(Des Moines) Warm and humid conditions that have settled over Iowa during the past several days are fueling an active stretch of weather that could bring multiple rounds of thunderstorms through the weekend.
Dylan Dodson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Des Moines, said the combination of heat and humidity has created an atmosphere favorable for repeated storm development over several days.
Dodson said thunderstorms are currently confined to northern Iowa, with additional storms expected to develop during the afternoon and evening. While most of the activity is forecast to remain across northern Iowa, he said a stray storm cannot be ruled out in southwest Iowa.
Storm chances continue into Friday, with the potential to affect central and southwest Iowa and persist into the overnight hours.
Dodson said each round of storms will influence the weather pattern that follows.
Saturday’s forecast remains uncertain, Dodson said, because conditions will depend on whether storms develop Friday night.
If storms fail to develop Friday night, Dodson said they are more likely to form on Saturday instead. Any storms that do develop would help cool temperatures, although conditions are still expected to remain warm compared with normal for early July.
The primary severe weather threats with any storms will be damaging winds and large hail. An isolated tornado also cannot be ruled out.
