A severe storm system is expected to hit Iowa starting late this afternoon and last into the night, including risks of severe weather with damaging winds, isolated large hail and even isolated tornadoes, according to the national weather service.
“The whole state of Iowa is under the threat, with some severe weather scattered across the state,” Harry Hillaker, state climatologist said.
Along with the winds, heavy rain in the amount of one to two inches with some areas getting as much as three plus inches, is expected, leading to potential flash flooding through most of the state.
“Heavy rain threat becomes the bigger issue. Pretty high likelihood of a lot of rain across all of Iowa with central Iowa favored to get most of the rain with two to three inches,” Hillaker said. “The place that is already the wettest is southwestern Iowa, which has seen a lot of rain the last three weeks. It wouldn’t take much rain to cause some flooding.”
Iowa is set to get the most rain out of this system, which Hillaker said has been the case for most of the summer. Northeast Iowa has been fortunate to stay on the drier side, leaving them able to handle a little bit more then the rest of the state.
After the storm rolls through much cooler temperatures are expected starting Wednesday and continuing for the foreseeable future.
“Friday night to Saturday morning most likely time to have the lowest temperature. It is not quite cold enough for an official freeze, but there could be possible frost in low lying areas,” Hillaker said. The cold weather shouldn’t cause any damage to the corn or soybean crops.
The next week will be unseasonably cool and also much drier after the storm concludes Wednesday, Hillaker said.
Contact Staff Writer Jamee A. Pierson at (641) 792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com.