Warmth ahead of the front

Hmmm - I wonder where the cold front is?  It's actually about ready to cross over the Mississippi River as of 11:30 am.  The colder air is lagging behind the front and once it passes by late afternoon expect temperatures to fall by this evening.

With the few breaks in the cloud cover this morning the atmosphere is beginning to destabilize just a little bit as indicated by the cumulus clouds building in the skies.  As the front moves through rain, as well as a few thunderstorms, remain likely with a start time roughly around 3pm or 4pm.  So far the activity that has been entering into northeast Iowa has just been rain with thunderstorms closer to Omaha, NE.  If there were to be any thunderstorms this afternoon the hail threat would be the greatest due to the colder air aloft.  Rain will end by this evening with the next chance arriving Wednesday night.