Author: Meteorologist Maurer

(IowaStormCenter.com) — The official September 2024 forecast is in at Iowa Storm Center. A series of cold fronts will slide through the area starting tonight through September 10th which will keep temperatures below normal for the remainder of the period. Then temperatures will rebound to above normal after the 10th and through the middle of the month. The pattern will remain less active with below average precipitation expected through the end of the month. Meanwhile, tropical threats will continue along the gulf coast and southeast. The forecast for October is already being calculated in addition to the winter outlook which…

(IowaStormCenter.com) — Severe weather moved through the forecast area on Thursday that brought scattered reports. A cold front swept through yesterday that brought a line of showers and thunderstorms to all of Iowa. The severe weather threat was focused over northern Iowa with scattered reports of damaging winds, hail, and a weak waterspout tornado on Big Spirit Lake yesterday afternoon. As expected, the overall sever weather threat was limited due to instability quickly decreasing into the evening. Additionally, flooding was reported on the north side of Sioux City and on I-35 north of Ames last evening with widespread 1-2”+ rainfall…

(IowaStormCenter.com) — A cluster of thunderstorms will hit the entire forecast area later today through tonight. A column of moisture pooled ahead of the front combined with strong upper divergence/instability will cause rapid severe thunderstorm development across the watch area starting 2-5 PM in northwest Iowa and moving eastward through the evening. Given that instability values will crash as the afternoon progresses, have elected to focus the higher risk into far northern Iowa with overall severe threat limited. The storms today will be capable of hail, damaging winds, and the chance of an isolated tornado. The cities included in the…

(IowaStormCenter.com) — Isolated/scattered severe thunderstorms will be possible across central to southeast Iowa late this afternoon. The same frontal system that brought severe weather to the northern plains on Monday will continue to move southeastward today. This will bring a renewed risk of severe weather from central to southeast Iowa. Latest forecast guidance suggests severe thunderstorm development along the frontal zone 5-9 PM. This activity will start near the western edge of the scattered zone and move eastward through late evening with a hail and wind threat. – Meteorologist Maurer –

(IowaStormCenter.com) — A heat wave is set to hit the area this weekend with heat alert criteria. A strong upper-level ridge will move into the area starting Saturday, maximizing Sunday/Monday, and departing by Tuesday. Heat index values will reach advisory criteria for those in the magenta shaded zone across west to central Iowa on Sunday, then central/east Iowa on Monday. – Meteorologist Maurer

(IowaStormCenter.com) — A broken line of rain showers is moving into western Iowa this morning with the onset of our next storm system. These showers will continue to push east toward the I-35 corridor today before dissipating. Then a stronger impulse will hit northwest Iowa late this afternoon through the evening with scattered showers and the possibility of a thunderstorm. This activity will become more widespread across west and central Iowa into the overnight period. Once Wednesday morning hits, a large area of scattered showers and drizzle will continue to slowly move southward into Missouri before tapering off later Wednesday…

(IowaStormCenter.com) — A strong pacific storm system will get underway later tonight with severe thunderstorms and heavy rain. The first round of the one-two punch event is hitting across western Iowa this morning. Then the focus will be across southwest Iowa for severe thunderstorm development by this evening with threats for hail, damaging winds, heavy rainfall and a couple of isolated tornadoes. The main tornado threat is centered from the Omaha/Council Bluffs forecast zone and points into far southwest Iowa where the dynamics peak around 6-8 PM this evening. This area of severe thunderstorms will move off to the east/northeast…

(IowaStormCenter.com) — A strong warm/cold frontal system will eject into the plains on Wednesday with a one-two punch of showers and thunderstorms. The first round of storms will hit western Iowa Wednesday morning followed by an advancing warm front in the afternoon that will bring very warm and humid conditions to the forecast area. Then the frontal zone will arrive by Wednesday evening with a secondary line of severe thunderstorms and heavy rains. All hazards including hail, damaging winds and a couple isolated tornadoes will be possible over primarily southwest Iowa in the evening. Trends are being monitored closely here…

(IowaStormCenter.com) — A frontal system will move in from the west today with rain showers working into northwest Iowa this evening. Then a stronger impulse of thunderstorms will hit later tonight through the overnight across all western Iowa. Rainfall amounts of 0.5-1.0” from west central through southwest Iowa with totals decreasing further northeast. Scattered showers will remain intact across the state Monday morning before all activity exits around midday. – Meteorologist Maurer –

Our next storm system will arrive this weekend with strong winds followed by showers and thunderstorms. Details below… An upper-level low will develop across northeast Colorado Saturday and move northeast later Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, a tight pressure gradient from the low will lead to strong southeasterly surface winds developing across west and central Iowa on Saturday. The highest gusts of at least 50+ MPH will be over western Iowa. This risk will spread east into eastern Iowa later in the afternoon to evening. Then a more intense line of wind gusts will slide through western Iowa behind the main arm…