KDSN RADIO News
Forecaster says stormy, steamy week is ahead to start summer
Summer officially arrives later this week but the heat and humidity are already settled in across Iowa.
Much of the state’s northern third was under a severe thunderstorm watch this morning, while a wide area of eastern Iowa has a heat advisory in effect until 8 o’clock tonight.
Meteorologist Rod Donavon, at the National Weather Service, says it’ll be a steamy day ahead for most of the state.
“That might actually be a problem today,” Donavon says. “It’ll really depend on how quickly this front lifts back to the north of the warm front as we get into this afternoon, but overall, similar temperatures as we see high temperatures in the 80s into the low 90s with dew points right now in the low 70s. That will push the heat index values into the 90s by this afternoon.”
Heat indices may reach triple digits in eastern Iowa, as the heat advisory covers cities including Cedar Rapids, Iowa City Dubuque, Davenport, Burlington and Keokuk. Donavon says we may have a break from the heat at mid-week, but more storms are likely by week’s end.
“Tuesday is still looking pretty warm but then we have that boundary sinking back into the state and it will linger around through at least early Thursday,” Donavon says. “At least several rounds of showers and thunderstorms in addition to bringing some cooler air to the region, and then it’ll be lifting back north by Friday, so we’ll see some warmer temps then before another active period this weekend.”
Summer starts on Thursday.