Tuesday afternoon weather update

Cloud cover from early morning showers in eastern Iowa will continue to fade this afternoon leading to a little more sunshine and temperatures getting close to the low 70s.   The cold front remains back in central Iowa and this is currently where most of the moisture resides.  A narrow axis of higher dew point readings, in the mid and upper 50s, lie right ahead of the front.  Going forward into the afternoon winds will remain gusty as they shift around to the southwest.  Wind gusts have already reached close to 40 mph in many locations across the area. 

Storms are expected to develop right along the front as a mid-level jet streak (area of stronger winds) moves through north-central Iowa sometime after 3pm or 4pm.  Most likely we may begin to see those storms pop in eastern Iowa and far northwestern Illinois and quickly move east into the evening.  Widespread severe weather isn't anticipated, however, storms that do develop will be capable of producing large hail (due to drier air above) as well as damaging winds.  The tornado threat remains low but there could be enough wind shear in the lowest levels of the atmosphere to cause a few of the individual storms to rotate.  We'll continue to monitor conditions going through the afternoon and provide updates here as needed.