Weather Update

11:45am Update:  The Storm Prediction Center has updated parts of the WTVO viewing area in a Moderate Risk for this afternoon.  We are beginning to cloud over a little this afternoon but the current thinking is that the instability will gradually increase across the area throughout the afternoon after looking at some of the short range computer models.  An MCS currently in northeast Missouri will continue to move to the north/northeast into southeast Iowa by this afternoon and western Illinois this evening.  It will be interesting to see how well these storms hold together.  There is a fairly significant low level jet feeding into the storms that if they do hold together and get here by this evening, damaging winds would be the primary threat.  After mid-evening, the threat for severe storms may go down some. 

10:00am: The Storm Prediction Center still has much of the Mississippi River Valley in a Slight Risk for severe weather this afternoon and evening.  Storms are beginning to develop in South-Central Iowa and Northern Missouri this morning ahead of a cold front and a very strong low level jet feeding into the storms.  As a result, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for just southwest of the Stateline.  For us, we are definitely dealing with gusty winds once again this afternoon with temperatures rising already into the low 70s.  Dew points, as of now, have been holding steady.  We are still currently in the middle 50s.  The "prime area" that we will need to watch for thunderstorm development will be Eastern/Central Iowa and into Missouri.  We will continue to monitor the weather and especially the storms out in northern Missouri.  As it looks right now, they could move into our area later this afternoon and into the evening with damaging winds being the primary threat.