KWWL weather is under a Tornado Watch for much of the TV9 viewing area until 10:00 p.m. as strong to severe storms move through eastern Iowa. It is a First Alert Day, and the storms could bring damaging wind, large hail and a tornado or two.
The Storm Prediction Center has kept an Enhanced Risk of severe storms over much of the TV9 viewing area, with the rest in a Slight Risk. New storm development is expected to intensify between about 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., and the storms are moving southeast at about 40 to 50 mph.
TV9 viewing area
Storms forming north of U.S. Highway 20 may start out scattered before lining up into a band. If that happens, the damaging wind risk can increase with time, and people in much of the viewing area will need to stay ready for fast changes through the evening.
A Heat Advisory is also in effect for several counties in the TV9 viewing area, with heat index readings that could approach 100 to 105 in some spots. At the same time, wildfire smoke from Canada is reducing air quality, and it could worsen tonight when a cold front drags another batch of smoke southward.
Tonight and Tuesday
The storm threat is expected to wind down closer to midnight and 3:00 a.m. in the south. After storms end tonight, skies are expected to turn partly cloudy and winds will shift to a northwesterly direction late.
Tuesday will bring a transition to cooler, drier air, with some gusts reaching 30 mph or more. For anyone in the TV9 viewing area, the most important step is to stay aware through the evening because the severe-storm risk, heat, and smoke are all overlapping at once.
