IOWA — Parts of Iowa could see isolated tornadoes Friday afternoon and evening as severe thunderstorms develop across the Midwest, according to the National Weather Service‘s Storm Prediction Center.
The Storm Prediction Center has placed much of Iowa within a slight risk area for severe thunderstorms. While large hail and damaging winds are expected to be the primary threats, forecasters say a few tornadoes cannot be ruled out.
According to the SPC’s latest Day 1 Convective Outlook, a frontal boundary extending into southern Iowa will serve as a focus for thunderstorm development later Friday. Warm, humid air and strong atmospheric instability are expected to create favorable conditions for severe storms capable of producing large hail and damaging wind gusts.
Forecasters indicate storms may begin developing late Friday afternoon before moving east through the evening hours. Some of the storms could become supercells, a type of thunderstorm capable of producing tornadoes.
The Storm Prediction Center has outlined a 2% tornado risk area that includes portions of central and southern Iowa, including the Des Moines metropolitan area. However, forecasters noted that low-level winds are not expected to be particularly strong, which should limit the overall tornado threat.
Even so, any tornado that develops could be dangerous. Residents are encouraged to remain weather-aware throughout the day and have multiple ways to receive warnings.
In addition to the tornado risk, large hail and damaging straight-line winds are expected to be the most widespread severe weather threats across Iowa Friday afternoon and evening.
