Iowa storms fizzle; Could see a few more this afternoon

The massive storm system responsible for the severe weather yesterday across the Plains and Midwest begins its eastward movement this morning.  Through the overnight a line of storms in central Iowa prompted a Tornado Watch and even a few tornado warnings in Iowa.  As the line moved across the Mississippi River, it encountered a mid-level ridge which helped those storms fizzle out and move into Wisconsin. 

In the wake of those storms the skies are being to partially clear as copious amounts of moisture continue to stream in from the Gulf.  Simply put, the more sunshine we see later this morning and early afternoon, the greater our storm potential as a cold front sweeps across Iowa.  If sunshine is able to break out it would increase the amount of potential energy the storms would have to work with.  As of right now the greatest threat would mainly be damaging winds, although hail and even an isolated tornado (especially to the north) can't be ruled out.  If storms were to form I would expect them to form across sections of Minnesota and Iowa early this afternoon and shift northeast late this afternoon and evening.

We likely won't see an outbreak of severe weather like folks did yesterday because the upper level support will remain off to the west and northwest of the Stateline.  Our storm threat would come from the approaching cold front and any potential energy that is able to build later this afternoon.