Kcrg Weather warns of storms Wednesday morning along Highway 18

Kcrg Weather says isolated showers and storms will move into southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa after 10 pm tonight, with a chance for a few strong to severe storms Wednesday morning from 5-8 am. The strongest morning threat is expected mainly along Highway 18 in northeast Iowa, where hail and heavy rainfall are the main hazards.

Highway 18 morning window

Showers and storms will become more scattered overnight into early Wednesday, but the most focused period for stronger storms remains the 5-8 am window. That timing matters for northeast Iowa because the morning threat is tied to Highway 18, not to the entire region at once.

There should be a break in the rain between the late morning and early afternoon. After that pause, conditions could allow another round of storms later Wednesday if the atmosphere destabilizes and recharges.

Highway 14 afternoon setup

That second round carries low confidence because it depends on how quickly the morning rain clears out. If storms do redevelop, they could affect areas along and south of Highway 14 from 1-7 pm, with all hazards possible in that scenario.

Heavy rainfall is also a concern on Wednesday, especially south of I-90. Rainfall totals by the end of the day could range from 0.25 inches to more than 1 inch in some locations, which means the day could bring more water in some spots than others even where storms are brief.

Late Week and Sunday

Late week is expected to turn quieter, with cooler than normal temperatures in the low to mid 70s and plenty of sunshine. A few showers may need to be monitored for Sunday.

For now, the immediate period to watch is the overnight push after 10 pm and the 5-8 am window Wednesday morning, especially for readers along Highway 18 in northeast Iowa.