A round of unsettled weather is expected to move across much of Iowa on Thursday, bringing the potential for severe storms later in the day. Forecasters have placed the area under a slight risk (level 2 out of 5), meaning scattered severe storms are possible, particularly from mid-afternoon into the evening hours.
Showers and thunderstorms are expected to begin developing during the morning into the early afternoon, mainly across western portions of the state. As the day progresses, these storms are expected to organize into a more defined line and track eastward through Iowa between roughly 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. The strongest storms are most likely during this window, with conditions gradually weakening as they move farther east later in the evening.
Damaging wind gusts are expected to be the primary concern with this system. However, forecasters say a few tornadoes and instances of large hail cannot be ruled out, especially during the earlier stages of storm development. In addition to severe weather threats, some areas may also experience locally heavy rainfall, which could lead to brief ponding on roadways and low-lying areas.
