CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Widespread rain could bring some strong winds as storms move through tonight.

Your first warning: stormy conditions will last into the night

Showers and thunderstorms remain likely for the remainder of the evening, with heavier downpours and frequent lightning quite possible. Some of these storms could take full advantage of the environment we have and produce damaging winds or a single tornado. Some storms may produce some hail.

A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for parts of the TV9 viewing area until 7:00 p.m. This area is most likely to have a severe storm, although the risk is slightly lower further away from the observation area.

If a storm is approaching your area, seek shelter indoors. If an alert is issued, move to the lowest floor of your home, away from windows. In the event of a tornado warning, put up as many walls as possible between you and the outside world, such as: B. in an interior closet or a bathroom. A basement is best if you have one. Cover your head and neck with pillows or blankets, or a bike helmet if you have one. If you find yourself in an RV, consider giving it up for a larger shelter. If caught outdoors, try to seek indoor shelter. As a last resort, lie flat in a ditch, protecting your head and neck. Do not seek shelter under bridges or overpasses.

It’s important to make sure there are multiple ways to receive alerts. A NOAA weather radio is a great tool in this case. Make sure the device is plugged in and turned on so it is ready to receive alerts before you go to bed. We also recommend the KCRG-TV9 First Alert Weather App, which allows you to receive customized alerts for your location. Of course, we will also provide updates on KCRG.com and KCRG-TV9 as conditions warrant.

Areas of heavier rainfall are possible tonight, with amounts reaching 1 to 2 inches in some locations. Exactly where this swarm of larger quantities occurs depends on who sees some repeat storms. The slow movement of the activity will be a factor contributing to this potential.

After about midnight this evening, most of the activity from the TV9 viewing area will move eastward. Scattered showers and gale force winds will continue overnight. They will change from south to west until late at night. Just before dawn, temperatures are expected to be in the mid 50s to low 60s.

Stormy and cool during the day Thursday, cool for trick-or-treaters

A few lingering showers or light showers are possible early Thursday, but most of us should only see cloudy and windy conditions. Wind gusts are likely to reach speeds of 25 to 40 mph for most of the day, gradually shifting from a westerly direction to west-northwest or northwest by the end of the afternoon.

Skies will gradually clear a bit in the afternoon, but the lack of sunshine and the influx of cool air masses will mean high temperatures will prevail by midnight on Thursday. Expect readings in the upper 40s to lower 50s through the afternoon.

As we reach prime trick-or-treating times in the evening, the wind should die down a bit. However, don’t expect calm air and temperatures will drop fairly steadily. By the end of the evening, temperatures could dip into the low 40s, with wind chills possibly slightly lower. We’re definitely excited about the dry weather, but you may need to make some decisions about where to go under the costumes to keep the kids warm.

As winds continue to weaken and skies clear, temperatures will continue their downward trend into Thursday night. Expect a cool start to the day Friday in the upper 20s to low 30s. Temperatures will rise again in the afternoon to the low to mid 50s under mostly sunny skies. All in all, this weather is very typical for the first day of November.

Your first warning: Rain returns, with widespread activity through early next week

Saturday looks like another pretty typical fall day, with temperatures starting in the low to mid 30s and highs in the mid to upper 50s. Skies will clear a bit initially but should become cloudier as the day progresses.

Rain showers will occur again in parts of the area in the late afternoon and evening. They spread further and further during the night from Saturday to Sunday, with thunderstorms also occurring. Still, it could get a little warmer on Sunday as warm air is sucked in ahead of this disturbance. Highs could reach the low 60s.

Another disturbance is heading our way Monday into Tuesday, bringing another chance for widespread rainfall and storms. There will be plenty of moisture in both systems and we could even see a stronger storm or two if things go well. On Tuesday, temperatures will get a little warmer for many of us, reaching the 60s again.

Due to the moisture in the atmosphere during this period, rainfall amounts could again be significant. In the areas where thunderstorms are most common, 1 to 3 inches could add up. In addition to what we expect after tonight, totals for next week could be in the 3 to 5 inch range. This would significantly reduce recent rainfall deficits.

The rain will stop during Tuesday evening into Tuesday night. This could lead to a somewhat wet Election Day in Eastern Iowa. So plan your trip to the polling station accordingly!

Things will calm down at the end of next week with typical fall conditions

We’ll be in for a good stretch of near-normal temperatures from next Wednesday through next Friday. Lows will be in the 30s and highs in the 50s, generally close to what you might expect for early November.

There should also be clearer skies in general as we avoid the more active parts of the weather pattern, at least for a while.

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