A look at the radar picture early this morning shows widespread light-to-moderate rain over areas north of highway 20. Morning temperatures range from 45 at Decorah to a balmy 57 at Shenandoah. Winds are fairly light from the southwest. The current disturbance passing through the state will continue the trend of showers and thunderstorms early this morning and potentially strengthen, though no severe weather is anticipated.
A stronger disturbance will arrive tonight in the form of a cold front. An isolated strong-to-severe storm will be possible with large hail to quarter size and damaging winds to 60 MPH the primary threats. The SPC has a marginal risk of severe weather outlined over the state for this reason.
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The forecast for the week has the saying “light at the end of the tunnel” all over it. Tuesday and Wednesday will be denoted by a cool-down into the upper 50s and low 60s, with rain chances again late Tuesday into Wednesday. However, by Thursday, temperatures will be back to the upper 60s and low 70s. The holiday weekend gets even better with low-to-upper 70s throughout the state.
As far as rain chances are concerned, there will likely be another round of scattered showers and thunderstorms Thursday night into Friday. And beyond the work week, confidence decreases with a wider model variance. Even temperatures going into next week is a bit up in the air with models not nearing a consensus on a lot of things. We will be monitoring and provide updates as we get closer to the holiday weekend. In any which way with this though, severe weather is not expected throughout the long term time frame.
Tree Town Music Festival
Tree Town wouldn’t be Tree Town without a lot of mud, amiright? After our early week cool town, temperatures will rise back into the upper 70s with lows in the low 50s. Beautiful temperatures! There will be periodic chances of showers and thunderstorms throughout the weekend, however we do not expect anything widespread within the Tree Town Time Frame, nor severe. Will likely be wet and soggy around Heritage Park nonetheless, so make sure to plan for that!
The climatological state normals for Monday, May 22, 2017 is 75° for a high temperature and 52° for a low temperature.
Today: Thunderstorms statewide. Some storms may be severe with hail and winds the primary threats. High temperatures will range from the upper 60s to the mid-70s. Chance of precipitation 80%. New rainfall amounts of a tenths to two-tenths of an inch possible; the Weather Prediction Center currently has 0.37″ pinned over Mason City for today.
Tonight: Thunderstorms continuing east, otherwise lingering showers under overcast skies west. Low temperatures in the upper 40s north to the mid-50s southeast where clouds will hang around. Chance of precipitation 60%. Additional rainfall amounts of five-hundredths of an inch possible.
Tomorrow: Widespread showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures will struggle to climb from the previous nights lows, ranging from the mid-50s northwest to low 60s southeast. Chance of precipitation 50%. New rainfall amounts will be under a half inch, with heaviest amounts over the eastern parts of the state.
Tomorrow Night: Rain lingering east, overcast skies clearing west. Lows will range from the low 40s northwest to 50 southeast. Chance of precipitation 40%. New rainfall amounts around a trace.
Have a great Monday!