Today is a Weather Alert day with strong to severe storms expected to develop this afternoon bringing a risk for damaging winds. In addition, gusty winds are expected throughout the day producing high fire danger for much of the state.Interactive Radar | Weather Alerts | Closings & delaysThe storm system we have been tracking all week will arrive in Iowa today. Temperatures will be very mild, starting off in the mid-50s and warming into the mid or upper 70s to around 80 degrees by this afternoon. Winds will be on the increase, with gusts of 30 to 50mph expected this afternoon. This will produce high to extreme fire danger over southern and eastern Iowa. Use extreme caution with equipment that can produce spark or flammable material if you are working outdoors.Storm chances quickly ramp up this afternoon, generally after 3pm. Thunderstorms will rapidly develop over far southern and southwest Iowa by 3 to 4pm, and then race to the northeast across the state for the rest of the afternoon and evening. Storms will likely be moving at 50 to 60mph, so they will not last long in any one location, but will pack a punch as they move through.The line of storms should reach the metro around 5 or 6pm, though the timing could shift by an hour or so. Stay weather alert throughout the afternoon and evening as we narrow the window for the storms. As the storms blow through, wind gusts of 60mph are likely, and could potentially be a strong as 80mph. This could certainly cause some scattered wind damage and power outages. The silver lining in having these storms so early in the season is that trees do not have their leaves yet, and that should help to limit the tree damage to some degree.Storms will continue to race to the north and east through the evening, reaching Algona, Mason City, to Waterloo, Iowa City, and southeast Iowa by 7-8pm.While damaging winds will be the main risk with these storms, some hail up to 1 inch in size is possible with some of the stronger storms. The tornado risk remains quite low with this round of storms thanks to some very dry air, but a quick spin-up cannot be ruled out. Make sure to have your weather alerts turns on in the KCCI app, and turn on your wireless emergency alerts so you are able to receive any warnings issued today.The storms will quickly move way tonight, with only some light rain or snow showers lingering into Saturday morning over northwest Iowa. Temperatures will drop significantly heading into Saturday, likely into the 30s by morning. Afternoon highs only reach the low 40s. We’re back into 50s on Sunday and St. Patrick’s Day looks really nice with highs back into the 70s. Another storms system rolls in next that we’ll need to keep an eye on. Rain and possibly snow could be falling across the state by next Wednesday.Keep an eye on weather across Iowa with KCCI’s skycamsWeather watchers can keep an eye on conditions by checking our skycam page, which shows aerial views from a dozen sites across the state.Des Moines ForecastToday: Windy with strong thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Damaging winds possible with some storms. High 78F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph gusting to near 50mph.Tonight: Scattered thunderstorms early, then cloudy and windy after midnight. Low 39F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph.Tomorrow: Overcast skies and windy. A few rain or snow showers in northwest Iowa. High 42F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.Tomorrow night: Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 26F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.Sunday: Mostly sunny skies. High 51F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.
DES MOINES, Iowa —Today is a Weather Alert day with strong to severe storms expected to develop this afternoon bringing a risk for damaging winds. In addition, gusty winds are expected throughout the day producing high fire danger for much of the state.
Interactive Radar | Weather Alerts | Closings & delays
The storm system we have been tracking all week will arrive in Iowa today. Temperatures will be very mild, starting off in the mid-50s and warming into the mid or upper 70s to around 80 degrees by this afternoon. Winds will be on the increase, with gusts of 30 to 50mph expected this afternoon. This will produce high to extreme fire danger over southern and eastern Iowa. Use extreme caution with equipment that can produce spark or flammable material if you are working outdoors.
Storm chances quickly ramp up this afternoon, generally after 3pm. Thunderstorms will rapidly develop over far southern and southwest Iowa by 3 to 4pm, and then race to the northeast across the state for the rest of the afternoon and evening. Storms will likely be moving at 50 to 60mph, so they will not last long in any one location, but will pack a punch as they move through.
The line of storms should reach the metro around 5 or 6pm, though the timing could shift by an hour or so. Stay weather alert throughout the afternoon and evening as we narrow the window for the storms. As the storms blow through, wind gusts of 60mph are likely, and could potentially be a strong as 80mph. This could certainly cause some scattered wind damage and power outages. The silver lining in having these storms so early in the season is that trees do not have their leaves yet, and that should help to limit the tree damage to some degree.
Storms will continue to race to the north and east through the evening, reaching Algona, Mason City, to Waterloo, Iowa City, and southeast Iowa by 7-8pm.
While damaging winds will be the main risk with these storms, some hail up to 1 inch in size is possible with some of the stronger storms. The tornado risk remains quite low with this round of storms thanks to some very dry air, but a quick spin-up cannot be ruled out. Make sure to have your weather alerts turns on in the KCCI app, and turn on your wireless emergency alerts so you are able to receive any warnings issued today.
The storms will quickly move way tonight, with only some light rain or snow showers lingering into Saturday morning over northwest Iowa. Temperatures will drop significantly heading into Saturday, likely into the 30s by morning. Afternoon highs only reach the low 40s. We’re back into 50s on Sunday and St. Patrick’s Day looks really nice with highs back into the 70s. Another storms system rolls in next that we’ll need to keep an eye on. Rain and possibly snow could be falling across the state by next Wednesday.
Keep an eye on weather across Iowa with KCCI’s skycams
Weather watchers can keep an eye on conditions by checking our skycam page, which shows aerial views from a dozen sites across the state.
Des Moines Forecast
Today: Windy with strong thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Damaging winds possible with some storms. High 78F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph gusting to near 50mph.
Tonight: Scattered thunderstorms early, then cloudy and windy after midnight. Low 39F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph.
Tomorrow: Overcast skies and windy. A few rain or snow showers in northwest Iowa. High 42F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.
Tomorrow night: Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 26F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny skies. High 51F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.
