By Corey Thompson
Published: Jun. 21, 2024 at 6:12 AM CDT|Updated: 15 minutes ago
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - Additional storm development is possible until a cold front clears the area on Saturday night.
Your First Alert: Storms possible north, another hot day elsewhere
Some isolated to scattered storms are all that’s left of a complex of storms that developed to our northwest. Clouds are also dissipating in many areas, allowing things to warm up pretty decently.
It will be another hot and humid one for most areas, with high in the upper 80s to low 90s. Heat index readings could push well into the 90s in some cases, so be sure to avoid overexertion in this type of heat. Take breaks, drink some water, and use some common sense. Areas north of Highway 20 will stay a little bit cooler, though should still be plenty muggy.
It’s those areas in the north where some scattered storms are most likely this afternoon. This second round has the chance to develop by mid-afternoon into the evening, with the chance highest closer to the Iowa-Minnesota border. A few of these storms could turn strong to severe, with the threat for damaging wind, large hail, and an isolated tornado possible (though the risk for tornadoes is higher in southern Minnesota).
If a storm approaches your area later today, seek shelter indoors until it passes. If a warning is issued for your area, take cover inside a sturdy structure, ideally on the lowest floor away from outside walls and windows.
Additional storms will develop to our northwest this evening and tonight, pushing into the TV9 viewing area by Saturday morning. The northern zones would be a little more favored to receive this round of showers and storms, too. With the possibility of repeated rounds of heavier rainfall in those areas, the risk for flash flooding could increase tonight. A Flood Watch has been posted for our far northern counties as a result. If you live in a low-lying or flood-prone area, be prepared to take action if a warning is issued for your area.
Your First Alert: Cold front brings severe threat area-wide on Saturday
After morning showers and storms dwindle, we’ll see at least partial clearing for a period of time by late morning into the early afternoon. This should allow temperatures to warm up, and when combined with high dew points and support from winds at the upper-levels of the atmosphere, we’ll have the ingredients in place for new storm development later in the day.
This will begin as a cold front moves through the state, with initial development possible in our northwest zone as soon as 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. These storms will spread east and southeast through the remainder of the afternoon and evening, finally exiting across the Mississippi River by the early nighttime hours.
This round of storms has the threat to produce severe weather. Damaging winds would be the primary threat, especially if storms are able to organize into lines of activity that move through. A few reports of an isolated tornado or large hail are also a possibility during this time frame. The Storm Prediction Center has put a slight risk for severe storms in place for the entire viewing area.
Make sure to stay weather-aware during this time frame, and have a plan to find shelter if you have plans that take you outdoors for the start of the weekend. A good way is to have the KCRG-TV9 First Alert Weather app handy as you head out and about, and make sure that severe weather alerts are turned on. Take cover indoors if a storm threatens your area.
After storms move out, winds will shift to the northwest on Saturday night, which will start to pull in drier air.
More typical summer weather next week
Somewhat lower dew points will make for a couple of decent, but warm, summer days on Sunday into Monday. Highs will be in the 80s, with overnight lows in the low to mid 60s. This is still a touch above normal for this time of year.
Higher heat and humidity returns for a brief period, centered on Tuesday with a chance of storms to go with it. This storm system will be fairly quick-moving, though, and will drag in a cooler and drier air mass behind it. Don’t expect chilly conditions, but highs in the upper 70s to low 80s with more comfortable dew points will again be a nice stretch of relief to round out next work week.
A few storms are possible again to start out next weekend as temperatures climb a bit.
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