Eastern Iowa faces two First Alert days in a row, with strong to severe storms possible today and again on Thursday. Tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail are all on the table, with two main windows to watch and a separate round of storms expected after Th
Hot, steamy air is already hanging over eastern Iowa—and by late morning, the sky could start organizing into something more dangerous.
Today marks the first of two First Alert Days in a row, with strong to severe storms once again likely. The biggest focus is afternoon into evening, but the forecast isn’t a single block of time. There are two windows to watch. and officials are urging people not to relax even if storms fire earlier than expected.
Damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes are all possible with these storms. The tornado risk would be highest in individual storms, while damaging wind threats are expected to be higher in lines of storms.
The first window comes in the morning, from about 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Storms could develop in a scattered fashion, then show some organization within a few hours of development. If storms take that route, strong to severe storms are possible, including a large hail and damaging wind threat. Scattered storms are also possible in late morning and early afternoon on Wednesday.
The second window arrives later, tied to a frontal boundary moving into the area. Storm development is expected ahead of it, especially near and after 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. With the ingredients expected to be in place, storms should fairly quickly turn severe. After that push, storms are likely to redevelop on Wednesday afternoon and evening.
Even with uncertainty introduced by the possibility of a morning round, the guidance is clear: the risk doesn’t disappear. Storms are expected to be part of the evening as activity begins to push out by late evening. with quieter conditions likely for a good portion of this evening into the overnight.
Thursday doesn’t offer a break. Another disturbance is on the way. bringing more energy and wind shear—changes in wind speed and/or direction with height—fueling another severe threat. Thursday is also a First Alert Day. and the Storm Prediction Center’s outlook puts most of eastern Iowa in the enhanced risk again. shown in orange. while a slight risk is in place outside that.
Thursday also features two main time frames. The first is in the morning. with many indications in the forecast data that a cluster or line of storms will be on the way. These are expected to develop at night in Nebraska and western Iowa, then bring the main impacts during the morning. The storms would have energy to work with after Wednesday’s evening storms, supporting organized thunderstorms. Damaging winds are expected to be the main threat, though hail is also possible. An isolated tornado could occur as well.
In the afternoon, the forecast becomes more dependent on what happens in the morning. The timing of the morning round and how much energy it uses up will determine whether the atmosphere has a chance to recover. If it does, more storm development is likely. Those storms would form in an environment conducive to severe weather, with all hazards possible. The main timing for that would be late morning into the evening. and more storms are possible by afternoon on Thursday.
Rain is another concern over the next few days. Heavy rainfall could add up to significant totals, with 1 to 2 inches of new rainfall quite possible, and isolated higher totals. That raises the chance of isolated flash flooding. At this time, river flooding looks unlikely because river levels are generally running low in the area.
The through-line in the forecast is simple: there’s a lot to watch across both days, and the timing matters. People are being urged to stay weather-aware, keep alerts on, and follow updates through Thursday. Updates are available on KCRG.com. KCRG-TV9. and the KCRG First Alert Weather app. as the situation is expected to keep unfolding through the end of the week.
FIRST ALERT severe storms eastern Iowa damaging winds large hail tornadoes flash flooding First Alert Days KCRG
My power better not go out again.
They keep saying tornadoes are on the table like that means it’s guaranteed. Why are they acting surprised when it happens.
So is it like from 10 to 1 but then also after 3? I get the windows but it just feels like they’re warning us twice for the same thing. Also I read ‘steamy air’ and thought that’s why they happen lol. Either way I’m staying inside because last time the hail hit my car.
Weather apps always say ‘two First Alert days’ and then it’s nothing until everyone’s already mad. But if it’s organizing in the sky by late morning like they said, then wouldn’t it already be too late by lunch? Not trying to be negative, just seems weird they can’t nail down the exact time but still say severe tornadoes are possible. I’m just gonna blame it on the front boundary or whatever, because that’s what my uncle said once.