Thursday is a First Alert Day for eastern Iowa as another round of storms moves in, bringing a threat of strong to severe weather and heavy rain. More storms are expected late tonight and again after daybreak Thursday, with damaging winds not ruled out as they move through.
People in the TV9 viewing area should pay close attention before heading out Thursday morning, because many computer models show an organized complex of storms could form then. The threat is not as high as it was Tuesday and Wednesday morning, but the weather still has enough punch to cause trouble for travel and outdoor plans.
Wednesday evening is expected to stay quiet for a while, but the air over eastern Iowa remains loaded for more storms. Temperatures on Wednesday are generally in the 80s, with dew points well into the 70s, a setup that can help storms develop quickly once the next round arrives.
That is why forecasters are watching Thursday morning so closely. An organized band of storms could move through early, then some scattered showers and storms may linger later in the day before many areas dry out during the afternoon. Highs on Thursday are likely to reach the 70s to around 80, but the calmer stretch may not hold everywhere across the TV9 viewing area.
The bigger concern could come Thursday night after midnight. A renewed band of storms is likely to develop then, and if storms keep crossing the same areas, heavy rain could stack up fast enough to cause flash flooding. The risk of severe weather is lower than it was earlier in the week, but damaging winds cannot be ruled out.
More showers and storms are possible at times on Friday, and at least a couple more rounds could arrive on Saturday and Sunday, though the chance of severe weather looks lower from Friday onward. A dry stretch is expected early next week, with lows around the mid 60s and highs in the upper 70s to low 80s. For now, the key is simple: keep an eye on KCRG radar, because Thursday brings two windows of concern — the morning commute and the overnight rain that could turn heavy in a hurry.
