The Quad Cities is facing two rounds of strong to severe storms on Wednesday, with the first arriving early in the morning and the second expected later in the day. The morning round could bring damaging winds of 70+ mph, while the afternoon and evening round could turn more dangerous with large hail, wind gusts over 75 mph and a few tornadoes.
That is why KWQC weather is getting so much attention today. People in the Quad Cities and parts of west-central Illinois are being asked to think about the commute, school travel and the late-day return trip all at once, because the first round is expected now through 11 a.m. and the second round roughly between noon and 7 p.m.
The storms are expected to develop first as discrete supercells before growing into clusters, and they are moving fast, close to 50 mph. That speed can shorten warning time, which makes the difference between a storm that is only disruptive and one that becomes dangerous in a hurry. Heavy rain is also part of the picture, and a Flood Watch is in effect for parts of west-central Illinois through Wednesday evening because localized flooding is possible.
The most serious tornado threat appears to be across west-central Illinois, where wind shear will be strongest. The exact places that will see the worst storms are still not pinned down, and whether warnings will be needed is not yet clear, but the setup supports a day when conditions can change quickly from one round to the next. The morning line may not be the stronger of the two, but it still could bring 70+ mph winds and make the commute rough before many people have finished their coffee.
FIRST ALERT DAYS are used for inconvenient, hazardous or potentially dangerous weather, and Wednesday fits that description. Quieter weather is expected Thursday and Friday, with temperatures below normal, before another system could bring additional showers and thunderstorms late this weekend. For now, the main event is Wednesday, and the most important thing to know is that the threat comes in two waves, not one.
