showers and storms. The main window for activity looks to be during the overnight hours through the morning with the rest of the time being dry and quiet. However that doesn’t mean the chance of rain at that time is zero as there could be some development during the afternoon and evening hours as well. It looks to be a very complicated forecast as it always is when it comes to summertime convection. Along with that, some of the storms that do develop could become strong to possibly severe but this will be a day by day deal with regards to possible severe weather. Highs as we head into the weekend will be in the lower and middle 80s.

BOTTOMS UP: Some cooler air will filter into the state Monday and Tuesday but a warm front will move into the western counties of the state Tuesday morning and should be through the state by early on Wednesday. There will be a chance of some showers and storms along that front as it moves through. This will bring much warmer temperatures to the state as we head toward the end of next week. Highs could get well into the 90s to near 100 with heat indices possibly getting close to 110 or higher. This will be due to very high dew points occurring as well with those likely to be in the 70s to lower 80s. This will be because of transpiration with regards to the corn and soybean crops. This is something that will need to be watched at the middle to end of next week. The GFS has a chance of some showers and storms from time to time but this could be tempered by any strong capping layer in the atmosphere which would prohibit any storm development.

BEYOND: As we look through the rest of the GFS Model period, the model pushes the ridge to the west toward the end of the 10 day period and slowly moves it back to the Plains through the end of the period. This would mean very warm temperatures would be in store through the end of July at this point. It also looks to be much drier as well with regards to precipitation but the likelihood is that dew points are still going to be high due to transpiration from corn and soybean crops. Get your coolers ready, the Dog Days of Summer are arriving.