Good morning everyone! While we’ll note drier weather in general over the next few days, Flood Warnings remain in effect for many in eastern NE, western/northern IA and along the Missouri/Mississippi Rivers as snowmelt and previous heavy rains led to extensive flooding in these areas. Even a few days post-storm, various locations in these parts remain flooded, so definitely be sure to turn around if you come across a flooded roadway.
Cloud cover forecast through Sunday: A majority of the region will be able to enjoy plentiful amounts of sunshine this weekend with higher pressure overhead. However, IA will see some additional periods of cloud cover through the duration as a weak disturbance progresses southeastward into the state from the Northern Plains, providing the risk for light snow this afternoon into tonight. Areas of clouds will hang around even into Sunday due to some residual upper-level energy swinging through. Besides these facts, definitely be sure to take advantage of the sun and drier weather elsewhere.
Simulated radar through Sunday reveals a weak disturbance from the Northern Plains gliding southeastward across portions of IA this afternoon through tonight. The bulk of the activity will come in the form of snow mixing with rain south. It won’t be until after 5pm CDT when precipitation coverage increases across central and then southeastern IA, likely laying down minor snow accumulations in its wake. Not everyone in IA will receive snow given the compact nature of the system, but those that do (particularly the Davenport area towards Iowa City and Cedar Rapids are susceptible to 0.5″ to as much as 2″ of wet snow. Accumulation should be very limited until after the sun sets when we lose radiational heating, allowing for more accumulation on grass. The wave will then exit into IL around 5am CDT Sunday with a few leftover flurries remaining in its wake.
Areas of patchy fog will be a threat tonight mainly in NE and IA that could lead to a few slick spots on roadways given temperatures below freezing. The vast majority of this fog will erode Sunday morning, but watch for a better threat for patchy freezing fog in the same areas come Sunday night into Monday morning when higher pressure will take hold. Again, a few slick spots will be possible where any fog can develop, then eroding Monday morning with temperatures rising above freezing.
A thin stripe of light rain showers will be possible late Sunday night into Monday morning from central KS through southwestern MO while light flurries are likely in the northeastern half of IA. The next best chance for more widespread light precipitation won’t arrive until late Monday into Tuesday when some weak pulses of energy slowly propagate across the region. Some won’t observe much in the way of measurable precipitation, which is most likely across the far northern portions of the region. However, further south, areas of light rain will be likely until the focus shifts towards southern KS/MO late Wednesday into Thursday. A few rumbles of thunder cannot be ruled out, but should be mostly lacking as instability will stay very low.
Total precipitation over the next 7 days: The northern-most portions of the region are most susceptible to staying mostly dry through this period while areas to the south in KS and MO will likely receive the bulk of the precipitation. A majority of these locations will generally stay at 0.5″ or less of liquid but a few pockets can receive more than 0.5″. Precipitation amounts increase southwest of the region through this duration.
High temperatures over the next four days:
Low temperatures over the next four days:
Wind forecast over the next four days:
High/low temperatures over the next 10 days for Des Moines, Lincoln, Salina and Columbia:
If you have any questions do not hesitate to reach out! Have a great weekend!